- Overview
- Help in a flood
Help in a flood
What to do for each kind of warning, and who to call in Cumbria. If anyone is in danger, call 999.
Severe flood warning
Severe flooding. Danger to life.
- If the emergency services tell you to leave, go. Take your flood kit, medicines and pets.
- If you stay, move upstairs or somewhere high, with a way out.
- Call 999 if you or anyone else is in danger.
- Keep out of flood water. 15 cm of fast-flowing water can knock an adult over, and 30 cm can float a car.
Flood warning
Flooding is expected. Immediate action required.
- Move family, pets and valuables upstairs or to higher ground.
- Turn off gas, electricity and water if it is safe to do so.
- Put flood barriers or sandbags in place if you have them.
- Move your car out of the area at risk.
- Keep out of flood water: don’t walk or drive through it.
Flood alert
Flooding is possible. Be prepared.
- Check this page and Floodline for changes.
- Get a flood kit ready: medicines, phone charger, torch, warm clothes and important papers.
- Know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water.
- If your car is parked near the river or on low ground, move it.
- Check on neighbours who may need help.
Who to call
- Life in dangerCall 999
- Floodline: official flood warnings0345 988 1188
- Report flooding to the Environment Agency0800 80 70 60
- Power cutCall 105, or see the Electricity North West map
- Smell gasCall 0800 111 999
- Sewer flooding or water supplyUnited Utilities
- Main roads: M6, A66, A590, A595, A74(M)Traffic England
- All road closures on a mapone.network
- Emergencies in CumbriaCumbria Prepared
- During, before and after a floodGOV.UK advice
Your council
Cumberland covers the north and west (Carlisle, Allerdale, Copeland). Westmorland and Furness covers the south and east (Eden, South Lakeland, Barrow).
Cumberland Council
Westmorland and Furness Council
Be ready before it happens
- Sign up to Floodline for free official warnings by phone, text or email.
- Save this place to get our alerts by email or on your phone.
- Make a flood plan and a flood kit, and know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water.
Check your place
Every place page shows what is in force there, the nearest river levels and what to do.
Find your place