Extreme weather – Floods

Know your risk – some Port Phillip areas are at a much higher risk of flood than others including Elwood, St Kilda, Balaclava, and South Melbourne. Click below to be taken to your local VICSES flood guide:

• Elwood flood guide
• South Melbourne flood guide
• St Kilda and Balaclava flood guide.

Prepare a plan and emergency kit – VICSES has a step-by-step guide for this.

Check your property – ensure drains, gutters and downpipes are cleaned regularly and free of debris and secure any loose objects that could float and cause damage.

Ensure your property is insured – check that your insurance covers flood damage. Visit the Insurance Council of Australia’s website for some helpful resources.

Stay informed – monitor weather warnings through the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) website and VicEmergency website, app and hotline at 1800 226 226.

Be prepared for a storm – Port Philip is often hit by flash floods which normally occurs within six hours or less after heavy rainfall. Therefore, it is important to not only prepare for floods but storms too.

Contact emergency services – In the event of a life-threatening event, call Triple Zero (000).

Contact VicSES – during a flood emergency, you can call VICSES on 132 500 for:

• flood advice and resources (for example, sandbags)
• help protecting properties
• rescue services
• evacuation advice

Contact family, friends, and neighbours – to ensure they are aware of the situation and know what to do.

Securing property – Make sure to bring in anything of importance (including pets) from outside or store it under solid cover, away from trees, powerlines, drains and streams. Never leave your car in an underground parking lot, if you live in a flood-prone area.

Know how to Bag it, Block it, Lift it and Leave it:

• Bag it: make sure to place sandbags and towels around your property (focusing on doorways) to stop water from entering.
• Block it: use sandbags covered in plastic bags to block drains (including shower and bath drains) and toilets to prevent back-flow.
• Lift it: lift all furniture and valuables off the ground and stack them on kitchen and tabletops, including waste, poison, oil, and chemical containers.
• Leave it: If you suspect that water will enter your house then you should leave to find a safe place as soon as possible. Remembering to never drive through floodwater.

Accessing sandbags – you can access sandbags at your nearest VICSES sandbag collection point. They also have a useful sandbagging quick guide.

When you evacuate:

• Remember to take your pets, communication devices, spare clothes, and medication.
• Turn off gas electricity and unplug all electrical products, storing them in a safe place. Remember to also turn off your solar power system too.
• Check for road closures before leaving, plan your route and listen to advice from emergency services.
• Travel to a safe location, away from flooding. Family and friends are a great first port of call.
• Contact your insurance company and notify them that you have been impacted by an emergency event and check your coverage (note: it is best to check your coverage annually and know what you are and aren’t covered against before an emergency occurs).

If you’re outside – stay away from trees, drains, low-lying areas, creeks, canals, culverts, and floodwater and seek shelter inside as soon as possible.

Avoid floodwaters – never drive, walk, or ride through floodwater. There is a high chance you will get stuck, especially as it only takes 15 cm of flowing water to float a car. Flood water is also highly toxic, so much sure not to play or swim it in either.

Stay informed – monitor weather warnings through the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) website and VicEmergency website, app and hotline at 1800 226 226 and by listening to emergency broadcasters such as ABC local radio, designated commercial radio and TV news stations.

Before returning – Make sure not to enter damaged or flooded building until authorities have advised that it is safe to do so. It is important to have your utilities checked by a licensed technician before turning them on again.

Beware of plugging in appliances – if there is a chance they have encounter water, then you should get them tested by a licensed electrician or gasfitter first. This also applies to solar systems. You also should never connect a generator indoors; they should only be used outdoors with an extension cord to supply power to indoor appliances. Using a generator indoors creates several safety risks, including potential carbon monoxide poisoning.

Check your home and property for damage – Contact VICSES on 132 500 if there is storm damage to your roof, if there is tree-related damage to your home or if any exits are blocked by trees. Don’t go up there to fix it yourself. For any other damage, please contact your insurance provider and make sure to take photos as proof.

Be careful cleaning – make sure to wear protective clothing, masks and gloves when cleaning up after a flood. It is also important to wash your hands regularly.

Avoid any dangerous hazards – such as floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen and damaged trees. It is especially important to avoid fallen powerlines as they may still be live, you should always stay eight to 10 metres away from a powerline.

Be careful driving – avoid driving through affected areas where possible. If you must drive, make sure to drive slowly.