Farm flood readiness kit

Why you need a flood plan

• You are not guaranteed financial or farm assistance when floods occur.
• You need to know what to do and when to do it to reduce damage and losses.
• Every flood is different. You need to plan for all risks and possible impacts.
• If you are prepared you will recover much quicker and be able to get back to business.
• The damage and losses caused by floods can be very high. It costs a lot of money and takes a long time to clean up your property, repair fences and feed livestock.
• It is cheaper to plan ahead and be prepared than pay the costs of repairs or lose income and production time.
• Can you afford not to have a flood plan?

Having a flood plan just makes good farming sense

Planning will not only protect your home, property and business. You also have an obligation to protect your livestock and pets from drowning.

Your flood plan doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it needs to be as easy and straightforward as possible so that if you are away someone else can implement it on your behalf.

Having a flood plan can help prevent damage and losses on your farm from:

• dead livestock
• destroyed equipment
• debris and waste
• loss of access to property
• erosion
• blocked drains
• damaged fences
• landslides.

Prepare your farm for flood

Ensure your property has:

• clear laneways
• high ground with access to fodder and water
• tools for clearing damage
• appropriate storage
• stored fodder
• appropriate land management systems.

What to do when there is a flood

Stay up to date with flood advice and warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology. 

• Flood Watch provides provides a ‘heads up’ that flooding is likely.
• Flood Warning warns a community of flooding at a predicted height, time and location.

You have an obligation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your livestock. 

When a 'flood watch' is issued for your farm

• Move livestock and horses to higher ground on or off property and make sure they have access to clean water and food.
• Ensure all animals are in a safe area where they cannot be trapped by rising floodwater.
• Remove pumps from waterways.
• Move equipment where possible –tractors, farming equipment, utes and other vehicles.
• Secure moveable objects such as shipping containers and bale feeders.
• Remove debris from paddocks – irrigation pipes, timber, scrap, metal, tools etc.
• Store all chemicals securely and out of potential floodwater level.
• Check that your emergency kit is ready – include portable radio, torch, batteries, first aid kit, food and water for five days.
• Make sure you have essential documents at hand – emergency contact list, legal documents and accounting records.
• Check on neighbours where possible.

When a 'flood warning' is issued for your farm

• Stay up to date with emergency warnings and other public messages so you know if things are likely to change and what to do.
• Stay in touch with nominated contacts.
• Seal areas around the home and other farm buildings to keep out water and vermin.
• Lock storage sheds and sandbag where necessary to prevent water entering.
• Keep pets safe and out of floodwater.
• Send staff and visitors home.
• Be prepared in the event you have to evacuate.
• If you plan to leave, leave early.

How flood ready are you?

Download the flood readiness checklist to find out. 

The farm flood readiness guide will help you to identify risks and hazards on your property and compile a list of actions you need to carry out to prepare for flood.

The checklist will help you consider risks related to:

• livestock and horses
• fences and gates
• objects that could be washed off or onto your property
• chemicals and fuel.

The farm flood readiness checklist also has advice on 

• emergency plans for livestock and property
• preparing your farm to be isolated
• preparing to be evacuated.