Learn about floods

Flood waters can destroy the land. They can wash away roads, bridges, railway tracks and buildings. They can ruin crops and drown livestock. Lives are also at risk, particularly in flash floods.

What is a flood?

Floods are one of New Zealand’s most frequent emergency events. They happen when storms and heavy rain make rivers overflow their banks or drainage systems overflow into the streets.

Normal rainfall soaks into the soil, is taken up by trees and plants, and runs off the land to form our streams and rivers. Floods happen when there is too much water and the run-off is too much for rivers to carry.

There are four main types of flood:

Rising rivers happen during heavy rain, when rivers can overflow their banks into the floodplain. A floodplain is the flat section next to a river, and these can flood quite regularly.
Flash floods happen when heavy rain falls in a small area with little warning.
Coastal areas can sometimes flood because of unusually high tides or tsunami.
Urban areas have a lot of concrete or hard surfaces. They stop rainwater from soaking into the soil, so it is channelled into storm water drains. When the rain falls faster than the storm water system can manage, we get urban flash flooding. These floods usually happen very quickly and can block roads and damage buildings. Luckily, they usually don’t last very long.

Flood waters can destroy the land. They can wash away or damage roads, bridges, railway tracks and buildings. They can ruin crops and drown livestock. People have to take care and prepare. Particularly in flash floods where fast-flowing water filled with debris can sweep people away.

After a major flood there will be a lot of damage and pollution to clean up. It may take months or years to recover.

What do we do before a flood?

Know how to reach the nearest high ground.

Move animals to safety.

Keep valuables and some food and water above the high water mark. Attics or upstairs rooms are good places for storage, as long as there is easy access.

Remind adults to store chemicals in a high, safe place. If a flood occurs and these chemicals leak, they could be dangerous.

What do we do during a flood?

Listen to the radio for weather reports, advice and instructions.

Do not try to walk or drive through flood water.

Take your grab bag with you if you have to leave your home.

Remind adults to turn off water, electricity and gas.

What do we do after a flood?

Only return home once you are told it is safe to do so.
Don't go sightseeing through flooded areas.
Do not drink floodwater. It could be contaminated and make you sick.

Find out more about what to do before, during and after a flood.

Home learning

Are you ready in case a flood happens?

Find out about the worst flood in your area and how high the flood waters reached. Record this height and share it with your family — would it reach your home?

Make a plan with your family to get through an emergency. Think about the things you need every day and work out what you would do if you didn't have them.

Make your plan — print it out, stick it on the fridge and make sure everyone knows the plan.

Find out about past floods that have happened in your region.