Floods are New Zealand’s number one hazard in terms of frequency, losses and declared civil defence emergencies. Floods can cause injury and loss of life, damage to property and infrastructure, loss of stock, and contamination of water and land.
Visit the Get Ready(external link)
website for what to do before, during and after a flood strikes your home or business.
(external link)Floods are usually caused by continuous heavy rain or thunderstorms but can also result from tsunami and coastal storm inundation.
Understand the hazards of flooding in Canterbury(external link).
Sandbags can be used during a flood:
- across doorways for houses on a concrete pad
- across a garage door
- to divert water downhill
However, they can’t stop water coming from under the house and through the floorboards or other access points.