Farm Flood Readiness Kit

In response to the 2015 Hunter region floods, Local Land Services developed a practical Flood Preparedness Kit to capture lessons learned and assist landholders in managing future flood events effectively.

The kit was created in collaboration with local farmers and tested with a select group of producers to ensure its practicality and relevance. It includes a range of resources, such as a flood readiness checklist, a flood plan template, and information on accessing emergency updates, including BOM and SES warnings.

A flood plan doesn’t need to be complicated. It should be simple so that someone else can implement it on your behalf if you are unavailable.

Why is this kit essential?

• No Guaranteed Assistance: Financial or farm assistance is not guaranteed during flood events.
• Action Reduces Losses: Knowing what to do and when to do it minimises damage and losses.
• Every Flood is Unique: Each flood presents risks and impacts, requiring a comprehensive plan.
• Faster Recovery: Being prepared enables quicker recovery, helping you resume operations sooner.
• Cost of Inaction: Flood damage can be extensive, leading to costly repairs, lengthy cleanup efforts, and disruptions to income and production.

Planning is not only more affordable but also ensures resilience and readiness. Can you afford not to have a flood plan?

To support landholders in preparing, responding and recovering from floods a Farm Flood Readiness Kit has been developed.

The user-friendly kit will help you develop a flood plan and make your property flood-ready.

(PDF, 5MB)

Preparing your property for floods is vital to protecting your farm, livestock, and assets. Taking proactive steps helps minimise damage, safeguard your livelihood, and streamline recovery, allowing you to return to operations more quickly. 

Since every flood is unique, it’s crucial for landholders to plan for all potential risks and impacts.

Developing a Flood Plan

Develop a flood plan designed for your property's unique risks. Prioritise protecting your home, property, and livestock, ensuring it’s as straightforward as possible so that if you are away someone else can implement it on your behalf.

Components of a Farm Flood Plan

1. Risk Assessment: Complete the flood readiness checklist to identify potential risks and hazards.
2. Risk Reduction Measures: Develop an action list to mitigate identified risks and enhance flood readiness.
3. Response Protocol: Establish a clear flood response plan and stay informed through reliable flood warnings. If you have livestock, ensure they have access to safe high ground, food, water, and shelter.
4. Isolation Preparation: If isolation is a possibility, store essential supplies such as food, water, communication tools, and emergency contacts in a secure, accessible location above anticipated flood levels.
5. Chemical Storage Safety: Securely store chemicals in elevated sheds to prevent washouts, ensuring all storage facilities are securely locked.

Whether it’s during a Flood Watch, a Flood Warning, or an Evacuation Warning, knowing what to do at each stage can significantly reduce risks and help you respond effectively.

Flood Watch

• 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.

Flood Warning

• Always 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.

Evacuation Warning

• Act Early
• Be prepared to evacuate with your pets and emergency kit
• Stay up to date with emergency warnings and public messages.  

Local Land Services can offer flood recovery support for primary producers with on-farm clean-up advice, vet services to help with animal health, advice on pasture recovery, as well as long-term ongoing capacity building and skills development through funding and grants.

Local Land Services provides leadership in flood recovery support and advice to impacted landholders after an emergency response has wound down.

This includes:

• Animal assessment and veterinary advice and assistance
• Livestock feeding and management advice
• Pasture, cropping and horticulture recovery advice
• Plant and animal biosecurity surveillance and advice
• Erosion control and riverbank restoration advice

Landholders requiring further assistance can contact Local Land Services on 1300 795 299. 

If you require other assistance due to flood and storm emergencies, please phone NSW State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500.

In life-threatening emergencies call triple zero (000). 

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has created an Emergency Floodsafe Plan for your household or business. They also provide resources to help you prepare an Animal Emergency Plan for your livestock and other animals.

Visit NSW SES Website for current storm and flood advice for your area.

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment also provides information on surface and groundwater management as well as real-time water information and data.

Local Land Services Flood Recovery