AntesSecção 02
Saco estanque para documentos
Why: documentos, cartões e medicamentos secos mesmo com água pelos joelhos. Guarda-o com a mala de emergência.
Essential guide · Base level · 8 min
Essential guideBase level · open to all8 min read
Floods: what to do when the water rises
How to prepare your home, recognise a flash flood, never cross floodwater and clean up safely once the water has gone down.
Reviewed 1 Oct 2026
12·EA flood-ready home
In 30 seconds
The essentials, in four points.
15 cm
of moving water is enough to knock an adult over. Never walk through a flooded area.
30 cm
of rushing water carries away most cars; 60 cm carries off SUVs and vans. Turn around — don't risk it.
Up
If the water comes, go upstairs or to high ground. Never into basements, garages or underpasses.
Bin it
Any food that touched floodwater goes in the bin. Floodwater carries sewage, mud and chemicals.
01Why prepare
Three kinds of flood. One gives you days; another, minutes.
Portugal has a long history of floods. The November 1967 floods around Lisbon killed hundreds of people in a few hours; the February 2010 flash flood in Madeira swept away entire streets. Almost every winter there are roads cut off, flooded basements and people rescued from cars that tried to cross the water.
Not all floods are the same — and understanding the difference changes what you do.
Slow river flood
On the big rivers — Tagus, Douro, Mondego, Sado. Water rises slowly over hours or days, and there are warnings. There is time to move people, animals and belongings.
Flash flood
In streams, small watercourses and towns, with very heavy rain. Water rises in minutes and flows hard. It is the most dangerous.
Coastal overtopping
Storms at sea with spring tides. Waves break over sea walls and flood seafronts and houses on the coast.
IPMA weather warnings
| Warning | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Risk for some activities | Follow the forecast |
| Orange | Moderate to high risk | Prepare house and car |
| Red | Extreme risk | Avoid going out; follow Civil Protection |
Check warnings at ipma.pt. In serious situations, Civil Protection also sends text messages to phones in the affected area.
02Before: prepare your home
What's down low, the water takes. Move it.
1
Clear drains, gutters and gullies at the start of autumn and before every storm. ANEPC also asks you to move anything that could be swept away out of the water's path.
2
Documents and valuables upstairs, in a waterproof bag, together with your grab bag. Nothing important in basements or ground-level storerooms.
3
Learn how to switch off the electricity at the mains, the gas and the water. If the water comes, you'll want to do it before it reaches the sockets.
4
Don't leave the car on low ground or in underground car parks when heavy rain is forecast. Don't park near streams or under trees.
5
Protect entrances: flood boards and sandbags slow water getting in. Ask a plumber about a non-return valve on the drain if the sewer tends to back up.
6
Agree where to go: family or friends on higher ground, or the shelter named by your council. Think about pets and anyone who needs help to leave.
03When the water rises
Go up. Switch off. Never cross.
Step 1
Go up
People, animals, documents and medicines to the upper floor or high ground. Take your grab bag, water and food for two days.
Step 2
Switch off
Before the water reaches the sockets, switch off the mains and turn off the gas. If the floor is already wet, don't touch the fuse box.
Step 3
Don't cross
Not on foot, not by car. Under the water there are holes, lifted drain covers and current. Turn around or wait.
Plate 12·F — What moving water can carry awayDepth of moving water
1
Is there an evacuation order for your area?
Yes
Leave nowBefore the water reaches the streets. Take your grab bag, pets and medicines, and go to the agreed place. Lock up.
No
2
Is the street already flooded, or is the water flowing hard?
Yes
Don't leave through the waterGo to the highest floor and wait. If the water keeps rising, call 112, say where you are and make yourself visible from a window or balcony.
No
3
Is water coming into the house?
Yes
Switch off and go upMains and gas off, if the floor is still dry. Then everything and everyone upstairs.
No
Keep up with warningsRadio on, phone charged, car off low ground. Don't go to look at the river or the stream.
04After the flood
The water has gone down. The danger hasn't — yet.
Floodwater is not rainwater: it carries sewage, mud, fuel and chemicals. And flooded homes hide dangers you can't see — electricity, gas, weakened structures.
1
Only go back when the authorities say so. Roads and bridges may be damaged underneath.
2
Don't switch the power on if water reached the sockets or the fuse box: have an electrician check first. Smell gas? Don't light anything, get out and call 112.
3
Waterproof gloves and boots throughout the clean-up. Avoid skin contact with the water and mud, and wash your hands well.
4
Any food that touched the water goes: food, opened packs, screw-top jars, baby bottles and dummies. If in doubt, throw it out.
5
Clean and disinfect every surface that was in contact with floodwater — especially worktops, dishes and toys.
6
Tap water only when told it's safe by the water utility or health authority. Wells and boreholes that were under water must not be used. See the Water guide.
7
Dry and air quickly. Open windows, remove anything soaked — rugs, mattresses, plasterboard — and dry thoroughly to prevent mould.
8
Photograph everything before cleaning and throwing things away: you'll need the photos for insurance and public support.
05Six costly mistakes
Flood myths — and what to do instead.
Myth
“An SUV can cross deep water with no problem.”
At 60 cm of moving water, the current carries off SUVs and vans. Weight won't hold you.
Myth
“I know this road, I know where it's deep.”
Floods open holes and lift drain covers. The road you know may no longer exist under the water.
Myth
“The basement is the best place to store things.”
It is the first place to flood and the most dangerous to enter during a flood. Nothing important — and no one — in the basement.
Myth
“Standing water is harmless.”
It may be live from fallen cables or sockets, and it is contaminated. Don't walk in it or let children play in it.
Myth
“If the tap water runs clear, it's safe to drink.”
After a flood the mains can be contaminated without it showing. Wait for the water utility to say so.
Myth
“With sandbags, the house is protected.”
They slow the water down but won't stop a real flood. Get people and belongings upstairs first.
06Recommended equipment
What keeps you dry, informed and protected during clean-up.
The most important thing in a flood can't be bought: knowing whether you're in a flood zone and going up in time. These items protect your documents, help remove water and make the clean-up safer.
Amazon.es affiliate links. If you buy through them, K72+ earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
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DepoisSecção 04
Botas de borracha altas
Why: para a limpeza: a água da cheia traz esgoto e lama. Nunca para atravessar água a correr.
DepoisSecção 04
Luvas impermeáveis de limpeza
Why: a DGS recomenda luvas e botas impermeáveis durante toda a limpeza.
DepoisSecção 04
Bomba de água submersível
Why: tira a água da cave depois de a cheia baixar. Elétrica, e só com a instalação verificada.
AvisoSecção 03
Rádio a pilhas e manivela
Why: para acompanhar os avisos quando a luz falha — acontece em muitas cheias.
Quick card
Print it. Stick it by the fuse box.
Stick this sheet near the fuse box or the front door, where you'll see it when you need it most.
Floods · K72 sheet
115 cm of moving water knocks a person over. Never cross.
2Orange or red warning: car off low ground.
3Water rising: go up — never basements or garages.
4Switch off the mains only if the floor is dry.
5After: gloves and boots; food that touched the water goes.
6Petrol generator or pump: outdoors only.
12·E · k72plus.comEMERGENCY: 112
- ANEPC — Floods: preventive measures (5 February 2026, in Portuguese)
- IPMA — Guide to weather warnings (in Portuguese) — meaning of warning colours
- US National Weather Service — Turn Around, Don't Drown — 15, 30 and 60 cm of moving water
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts (USA) — Flood safety tips — car trapped in moving water
- DGS — Storms: essential care and safe behaviour (2026, in Portuguese) — clean-up, food, generators
- Portuguese Environment Agency — Flood zone mapping (Floods Directive)
Reviewed 1 Oct 2026 · Next review: Mar 2027 · Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
This guide does not replace instructions from the authorities or your municipality's emergency plan. Always follow orders from Civil Protection and the police. In an emergency, call 112.
