Here are a number of other contacts that may be useful in an emergency:

• Environment Agency www.Environment-Agency.gov.uk Floodline Tel: 0845 988 1188
• Met Office www.MetOffice.gov.uk
• Electricity (24 hour emergency service and supply failures only) Tel: 0845 733 1331
• Gas (24 hour emergency service and gas escapes) Tel: 0800 111 999
• Yorkshire Water (24 hour emergency service) Tel: 0845 124 24 24 
• Police (non emergency) Tel: 0845 60 60 222
• NHS Direct www.nhs.uk (24 hour confidential health advice and information) Tel: 0845 46 47 
• Department of Health www.Doh.gov.uk

It's impossible to completely flood proof a property but there are lots of things you can do to reduce flood damage. Perhaps you're doing repairs after a recent flood or moving into a flood prone area and want to make sure your refurb project uses the latest measures. Here are some ideas to get you started...
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What are the simplest and cheapest steps I can take to flood proof my home?

• Stock up on sandbags. Your local council should have a stockpile. But if you want to take matters into your own hands, speak to your local builders’ merchants. But beware, if your problem is with groundwater flooding sandbags won’t help (see below for suggestions).
• Air brick covers. You can buy  covers that fit over air bricks to stop flood water entering. They are relatively cheap at but make sure you remove them once the flooding has passed, to allow the bricks to dry out again.
• Fit non-return valves on drains and pipes. This helps prevent sewage from flowing back through pipes from toilets and sinks. 
• Shelving. Mount high shelves for storing valuable items if you don’t have the option of moving them away from the ground floor.
• Raise your household appliances Similarly, to protect the mechanics of household appliances you can either move them off the ground floor or raise them on plinths where they stand.
• …and home entertainment. You can also raise televisions and sound systems to the wall above flood level.
• Protect valuables with sealable bags If large items such as electrical goods and sofas are too hard to move to a higher floor, buy large sealable bags.
•  Move electrical sockets higher up the wall  If you move electrical sockets to a height of about 1.5m they are less likely to be damaged by low level flooding.
• Replace wooden floors and carpets. Concrete with a damp-proof membrane and ceramic tiles are preferable to wooden floorboards. But be careful sealing it around the point where the floor and walls join. And replace fitted carpets with rugs, which are easy to move them away when there’s a flood warning.
• Quick release internal doors These can be quickly and easily lifted off their hinges and moved out of the way so that they don’t absorb flood water. If you can’t be sure you’ll be around to remove doors you can fit synthetic or waxed doors which will resist flood water.
• …or get them raised. You can have your door thresholds raised above the flood level.
• Replace chipboard and MDF units. Materials such as plastic, solid wood and some metals will absorb less water and require less drying out after a flood.
• Fit water-resistant skirting boards Plastic skirting boards might not be as attractive as wooden ones but they are less absorbent so all you’ll need to do is wipe them down after a flood.
• Seal exterior walls. Applying sealant to the exterior walls will cost around £500.  But it may cause damp inside your bricks if they are in bad condition.
• Barriers Building a flood barrier can be expensive (anything from thousands to tens of thousands of pounds) but your neighbours may be willing to pool their resources.
• Landscaping The outside areas of your home can also be designed in order to divert water away from the building.