If you see floodwater across your path, turn back and move to higher ground. Avoid walking or driving into the flooded area. Floodwater can rise quickly, conceal drains or kerbs and make it difficult to judge the surface. Use a dry alternative route when one is available. PUB flood safety tips and alert channels
If water is rising around a stalled car, do not restart it. Turn on the hazard lights and call for assistance. Move to higher ground if you can do so safely. If you are trapped, someone is being swept away or there is a serious injury, call 995 immediately and describe your exact location. PUB flood safety tips and alert channels SCDF Emergency Handbook
- On foot, turn back and go to higher ground.
- Driving, avoid the flooded stretch and follow road closures.
- If trapped or someone needs immediate rescue, call 995.
On this page
- What to do on foot
- What to do if you are driving
- Check PUB updates before continuing
- Frequently asked questions
What to do on foot
Turn back as soon as the path ahead is covered. Look for a dry route away from the flooded low point. Stay clear of open drains, canals and water flowing across a pavement. If you are with children, keep the group together and wait on higher ground while you check the next safe route. PUB flood safety tips and alert channels
Tell a parent or teacher the place you have reached and which route is blocked. A message like “I’m inside the station entrance, and the underpass to school is flooded” gives the adult somewhere specific to meet you.
What to do if you are driving
Follow closures and divert early. PUB advises avoiding flooded areas when water is above kerb height or road markings have disappeared. Conditions may be different at the far side of the flood, even if a vehicle ahead gets through. Avoid committing to a flooded stretch you cannot assess. PUB flood safety tips and alert channels
If the car stalls and the water rises, switch on the hazard lights, call for assistance and avoid restarting it. Leave for higher ground if there is a safe route. If you cannot get out safely or need rescue, call 995 and follow the dispatcher’s directions. Give the road name, travel direction and a nearby junction or landmark. PUB flood safety tips and alert channels SCDF Emergency Handbook
Check PUB updates before continuing
PUB publishes flood updates through its Flood Alerts Telegram channel and myENV. Check the location and time of the alert and use it to plan a route. Conditions at the scene still matter. If the path remains flooded or closed, use a different route even after a message has circulated saying conditions have improved. PUB flood safety tips and alert channels
A pickup example
A parent sees a flooded underpass on the usual route to school. The child stays with school staff while the parent checks a dry route and the school’s collection instructions. Both wait to confirm the meeting point before moving.
Frequently asked questions
Should I walk through if the other side looks close?
Turn back and move to higher ground. Depth, current and the condition of the surface can be difficult to judge from the edge. PUB flood safety tips and alert channels
Can I use a lift or switch that floodwater has reached?
Keep clear of wet switches, appliances and affected equipment. Tell building staff about the hazard and follow their access instructions. PUB flood safety tips and alert channels
What if a pipe burst is causing the flooding?
Keep clear of the water and call PUB’s 24-hour line at 1800 2255 782 for a major pipe burst. If someone needs immediate rescue, call 995. PUB 24-hour contact information SCDF Emergency Handbook