What equipment flood groups actually hold (insights from the study)
Community flood stores are one of the most practical forms of resilience, because they reduce response time and allow communities to act during the critical first hours of an incident.
This blog is based on the data collated from the Flood Protection Solutions Ltd study with Cranfield University, where 120 flood groups were identified, with 21 people interviewed, including in-person visits.
What the study found about equipment and preparedness
Participants, in total, gave 22 different measures their groups have undertaken. The most popular answer was "campaigning for defences", which all 21 participants ticked. Generally this is the remit for flood groups, so it is not a surprise to see it as the most popular measure. "Promoting resilience measures" and "preparedness for future events" both saw 19 ticks. After this, the other popular answers were "pressure LLFAs, local council, agencies etc" with 18, "educating local area on flooding" with 16, and "channel vegetation clearing" with 15. Of the first set of measures put on the survey, all were undertaken, with at least one group undertaking each.
The study recorded "increase of equipment in stock" as a recognised measure among 11 participants, over 50%. It also recorded the use of temporary flood barriers, plus broader preparedness measures like planning and readiness (19 reported preparedness for future events).
What typically belongs in a community flood store
Based on the measures and practices described in the study, a practical community flood store commonly includes:
- Temporary barriers (noted explicitly as deployed by participants)
- Pumps and equipment (consistent with "equipment stock" and flood response preparedness), including puddle pumps, submersible pumps and, for larger volumes or off-grid sites, engine-driven pumps
- Radios and communications (aligned with the emphasis on warning systems and coordinated response)
- PPE and basic tools for clearance activity (aligned with clearance after flood events, channel clearing and maintaining infrastructure)
- Flood plan documents and quick-action checklists (flood plans were explicitly listed in the "other" measures)
Setting up and running the store
Holding the kit is only half the job. A store that works on the night tends to share a few practical features:
- An accessible, dry location above the likely flood level, with more than one key holder so access never depends on one person being available.
- A clear inventory and labelling so volunteers can find barriers, pumps, hoses and fittings quickly under pressure, with each pump stored alongside its hose, tails and clips.
- Regular testing. Pumps are mechanical and prefer to be run. Start each one periodically, check the float moves freely and the inlet is clear, and store them dry. The same routine we recommend in common water pumping mistakes applies to a shared store.
- A spare per critical item. If a pump is relied upon, hold at least one spare, because mechanical items can fail at the worst moment.
- Training and a simple deployment plan so more than one or two people know how to set up barriers and run the pumps safely.
Why flood stores are important
The study highlighted that groups often face funding complexity and slow release of money, meaning communities need to focus on what they can control: preparedness, local organisation, and practical kit that can be deployed quickly. Barriers reduce what gets in, and pumps remove what still arrives, which is the principle we set out in why flood barriers still need water pumps. You can browse suitable kit in our flood defence range, or use the Pump Finder if you are not sure what to stock.
Image showing community deploying a Water-Gate roll-out flood barrier.
