Flood Resilience Checklists
Flood resilience planning is easier when important checks are broken into clear steps. A checklist can help property owners, strata managers and commercial site operators review flood risk areas, flood barriers, drainage, pumps, backflow prevention, maintenance, records and emergency planning.
This page brings the main flood resilience checks together in one place. It is designed as a practical starting point before reviewing the more detailed topic guides.
These checklists provide general educational information only. They do not replace professional site assessment, engineering advice, plumbing advice, insurance advice, legal advice or official emergency guidance.
Key Takeaway
A useful flood resilience checklist should help identify what has been reviewed, what records are available, who is responsible and what actions still need follow-up.
On This Page
How To Use These Checklists
These checklists are intended to help organise a first review of flood resilience items around a property. They are not a technical assessment and they do not confirm that a site is protected from flooding.
The most useful approach is to work through each checklist, note what is already known, identify missing information and assign follow-up actions where needed.
Use The Checklists To Record
- What areas of the property have been reviewed
- Where water may approach, collect or enter
- Which flood-related systems are installed
- What records, photos or reports are available
- Who is responsible for maintenance or follow-up
- Which items need professional review
Keep A Simple Action List
As you work through the checklists, create a simple action list with the issue, responsible person, target date and status. This helps turn the review into practical follow-up rather than leaving checklist items unassigned or unresolved.
For broader context before using the checklists, start with the Flood Risk Guide and Flood Mitigation Guide.
Flood Risk Checklist
This checklist helps identify the broad flood risk pathway around a property before selecting barriers, drainage upgrades or other controls.
Water Approach
- Likely water approach directions identified
- Street runoff, driveway flow and neighbouring flow paths considered
- Low-lying areas and ponding locations noted
- Previous flood marks, staining or debris lines recorded
- Photos taken during or after heavy rain where safe
Entry Points
- Doorways, garage doors and roller doors reviewed
- Driveways, ramps and loading areas reviewed
- External stairwells and low access points checked
- Vents, grilles and service penetrations considered
- Backflow points or low-level drains considered where relevant
For a more detailed starting-point review, see the Flood Risk Guide.
Flood Barrier Checklist
This checklist helps review whether flood barriers may suit selected openings such as doors, garages, ramps, roller doors, loading docks or driveway entries.
Barrier Suitability
- Specific opening or area identified
- Water approach direction considered
- Opening width, height and surrounding surfaces reviewed
- Wall, floor, threshold and fixing conditions considered
- Potential water bypass paths checked
Operation And Access
- Manual, demountable, temporary or self-activating option considered
- Available warning time reviewed
- Pedestrian, vehicle or loading access requirements considered
- Storage location confirmed for removable components where relevant
- Inspection and maintenance requirements understood
For broader product selection questions, see Flood Barrier Options For Property Owners. For property-type examples, see the Residential Flood Barrier Guide and Commercial Flood Barrier Guide.
Drainage And Pump Checklist
Drainage and pump systems can affect how water moves around a property before, during and after heavy rain. These checks help identify obvious review items.
Drainage
- Pits, grates and trench drains identified
- Visible debris, leaves, silt or blockage checked where safe
- Known ponding or overflow areas recorded
- Overflow paths considered if drains are blocked or overwhelmed
- Recent paving, landscaping or construction changes reviewed
Pumps And Sumps
- Sump pits and pump locations identified where present
- Control panels and alarms located where relevant
- Service and testing records checked where available
- Power supply or backup arrangements considered where relevant
- Faults, alarms or previous issues recorded for contractor review
For more detail, see Drainage Management and Pumps And Sump Systems.
Backflow And Maintenance Checklist
Backflow and maintenance are easy to overlook because they may not be as visible as surface water at a doorway. Both should be included in a practical flood resilience review.
Backflow Prevention
- Low-level drains, fixtures and floor wastes identified
- Stormwater, sewer or drainage backflow risk considered where relevant
- Backflow prevention devices identified where present
- Inspection or testing records checked where available
- Warning signs such as surcharge, odour or water marks recorded
Regular Maintenance
- Flood barriers checked for access, condition and stored parts
- Drainage points checked for visible blockage or debris
- Pump and sump service records reviewed where relevant
- Backflow prevention records reviewed where relevant
- Outstanding defects or maintenance recommendations listed
For more detail, see Backflow Prevention and Regular Maintenance.
Records And Emergency Planning Checklist
Flood resilience depends on more than physical systems. Records, contact details and emergency planning help people understand what has been installed, what has been checked and what should happen when severe weather is forecast.
Flood Records
- Flood risk photos and notes saved
- Product information, manuals and installation records stored
- Drainage, pump, backflow and maintenance records saved where relevant
- Contractor details and responsible contacts recorded
- Records stored somewhere authorised people can access
Emergency Planning
- Responsible people and backup contacts assigned
- Official warning sources identified
- Flood barrier deployment process documented where relevant
- Unsafe areas and access limits understood
- Post-event photo, inspection and follow-up process planned
For more detail, see Flood Risk Documentation Checklist and Emergency Planning. For strata-specific responsibilities, see the Strata Flood Planning Guide.
Important Note
Safety and official emergency advice should always take priority. Do not enter floodwater, unsafe basements, electrical rooms, pump rooms or other hazardous areas during severe weather or flooding.
Flood Resilience Action Checklist
This final checklist helps turn observations into actions. It can be used after reviewing the earlier checklist sections.
Action Planning
- Flood risk areas listed
- Missing records identified
- Maintenance issues recorded
- Professional review items listed where required
- Responsible person or role assigned for each action
- Target date or next review date recorded
- Completed actions marked off
- Outstanding items reviewed until closed or formally updated
Review Triggers
- After heavy rain, flooding or a near miss
- After building, paving, landscaping or drainage changes
- After flood barrier installation, servicing or repair
- After pump, alarm, drainage or backflow issues
- When responsible people, managers or contractors change
- Before insurance renewal or internal flood risk reviews where records are being prepared
For insurance-related record preparation, see Flood Mitigation And Insurance Resilience and Questions To Ask Your Insurer.
Summary
Flood resilience checklists can help property owners, strata managers and commercial site operators review practical flood-related items in a structured way.
Useful checklist areas include flood risk, flood barriers, drainage, pumps, backflow prevention, maintenance, documentation and emergency planning.
The aim is to identify what has already been reviewed, what records are available, what actions remain open and which items need further professional advice.