Emergency Preparedness at Home · Lesson 5 of 8 · 12 min

Floods and heavy rain

In April 2024 the UAE saw roads turn into rivers. Floods are also common in the UK and many other places students move to. Flood safety is simple, but it goes against instinct: the deadly mistake is usually trying to drive or walk through water.

What happened in the UAE in April 2024

On 16 April 2024, the National Centre of Meteorology recorded 254 mm of rain in under 24 hours at Khatm Al Shakla in Al Ain (Gulf News).
It was the most rainfall recorded since systematic climate monitoring began in the UAE in 1949 (Gulf News).
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain were affected; roads flooded and normal life largely stopped (Gulf News).
The lesson: even desert cities flood, because drainage is designed for normal rain, not extreme storms.

Before heavy rain: what to do

Follow official weather channels, and only official ones (Gulf News, March 2026, reporting UAE authority advice).
Move valuables, documents and electronics off the floor, and keep documents in waterproof bags (UK Government, Prepare).
Know where your electricity, gas and water shut-offs are (UK Government, Prepare).
Stock a few days of food and water in case you cannot get out (Ready.gov). Your kit from lesson ep-02 covers this.
Charge your phone and power bank, and plan to stay in if you can.

Never drive or walk through floodwater

Ready.gov says 6 inches (about 15 cm) of moving water can knock you down, and 1 foot (about 30 cm) can sweep a vehicle away.
The UK Government's Prepare site says the number one cause of death during flooding is driving through flood water. If you reach a flooded road, turn around.
Floodwater can be much deeper than it looks, and may hide open drains or debris (UK Government, Prepare; Ready.gov).
UAE authorities advise staying away from valleys (wadis), flood channels, dams and flood-prone areas during heavy rain, and not entering valleys while water is flowing (Gulf News, March 2026). Fines and penalties can apply.
If your car is trapped in fast-moving water, stay inside; if water rises inside the car, get onto the roof (Ready.gov).

Driving in the rain in the UAE

Dubai Police's tips in April 2024 included: use low-beam headlights, check your brakes after driving through puddles, avoid wadis, slow down and stay away from road edges (Gulf Business).
Use the external air setting to stop the windows fogging (Dubai Police, via Gulf Business).
Do not use your phone or film while driving (Gulf News, March 2026).
Do not get in the way of emergency responders. If you do not need to drive, do not.

If water gets into your home

Turn off electricity at the main switch only if it is safe; never touch an electrical switch while standing in water (UK Government, Prepare).
Move to a higher floor. If trapped, go to the highest level and signal for help (Ready.gov).
Call 999 (police) or 997 (Civil Defence) in the UAE if life is at risk (u.ae). In England, report severe river or coastal flooding to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 (UK Government, Prepare).
Afterwards, avoid floodwater, wash your hands well with warm soapy water after any contact, and photograph damage before cleaning up (UK Government, Prepare).
Contact your contents insurer and make sure it has approved any repair work before it starts (UK Government, Prepare). Tell your landlord in writing too.

Practise in real life

Tick each one off when you have done it.

Find out whether your building or street flooded in April 2024 (ask neighbours or building management) and where water collected.
Raise anything valuable that sits on the floor of your room, such as a laptop bag or extension leads.
In the UK, check your address's flood risk on GOV.UK and sign up for free flood warnings if it is at risk.

Remember

Turn around: never drive or walk through floodwater.
6 inches of moving water can knock you down; 1 foot can move a car.
Stay away from wadis, flood channels and dams during rain.
Never touch electrics while standing in water.

Note: UAE rain advice is from Gulf News and Gulf Business reports of NCM, NCEMA and Dubai Police guidance, not the authorities' own pages. Gulf News lists specific fines for entering valleys and gathering near flood areas but does not name the law, so amounts are not stated here; check official sources. Ready.gov figures are US guidance converted approximately to centimetres.

Check yourself

1. What does the UK Government's Prepare site say is the number one cause of death during flooding?

2. According to Ready.gov, how much moving water can sweep a vehicle away?

3. During heavy rain in the UAE, where do authorities advise you not to go?

4. Water is coming into your ground-floor flat. Which action is unsafe?

5. What record did the April 2024 UAE rain set, according to the National Centre of Meteorology as reported by Gulf News?