Flooding Advice
This information is designed to advise you about the precautions to take, actions that could help to minimise the damage and organisations that you can contact for help and assistance.
- General Enquiries Telephone 01584 813209
- Sandbags Telephone 01584 813226
- Out of Hours Telephone 01584 813226
Flood Warnings
- Environment Agency Flood Warnings website (External link)
Before:
The Environment Agency issues warnings of impending flooding and you should receive a flood warning a few hours before it commences either directly by an automatic message or via a flood warden or via local radio.
- Press and Local Radio
- Environment Agency Flood Awareness Campaign Letter (PDF File size 24KB)
- Environment Agency Advice Leaflet - Preparing for a Flood (PDF File Size 382KB)
During this period , after receiving a flood warning the following should be considered:
- You should remove anything that is moveable away from the area that may be flooded
- If you think you may require advice or re-housing during the flooding, then contact your local Council
- If you have to leave home, prior to any flooding during a time of high risk, then contact the local police and give your details and contact numbers to them and to neighbours.
- Check your insurance policy
During:
If water enters your building:-
IMMEDIATELY SWITCH OFF THE ELECTRICTY
Listen to the local radio broadcasts for latest information.
Contact your local Council if you need re-housing, or advice, including more sandbags.
Contact the electricity, gas and water companies if you are concerned about water affecting your electricity, gas, or sewerage supply.
If you have to leave your property for the duration, contact the police with details of where you are going, Remember to secure your property.
- Never put yourself in danger.
- Help your neighbours.
- The electrical supply must remain turned OFF until the system has been checked by a qualified electrician.
- If you need lighting overnight then use lighting from a non- electrical source, ie., candles, remember to use candlesticks to prevent a fire risk.
Extinguish candles before going to bed.
After:
Contact the Fire and Rescue Service if your property requires pumping out, obviously if the water is still rising your property will not be pumped out.
- Contact the Utility Companies to check your facilities.
- Tell the Police you have returned home if you left it for some time.
- Review insurance cover.
- Prepare for future flooding NOW
What do to in your home if it's been flood
- All floor coverings should be removed and floors and walls washed with clean water.
- Windows and doors should be left open and fires or heat kept alight in each room.
- Lift one or two floor boards to help the draught circulate.
- Any silt that has found its way under the house should be cleared away.
- Silt or earth accumulated against brickwork above the damp course should be cleared away.
- Under floor timbers and floor boards of suspended floors should be dried out before replacing floor coverings.
- Check drainage systems.
Page Subscriptions:
Subscription allows you to track page changes without having to re-visit the page on too frequent a basis. The system will send you an email when a page to which you have subscribed is changed.
Subscribe to changes to this page here.Author: Eric Williams. Last Updated: 20/8/2008.
