Advice for Flood Prevention

Being prepared for flooding and knowing the risk to your property can help prevent damage to your property.

Things You Can Do Now

• Know the risk:  How likely is it that your property will flood based on its location and history?  Speak to neighbours or your Parish Councillor if you’re unsure.
• Check your insurance:  Does your policy cover flood damage?
• Keep valuables above flood level:  Make sure important documents or personal items such as photographs are kept away from flood risk, or can be easily moved.
• Know who to call:  Make sure you have important numbers to hand including the Floodline, your water, telephone, electricity and gas providers, and insurance company.
• Know your home:  Make sure you know in advance how to turn off the water, gas and electricity supplies to your home.
• Consider purchasing flood protection equipment:  Plastic covers for airbricks, sandbags and flood boards can all be purchased to provide some protection against flooding.  Sandbags can also be made at home from pillow cases or plastic bags filled with earth or sand.
• Know the warning signs:  Check the weather regularly and know the tides.  Keep an eye on water levels around your home during heavy rain.

Things To Do When Floods Threaten

• Move what you can above flood level:  Try to move as much furniture and possessions above the expected flood level, move your car to higher ground and try to ensure outdoor pets or livestock have somewhere to go.
• Make a flood kit:  Have a torch with spare batteries, a first-aid kit, warm and waterproof clothes and wellingtons handy.
• Switch off supplies to your home:  If flood water reaches your home, switch off electricity, gas and water supplies.
• Help friends and neighbours:  Try to help other members of the community take action.  Offer to help move furniture or put flood protection measures in place and check that vulnerable members of the community are safe. 

Flooding on Roads

The Parish Council works continually to try and ensure flood problem areas on our roads are dealt with.  However, with limited resources the Highways Authority cannot deal with everything.  Flooding is an issue which is considered a priority by the Parish Council and we are looking at alternative ways to deal with the problem.  For example, we have hired a Parish Steward to help clear some of the gulley tops which regularly get blocked.  We also hope to work with the Local Area Partnership (a collaboration between local councils) to deal with some of the major problems in the area.

Unfortunately in many cases the rural drainage system is simply not adequate to deal with some of the heavy downpours we have experienced in recent years, especially when the ground becomes saturated and fields flooded.  In heavy weather you should be aware when travelling that you may meet floods on the roads:

• only travel when it is necessary
• plan your route to avoid regular flood areas
• leave extra time for your journey
• don’t attempt to go through a flood if you don’t know how deep it is
• be aware of what your vehicle is capable of travelling through
• put a pair of wellingtons and waterproof clothing in your car in case you get stuck

If you notice flooding on the roads or are concerned about a particular problem spot you should report it to the Highways Hotline (see above left).