Flooding
The Environment Agency operates a flood warning system, giving
information to the public, media, emergency services and local
Authorities.
Using the latest available technology, the Agency monitors
rainfall, river levels and sea conditions 24 hours a day and use
this information to forecast the possibility of flooding. If
flooding is forecast, warnings are issued using a set of four
easily recognisable codes. The following codes are used:
- Flood Watch - Flooding possible. Be aware! Be
prepared! Watch out!
- Flood Warning - Flooding expected affecting
homes, businesses and main roads. Act now!
- Severe Flood Warning - Severe flooding
expected. Imminent danger to life and property.
- All Clear - An all clear will be issued when
flood watches or warnings are no longer in force.
For more information on the current flooding situation, visit
the Environment
Agency website (external link).
When there is a risk of flooding the Agency issues warnings
through the media; they are broadcast on TV weather bulletins and
on radio weather and travel reports. Make sure you know which is
your local radio station.
The Environment Agency provides the Floodline Service -
Telephone Number 0845 988 1188. You can listen to recorded
flood warning information or speak to an operator for general
information and advice 24 hours a day.
What this Council will do
The Council's approach to providing emergency assistance during
times of flooding is as follows:
- The Council has no legal responsibility to provide assistance
to residents during times of flood.
- The Council will provided emergency assistance on an ad hoc
basis dependent upon local conditions, its obligations elsewhere in
the district and its available resources.
- The Council will provide sandbags or other such equipment as it
feels appropriate, if they are available, to assist with the
defence from flooding to persons or property within the
area.
- The Council operates a local flood plan in the event of a
flooding incident and this includes its response to the flood
zones in the district.
- The Council will assist with the dissemination of Environment
Agency flood warnings where appropriate. The Council will keep the
necessary equipment at their depot to carry out the above
functions, or have facilities to get access to the appropriate
equipment rapidly.
- Very serious flooding resulting in the need for evacuation of
houses, provision of temporary accommodation and the like is
covered by the Council's Emergency Plan.
If you live near the coast, there is always a possibility that a
combination of high tides and bad weather will threaten your
property with flooding, even though engineers will have done as
much as possible to reduce the risk of this happening.
However, even if you live inland, events over the past few
winters have demonstrated that exceptional storms can cause
flooding even on hill slopes, when the drainage system is simply
overwhelmed by the amount of water it is expected to carry.
In addition, when the ground is saturated even small additional
amounts of rainfall will find it difficult to drain away from
gardens and enclosed spaces.
The Council, at times of emergency, will be endeavouring to
protect the public at large and will not be able to assist a large
number of individual homeowners who may find their properties
threatened.