Have you ever considered the impact of flooding on your parish council? Is your community or itsresidents at risk?

Want to find out what flood could mean to your parish council and business continuityin your area as well as what actions need to be taken?

The Environment Agency is running a flood action campaign in November 2015 and you could be a part of it by simply following the below three steps

  1. Check if your area is at risk so that you have plenty of time to plan beforehand. The Environment Agency’s Flood Map is available online and you can view it by clicking here or pasting/ typing this link in your browser

Alternatively you can also email to mailto: get the flooding history of the land around a property. This is a free service.

You must include:

  • the property’s address
  • a map showing the property’s location
  • your address and phone number
  1. Sign-up for free flood warnings for your area by visiting and registering yourself on the Environment Agency’s Floodline Warnings Direct website by clicking here or pasting/ typingthis link in your browserhttps://fwd.environment-agency.gov.uk/app/olr/register

Or call Floodline, which is a 24 hour service, if you’re in an area at risk.

Floodline

Telephone: 0345 988 1188

  1. Know what to do when a flood happens for instance having a flood plan, improving your area's flood protection or insurance. Environment Agency has prepared a comprehensive guide for home and business owners to know what to do before, during and after a flood. You can download the document by clicking here or pasting/typing this link in your browser

Additionally make a written plan of how you’ll respond to a flood in an area at risk of flooding. It should include how you’ll:

  • protect people
  • deal with hazardous equipment
  • reduce the risk from polluting materials

In order to improve flood protection for individual properties, the owners can do the following

  • Ask a building surveyor, architect or other independent professional for advice on permanent flood protection measures.
  • Use the flood protection advisor to find out how much it could cost to protect their home.
  • Contact the Environment Agency if their plans will affect the flow of a river or will divert flood water to other properties.

Environment Agency

Telephone: 03708 506 506

Minicom: 03702 422 549

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

In order to get insurance

  • Contact the National Flood Forum for advice on how to get insurance and reduce the premium or excess.

National Flood Forum

Telephone: 01299 403 055

  • Contact the British Insurance Brokers’ Association to find a broker that specialises in properties that are difficult to insure.

British Insurance Brokers’ Association

Telephone: 0370 950 1790

If you need help during a flood

  • Residents can ask their local Fire and Rescue Service for help pumping out water but they may be charged a fee.
  • They may need an environmental permit to pump water from their property. Before they do anything, they need to check with:
  • their local Environment Agency office if they want to pump water into rivers, boreholes, ditches or watercourses
  • their water company if they want to pump water into public sewers
  • the local highways authority or Highways England if they want to pump water into street drains, highways or highway ditches
  • Report a gas leak by contacting National Grid. Call them on 0800 111 999.
  • Contact your local electricity company to report an electrical hazard or a problem with overhead electricity lines.
  • Western Power: 0800 6783 105 (emergency information)
  • To report an overflowing drain or sewer, please contact the relevant water company:
  • Welsh Water: 0800 085 3968 (open 24 hours)
  • Severn Trent Water: 0800 783 4444 (open 24 hours)
  • Contact your council for help getting temporary accommodation. Please call: 01432 260000
  • Contact Citizens Advice for help getting emergency money.
  • If you need to travel look at the latest weather forecast and road travel information
  • Dispose of used sandbags at your local civic amenity and recycling site. Sandbags contaminated with hazardous substances, eg sewage, must be disposed of as hazardous waste - contact your council environmental health team on 01432 261761 for advice.
  • Council tax rebates are available for homes that have been flooded and/or whose septic tanks have been damaged by the winter severe weather events and cover council tax for three months. To apply for a council tax rebate contact: 01432 260373
  • We are always looking to improve the way we respond to flooding within Herefordshire. To keep our database up to date, please record any flooding you have experienced by completing our online investigating flooding incidents form by clicking here or pasting this link in your browser https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/community-safety/emergencies/what-to-do-after-flooding/investigating-flood-incidents or contact the Emergency Planning team: 01432 260000 or email them on:

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