Prepare for flooding

In the third of our posts on preparing for winter we bring information from the Environment Agency on preparing for flooding.

Make a flood plan

Plan how you’ll respond to a flood. Use a template to make a:

• personal flood plan
• community or group flood plan – if you’re responsible for an organisation such as a school, hospital, care home or community group
• business flood plan

Protect your property

You can:

• get advice from the National Flood Forum about how to protect your property and how much this will cost
• find flood protection products and services at Blue Pages

You may need permission to do work that will affect the flow of a river or divert flood water.

If you own a riverside property

If you own property next to a watercourse, for example a river, culvert, brook or mill stream, you must:

• maintain river beds and banks
• not obstruct the water flow

Read guidance on the rights and responsibilities of owning a riverside property.

Contact the Environment Agency if you have questions about your responsibilities.

Environment Agency
enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone: 03708 506 506
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Environment Agency website contact page:
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency#org-contacts

Sign up for flood warnings

Get warnings by phone, email or text message if your home or business is at risk of flooding. You can only get warnings for properties in England or Wales.

You’ll need to provide:

• the address you’re registering
• a phone number you can be contacted on day or night
• an email address

The service is free.

Register online:
www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings

Sign in if you want to update your details or cancel your account.

Other ways to register

You can also register, update your details or cancel your account by calling Floodline.

If you have a disability or need extra help

Ask your council if you can be put on a list to get extra help during a flood.

Apply to be added to the priority services register for gas and electricity supply

• for electricity supply contact UK Power Networks
  • Online: www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/power-cuts/priority-services-during-a-power-cut/
  • Telephone  0800 029 4285
• for gas supply contact your gas supply company from details on your gas bill

Ask Floodline to send flood warnings to a friend or relative on your behalf.