Flooding advice

Floods can damage your property and flood water may contain sewerage and other contaminants that are a risk to your health. By planning ahead and taking precautions you can help reduce the impact of flooding on your household.

How to prepare

We've put together the following guidance for residents, covering what to do before, during and after a flood:

• Before - How to prepare for a flood
• During - What to do when a flood warning is issued
• During - How to stay safe in a flood
• After - What to do after a flood

For further practical advice to keep you safe and help you prepare for a flood, visit The Flood Hub - what to do before, during and after a flood (external link).

For communities seeking advice on the flood risk to their property and how they can make it more flood-resistant, contact The Flood Advisory Service on 0800 970 3950, available Monday-Friday.

Keep up-to-date

There are a number of resources available to keep you up-to-date on the current flood situation and help you measure the flood risk to your property.

• Find out if you’re at risk of flooding (external link)
• Flood warning information service (external link)
• Sign up for flood warnings in your area (external link)
• See the targeted flood warning service for additional information (external link)
• Get flood alerts on your Facebook wall (external link).

Protecting your property

Property owners are responsible for protecting their own properties in the event of a flood, if you are a tenant it will be your landlord who has this responsibility. 

• The Flood Advisory Service (external link)

Flood-damaged properties

• For residents that have been evacuated, only return to your property if there is no police presence and the cordon has been removed.
• Homeowners - contact your building and contents insurance company. Take photos or bring in the insurance assessor before tidying up/repairing any damage
• Council tenants - report repairs online and contact your contents insurance company
• Private rent tenants - check your tenancy agreement and contact your contents insurance company.

After a flood

• How to clean your home safely – health advice and precautions to keep you safe after a flood
• Sandbags – do not remove them as they may be contaminated, we will remove them at a later date
• Water supply advice (external link) – it may be contaminated, make sure to wear gloves and wash your hands
• Electricity supply advice (external link) – if water has reached your sockets you will need to have them checked by a qualified electrician before use
• Gas Safe Register – you’ll want to contact your gas supplier so they can advise you on the general situation in the area
• Damaged trees - report trees obstructing roads or pavements
• Drains and sewer flooding – if the flood is due to a burst pipe or overflowing drain, report a burst water main
• Furniture - you can take damaged furniture to any of our waste recycling centres across the Borough. Check if you need a waste permit
• Food - you can place your food waste in your black bin or take it to any of our waste and recycling centres across the borough.