BUSINESS AND RESIDENT INFORMATION. Flooding.

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1 BUSINESS AND RESIDENT INFORMATION Flooding

2 The reality of having your home or business flooded is difficult to understand unless you have been through the experience. Being prepared for a flood and taking precautions can reduce the risk of being flooded and the subsequent disruption, inconvenience and the expense both to family life and business. The information in this advice sheet is intended to help you be prepared. Some of the information sources listed below are from the internet. If you don t have access to the internet, your local library service does and will be able to assist you in using their facilities to access information. Be aware that flooding can come from a variety of sources such as rivers, groundwater (springs) or surface water eg. blocked drains on roads or fields.

3 Are you at risk of flooding? You can check if your home is at risk of flooding from rivers by entering your postcode into the Environment Agency s website. Can you be warned of flooding? The Environment Agency provides flood warnings for main rivers only. If you live in a flood risk area you can sign up to receive flood warnings issued for your area via the Floodline Warnings Direct service (either by , text message, telephone, fax or pager). To sign up, go to the Environment Agency website (see above) or phone Floodline (see below). Alternatively you can get the latest information about flood warnings on main rivers by telephoning Floodline on or on Teletext Page 159, Ceefax Page 149 and Digital Ceefax Page 405. The Met Office s website also gives advice on weather forecasts and when and where severe weather warnings are in force. What should I do if there is flooding from a public sewer or road? If you are aware of flooding from highway drains or public sewers then please contact the following organisations; HIGHWAY DRAINS DORSET COUNTY COUNCIL PUBLIC SEWERS WESSEX WATER

4 What else can you do? Advice on preparing a Flood Plan and other useful information to help you to protect yourself, your property and business from flooding is available on the Environment Agency s website. The National Flood Forum provides a wealth of information on steps that can be taken to reduce the effects of flooding especially their Blue Pages Directory that lists the numerous flood proofing and preventative products which are available from a variety of companies and sources. These include door barriers, air brick protection and alternative sandbags. THE NATIONAL FLOOD FORUM SNUFF MILL WAREHOUSE, PARK LANE, BEWDLEY, WORCESTERSHIRE, DY12 2EL TEL The Association of British Insurers produce a number of publications about preventative actions and dealing with the aftermath of a flood. THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH INSURERS, 51 GRESHAM STREET, LONDON, EC2V 7HQ TEL

5 What should you do during a flood? In the event of a flood you must focus on the safety of yourself and your family; Put people BEFORE property Co-operate with the emergency services if they tell you to evacuate during a flood Be prepared to act quickly to get yourself to safety What should I do after a flood has happened? Advice on the health implications of a flood can be found on the Health Protection Agency website Advice on recovery from a flood is available from the following organisations: Trustmark (for help in finding a reliable tradesman) National Federation of Builders Federation of Master Builders Communities and Local Government

6 What about my Parish or Town Council? Communities are encouraged to produce their own Flood Plan and Community Resilience Plans. Contact your Parish or Town Council for details. Details are available on the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils (DAPTC) website. TEL What about my business? You can find advice about preparing a flood plan for your business on the Environment Agency website. flooding/32362.aspx And on the Dorsetforyou website.

7 What will East Dorset District Council do? The council can supply sandbags to residents in emergencies when property is at risk of flooding. The council will prioritise any requests for sandbags according to the greatest need ie residential properties first, then business properties, not gardens. There will be occasions, particularly during major flood events, when the council will only respond when habitable accommodation is under threat. The supply of sandbags is free of charge and does not extend to clearing up after flooding and recovering sandbags after the event. Further information on sandbags is contained in a separate leaflet. To find out more about this service telephone and ask to speak to the Engineering Section. Should you require emergency assistance with flooding, contact us on telephone during office hours or outside normal office hours. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO HELP YOU.

8 East Dorset District Council Council Offices, Furzehill, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 4HN Designed by East Dorset District Council January 2010