How To Deal With A Flood

Transcription

1 CROWMARSH GIFFORD, NORTH STOKE & MONGEWLLL EMERGENCY FLOOD PLAN : 2014 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Characteristics of flooding in the Parish 3. Flood Management Organisations 4.a Parish Council role 4.b Residents general role 5. What the Parish Council will do when a Flood warning is issued Appendix A Parish Area Map Appendix B Places of Refuge Appendix C Advice on Procedure for a flood event Appendix D Agency Roles Appendix E Financial Support 1. Introduction This Plan has been put together by Crowmarsh Gifford Parish Council as an information / action manual including useful information for residents of the Parish. It explains what can be done to guard against / protect during a flooding, specifically : ~ the various roles by individuals and agencies ~ flood warnings, and actions to be taken by organizations and individuals ~ when a flood warning is in place 2. Characteristics of Flooding in the Parish Note that to date there has been no major community flooding, although some individual areas have been flooded by : ~ Direct river flooding in low lying areas adjacent to the River Thames eg. Riverside carpark, recreation ground, campsite ~ Run off from adjacent agricultural land eg. The Retreat ~ Some springs rising to the surface eg north west of the street ~ Rising water table causing overflow of adjacent lakes, flooding to areas and buildings eg Carmel College and adjacent housing ~ Rising water levels causing drainage into sewers causing sewer overflow eg. Winters Field There is usually advance indications that flooding is likely. 3. Flood Management Organisations

2 Direct Flood management is the responsibility of the Environment Agency Other agencies involved include the County and District Councils and the Emergency Services. A detailed list of the individual responsibilities is listed in Appendix D. 4a. Parish Council role The Parish Council role includes : ~ Strategic overview of local developments in flood protection and mitigation, and lobbying to improve prevention and mitigation within the Parish where possible ~ Developing and maintaining the community flood plan ~ Developing and promoting awareness of flooding threat (website) ~ Being a key contact, consultee and link for the statutory and emergency services ~ Liaison with residents ~ At times of flooding, providing advice, links and support ~ Keep abreast of new developments in emergency response and other flood related matters and attend flood briefings with the County and Districts ~ To be a hub for the dissemination of information via notice boards, website etc. 4.b Residents General Role At the moment, the settlements in Crowmarsh do not have a neighbourhood co-ordination / street representative or volunteer-link schemes within Crowmarsh Gifford, North Stoke or Mongewell. But the emergency planning organizations are keen to promote individual resilience : residents can help themselves by : 1. Identify if you are living in a flood risk area: call Floodline on or visit agency.gov.uk/floodline 2. All residents are encouraged to consider neighbours who might need special assistance during a flood event because of illness, frailty or disability; people with young children; those with special needs or issues and pass on this information via the Parish Council or emergency services in the event of a flood. 3. Make sure you know your responsibilities if you are a riparian owner (property owner or resident whose property is adjacent to a river, stream, brook, drainage ditch, culvert or other watercourse). Ensure land drainage on your property is functioning correctly.

3 4. Provide your own flood defences if necessary such as sandbags and flood boards, etc. Visit the National Flood Forum website for more information 5. Ensure your insurance covers you for flooding, alternative accommodation etc. Check whether insurance premiums can be reduced if you provide flood protection equipment. 6. Think about a Household Flood Plan (see Appendix C) 7. Make sure you understand what the different organisations involved in flooding (Environment Agency, local authorities, water / sewage companies and emergency services) are responsible for in your area. A List is provided below (Appendix D) 8. Arrange alternative accommodation if your home or property is uninhabitable (and check your insurance covers the costs). Speak to your insurance company before disposing of any flood damaged items. But note the local authorities can help with this and in particular, contact SODC for emergency housing 9. When you recover from the flood, repair your building. 10. Dispose of debris / furniture / flood damaged items from your home in a legal manner. 11. If you need sandbags, contact SODC who arrange for supplies; please take only the ones required to protect hour home or business from water ingress; leave available supplies for others. Do help the housebound or those with no transport to access sandbag supplies. More information is available in the Environment Agency s leaflets : * During a flood * After a flood leaflets. Call Floodline or visit their website to obtain copies. Remember, in a flood crisis Emergency Services will be overstretched. 5. What the Parish Council will do when a Flood warning is issued? ~ Establish who will act as lead Parish Council co-ordinator during the event. This will normally be the Emergency Planning Team or an agreed deputy: Name Contact Number Mr John Griffin (Leader) (eve) (work) johngriffin@phonecoop.coop jhgr@ceh.ac.uk Mr Nigel Hannigan (Deputy) tmbwarehouse@hotmail.com Mrs Susan Rance (Co-ordinator) susanrance@btinternet.com

4 Mr Chris Strange (work) (eve) The team will contact the Environment Agency and the Emergency Operations centre run by Oxfordshire County Council to establish the level of risk and what arrangements are being considered by the multi-agency Emergency Teams and the Emergency Services In the event of anticipated serious flooding, the Emergency team will call a meeting of all Councillors, ward councilors of SODC / OCC and available emergency service personnel. Note however that in a serious incident a large area both within and external to the Parish would be involved, and the emergency services will be already stretched. The team will ensure community information is available on the Parish website and on the Parish noticeboards Note that the role of the Parish Council is one of liaison not management of a flood event APPENDIX 2 : PARISH COUNCIL AREA APPENDIX B : PLACES OF REFUGE In the event of evacuation, various locations are available within the Parish : note however that if these are flooded, the Emergency Services have a list of available refuges outside the parish and will co-ordinate these with Oxfordshire County Council Emergency Planning Unit. It is the role of the Emergency Services and OCC to decide what refuges will be used and arrange allocations and supply.

5 It is the role of SODC acting in liaison with housing associations to arrange for alternative longer term accommodation, if required. However residents should also contact their house insurers who may be able to arrange and pay for alternative accommodation to the residents own choice. A. Crowmarsh Gifford Crowmarsh Village Hall / The Pavilion / Crowmarsh CE Primary School / South Oxfordshire District Council Offices / Howbery Park / St Mary Magdalen Church B. North Stoke Village Hall / St Mary the Virgin Church C. Mongewell CABI Head Office A full list of contacts for these locations is in the main Parish Emergency Plan. D. Outlying Homes and Hamlets Note a scattering of properties and house-clusters outside the main population concentrations who may be in need of assistance APPENDIX C: ADVICE ON PROCEDURE FOR A FLOOD EVENT ~ You need not panic. Floods in this area take a long time to build up, and you should have plenty of warning. Do things in the right order, and you will be all right. Keep list of useful numbers - local council / emergency services / insurance companies SODC : will provide emergency housing or accommodation if residents have to be evacuated from their homes. It will also provide sandbags to vulnerable homes wherever possible. If you need help please contact the council on or if you are calling about an emergency out of office hours. Emergency services : Major life-threatening emergency (fire / police / ambulance) : In the event of an emergency please call 999. Environment Agency - responsible for managing major rivers, operating the flood defences and for issuing flood warnings Floodline or Incident hotline Thames Valley Police - responsible for co-ordinating the emergency services in a major flood incident and helping with the evacuation of people from their homes, if necessary. 101 (non emergency)

6 Thames Water - responsible for foul and surface water disposal from homes and businesses 24-hour hotline Oxfordshire County Council - responsible for highway drainage and flooding and opening rescue centres : ~ When you suspect you may be flooded, listen to Radio Oxford (95.2 & FM), and to the telephone messages of the Environment Agency You should sign up now for automated warnings, directly with the Environment Agency (for those areas allowed to register). Stay in touch with your neighbours so you can share information. ~ The Environment Agency phoneline provides : - telephone advice and information service - quick dial numbers (be ready to jot down) for local warnings in force - 8am 8 pm weekdays / 10 am 4 pm weekends & bank holidays - 24 hour flood warning information Also check the Crowmarsh Parish website ~ Think first what you can do to help yourself. Write a Household Flood Plan with the following : Location of gas, power, water stopcocks to turn off Store valuable / sentimental items upstairs or in a high place downstairs Have a flood kit : torch, blankets, waterproof clothing, wellingtons, rubber gloves, copies of key personal documents kept upstairs Things to do (turn off gas, power, water, sandbag toilets, raise furniture on bricks, clear low kitchen and other cupboards onto higher surfaces etc.) A template for a flood plan is available in the Preparing for a flood leaflet provided by the Environment Agency. Call Floodline or visit their website) for a copy. See additional items to consider immediately below : ~ Make sure all occupants of your property know what to do. ~ If you can, lay in stores of food and fresh water to last a few days. Because you may have to move upstairs, buy food that needs no refrigerator or cooker: bottled water, tins, fruit, biscuits, tea, coffee, sugar, long life milk, cereals, eggs, and if you have pets, pet food. Any medicines? Before you head off to the shops, ask your immediate neighbours if you can get anything for them too. Remember to ask those who you believe could not get out.take up some mugs, plates and cutlery, an electric kettle and a tin opener. Take a heat source. ~ Park your car / caravan on high ground. ~ See if you can help neighbours with the heavy lifting, and if they in return, can help you.

7 ~ Take all valuable documents, photographs, lap-top, mobile telephone and charger, small electrical items upstairs. You may have time to take furniture that might be damaged upstairs, too, or raise on bricks. If possible, put all white kitchen machines, cooker, refrigerator, etc., up on tables, and pull up carpets, roll and take upstairs. Unplug electrical items. ~ If your house starts to flood, block your downstairs toilet if possible, even if it looks fine. Do not flush it as this could subsequently cause it to overflow. The emergency service should provide portaloos if toilets are likely to be out of use. Put weighted plugs in sinks, basins, showers and baths ~ Tell neighbours how you are getting on and ensure information is passed to the emergency services. If you believe you or a neighbour are at serious risk of their lives, telephone 999 directly. ~ Do as much as possible during daylight hours ~ If you think you need to leave your house and go to a rest centre, the emergency services people will help you. However, remember that you do not, by law, have to leave your house. In exceptional circumstances where the police believe that your lives are at risk you can be forced to leave but that is very unlikely to happen in a South Oxfordshire flooding incident. If the need for evacuating your home is necessary, please cooperate with the emergency services. ~ Before arranging to go to a refuge, make sure there is a way in which your pets can be cared for. If you are evacuated to a refuge or temporary accommodation, you may not be able to take any pets do check. It is better if private arrangements are made note to ensure you have appropriate contact numbers. It is better to do this when a threat arises rather than at the time of actual flooding. If you have to leave a pet at home, make sure are safe upstairs with plenty of fresh water. The RSPCA may be able to provide volunteers who will provide home care. ~ If evacuated do not forget to take any needed medication and your GP details. ~ Sandbags are available from : SODC Public Amenities (phone to check availability) (office hours) (out of ours) Sandbags or floorboards can block doors and airbricks. Consider purchasing alternative flood protection products. A full range of information on these products are available from the National Flood Forum website A selected group of product information is also available on the Environment Agency website

8 ~ Floods can kill. NEVER attempt to walk or drive through any depth of floodwater. Flood insurance If a property has suffered from flood damage in the past, if there is a history of flooding in your neighbourhood, or you are within an identified flood risk area, it can sometimes be difficult to find insurance cover. Defra have produced a guide which provides information to help people obtain a suitable insurance policy. It explains how to get specialist help and what information you may be asked to give, provides tips on how to reduce the impact of flooding and the last section of the guide provides useful information on key organisations their responsibilities and contact details and relevant websites for further reading. See for details. (Information from SODC Website) APPENDIX D : AGENCY ROLES ENVIRONMENT AGENCY ~ Monitor rainfall and river levels and make forecasts and issue flood warnings on main rivers, where they have forecasting capabilities ~ Communicate the risks of flooding to those at risk ~ Can provide demountable flood barriers ~ Provide advice on what to do before during and after flooding ~ Provide information on river flood level forecasts when a flood watch or warning is in force on their Floodline service ~ Issue flood warnings to people who are registered to receive flood warnings* When flood warnings are in force, local river forecast information is available on the Environment Agency Floodline service; callers can listen to this information by telephoning Floodline. The Environment Agency website shows live flood watches and warnings in force; it is updated every 15 minutes. However when a flood watch or warning is in force people should telephone Floodline to listen to what is happening locally, this local information is not available on the website. * It is important that all properties at risk from flooding should see if they can register for the Environment Agency s free flood warning service, Floodline Warnings Direct (FWD). You can register by telephoning and ask to be registered. To find out if your property is at risk, you can either telephone Floodline on and ask the operator or by logging onto the Environment Agency s website at and entering your post code

9 Categories of Flood Watch signs : Flood Watch : logo of house with water below = flooding possible, be aware, be prepared watch water levels stay tuned to local radio / TV ring floodline make sure ready to put personal flood planning into action alert neighbours, particularly elderly check pets, livestock consider travel (and work) plans Flood Warning : logo of house, water lapping foundations = flooding expected, action needed as above + move pets, vehicles, food, valuables etc to safety put sandbags / floorboards in place prepare to turn of gas and electricity be prepared to evacuate home protect families and others in need Severe Flood Warning : logo of house flooded = imminent danger, act now as above + be prepared to loose power supplies gas, electricity, water, telephone keep calm and reassure those in need be ready to co-operate with emergency services and for evacuation note 2 hours advance notice hoped for but not always possible OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL ~ Oxfordshire County Council is the Highway Authority for the area. The County has a statutory duty to maintain roads bridleways and footpaths within its area registered as Highway Maintainable at Public Expense. Trunk Roads and Motorways are the responsibility of the Department for Transport and its agent the Highways Agency. The County Council will put flood alert warnings on its flooded roads and close roads and divert traffic; clear blockages on highway drainage systems; protect properties from highway flooding if this drainage fails. ~ The County Council will circulate the relevant weather warnings to professional partners; deal with highways matters and any road closures; support the District Council; provide evacuation arrangements with the District Council; establish rest centres where required ~ Work with the Fire & Rescue Service for emergency response ~ Represent the County Council at the relevant Command & Control Structures ~ Provide sandbag/sand resources in support of the responding agencies but ONLY in exceptional circumstances via the Fire & Rescue Service to individuals, usually the elderly and vulnerable depending on our tasks at the time ~ Deal with life-threatening incidents as a priority ~ Manage the media response on behalf of the Council and those supporting the County Council

10 ~ Open and staff the relevant County Council Command & Control structures ~ Open public help lines where required ~ Update the County Council's website ~ Update County Councillors on the incident ~ Chair the Recovery Working Group if required ~ Conduct debriefs of the incident for responding agencies and attend any public meetings on the incident ~ Ensure that the broadcast/print media is updated on the facts of the incident ~ Ensure that the response from the County Council is similar throughout Oxfordshire dependent on resources at the time ~ The County Council has the responsibility of responding throughout the County and its resources are finite. A response to each incident will have to be based on resources. SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL South Oxfordshire District Council is the principal second tier Operating Authority in the area. ~ The Council does not have a statutory duty to maintain watercourses, but it can use certain provisions in the Land Drainage Acts to secure the proper function of minor watercourses in the area and enforce maintenance of watercourses by riparian owners ~ It has a co-ordinating role for the council area emergency assistance ~ Principal responsibility for homelessness in the longer term (i.e. helping housing agencies to re-house vulnerable people made homeless where there is no alternative solution) ~ Run a control centre and refuge centre liaison ~ Clear blocked watercourses etc. blocked road channels and gully gratings ~ Street cleaning ~ The District will normally provide sand and / or sandbags / and have pumps etc but priority will be given to vulnerable residents ~ Waste collection & environmental health ~ Public health advice following a flood (e.g. polluted drinking water, food safety etc.)~ ~ Advice on dangerous building structures (Building Control) SODC have a website page on flooding advice, much of it incorporated in this Flood Plan. Follow the links via : SODC Council Website / Home / Services and advice / Environment and neighbourhood issues / Severe weather / Flooding POLICE At a major flooding event, the police service is responsible for: ~ Co-ordinating the emergency service, local authorities, media, etc. ~ Assisting in the saving of life and protection of property ~ Where practicable, establish cordons to facilitate the work of the other emergency services in the saving of life, the protection of the public and the care of survivors ~ Oversee any criminal investigation

11 ~ Secure, protect and preserve the scene, and control traffic and road closures ~ Facilitate inquiries carried our by the responsibility for identifying and arranging the removal of the dead ~ In the event of the agreed procedures for warning and informing communities at risk not being effective, then, where practicable, assistance will be given FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE In flooding, the fire and rescue service has limited resources and there is often little it can do once the rescue phase is over. Example, when a building is flooded and floodwaters are still high outside, there is no point at all in pumping out water. The fire service role in a major flooding event is as follows : ~ The priority is to save life- rescue of trapped persons from cars, boats, houses etc. ~ If emergency life safety assistance is required ring 999 and ask for Fire & tell the Fire Service Operator the address, nature of the emergency and information on access routes ~ Where widespread flooding is expected in a defined area the Fire Service may (with other agencies) provide warnings and advice to householders ~ In preparing for potential / threatened flooding the Fire Service may (subject to work load) be able to assist vulnerable households in safeguarding their homes and property ~ Pumping water out of properties will not normally be undertaken during major flooding events, unless there is risk of flood water affecting vitsal infrastructure such as electrical sub-stations ~ Once the surrounding flood levels have dropped sufficiently, the Fire and Rescue Service will assist with pumping, concentrating resources on vulnerable persons. ~ Emergency services provided by OCC Fire and Rescue Services during large scale flooding incidents are free to householders AMBULANCE SERVICE ~ Provide life-saving treatment. ~ Arrange transport to hospital for those who require urgent medical care. APPENDIX E [ information taken from the SODC website reviewed ] Financial support for businesses and homeowners affected by flooding The Government has announced a number of schemes to help businesses and homeowners who have been affected by flooding. These are as follows:

12 1. Business Rates Flooding Relief Any operational business premise that meets the following criteria may receive relief of 100% for 3 months, regardless of how long the property has been flooded: rateable Value must be under 10million the business activity undertaken at the property must have been adversely affected relief will run with the property, therefore if the ratepayer changes part way through the 3 months, relief will pass to the new ratepayer the flooding must have taken place between 1 December 2013 and 31 March 2014 To apply for business rate flooding relief please sodc.businessrates@secure.capita.co.uk. 2. Business Support Scheme Any business that meets the following criteria will need to complete and return an expression of interest form if you would like to be considered for this funding. The deadline for expressions of interest is 30 April To apply please complete and return an application for support form. Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME) (as defined by turnover not exceeding 50m and having less than 250 employees) that have sustained hardship and significant loss of trade support must not duplicate insurance cover or other schemes support can only be given to businesses affected since 1 December Support can also be given to businesses indirectly affected by the flooding. Properties do need to have been flooded to apply for this grant, but loss of business must be proven. 3. Council Tax Flooding Relief Any homeowner that was impacted by flooding between 1/12/13 and 31/3/14 will receive a minimum of 3 months Council Tax relief. Where a householder has had to leave a property for a period of time due to flooding, the Council will consider giving relief for a longer period up to a maximum period of six months To apply for council tax flooding relief please sodc.counciltax@secure.capita.co.uk. 4. Repair and Renewal Grant Businesses and Homeowners may apply for a grant to pay for work that improves a property s ability to withstand future flooding. grants will be up to a maximum of 5k including the costs of any survey undertaken where flood defence work has already been planned for in a certain area, it is unlikely any grant will be given under this scheme the work to be undertaken has to improve the properties resilience and resistance to future flooding over and above repairs normally covered by insurance

13 flooding must have been incurred between 1 December 2013 and 31 March The council is able to make payments on receipt of invoices so that residents do not have to pay for the works upfront. Applications for this scheme open on 1 April To apply please complete and return an application form (226.5 KB) to floodgrants@southandvale.gov.uk. The deadline for submissions is 31 December See the Government s Flood Support Schemes Guidance note for more information at There following grants are also available to support businesses in specific industries: Farming Recovery Fund - guidance on how farmers can apply for funding to restore flooded agricultural land and bring it back into production. Any farm holding in England can apply for grants of between 500 and 5,000 if they are or have been affected by the recent flood events (since December 1, 2013). Sport England s Flood Relief Fund investment of 5 million of National Lottery funding into sports facilities that have been damaged as a result of the floods and storms. This dedicated fund will help safeguard community sport & get sports facilities back up and running asap. Visit England - a 2 million support package for the tourism industry in order to support affected destinations and tourism businesses get back on their feet in the aftermath of the recent flooding. For flood grants contact floodgrants@southandvale.gov.uk