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With most roads in Derbyshire affected by flooding, and many closed, residents are being urged not to travel unless essential.
 Heavy rainfall from Storm Babet is forecast until 6am Saturday 21 October. With the ground already saturated, flooding from rivers is already causing issues on the roads.
Keep an eye on our website for the latest weather and flooding updates.
We are working with all the district and borough councils, and all the emergency services to coordinate work across Derbyshire and all agencies are working together round the clock to protect residents, but the situation is extremely challenging.
Please follow safety messages being shared by local agencies including:
- never drive or walk into floodwater, even if it appears shallow – it could endanger your life.
- don’t ignore road closed signs. Waves created by vehicles in flooded areas cause more issues for homes and businesses at the side of them, so please do not drive unless essential.
- report life threatening events to the police by calling 999.
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report issues on the roads, such as trees down or flooding, to the county council online.
Residents are also being urged to look out for vulnerable neighbours, especially if they have care services who may not be able to reach them.
District and borough councils have been filling sandbags, and we have been out over the past few days clearing drains in known flooding hotspots.
Households and businesses in known flooding areas are encouraged to start to take steps to protect their properties.
The Environment Agency has listed a large number of flood warnings and flood alerts for Derbyshire.
Our Director of Highways, Julian Gould, said: “We’ve been working together for the past few days to prepare for Storm Babet.
“We’d urge people only to travel for essential journeys from now until later on Saturday, and never to drive or walk through flood waters.
“Once roads get overwhelmed by flood water we will work with the police and act to close them by putting up barriers, but we ask everyone not to move the barriers once they are up. The waves created by vehicles in these flooded areas just cause more issues for those homes and businesses at the side of them."
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has also issued the following safety advice:
- keep away from river banks and pathways close to rivers. The paths may have become unstable and slippery.
- never enter the water to rescue anyone, or an animal in difficulty in the water. Call 999 immediately and tell them to float on their back
- keep dogs on leads close to water.
All of our household waste recycling centres are currently closed today (Friday) and tomorrow and we will assess if we can reopen them on Sunday. Loscoe will remain closed all weekend to allow for flood damage to be repaired.
All of our libraries, mobile libraries and Derbyshire Record Office closed today and are likely to remain closed tomorrow.
For the latest information follow your councils and emergency services on social media, listen to local radio and visit Derbyshire’s regular flooding updates on our website.
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