Monday 14 October 2024
It's Flood Action Week!
You may live in a flood-prone part of Devon and have experienced flooding before, or perhaps you don't think your area is at risk, but flash-flooding can happen anywhere and is unpredictable.
It's a good idea to think about what actions you can take to protect yourself as flooding can happen very quickly and the effects can be devastating.
As part of Flood Action Week, we've put together this special edition of our Connect Me e-newsletter to help you prepare for potential flooding and know what to do if you are flooded.
Check for alerts and sign up for warnings
Flooding can happen even if you don’t live or work near a river or the sea, so it's important to check the risk of flooding in your area.
Visit the Government's website to check for the risk of flood in your area. You can also check your long-term flood risk from rivers, the sea, surface water, reservoirs and groundwater.
If your home or business is at risk of flooding, you can sign up for free flood warnings from the Environment Agency. These warn of the risk of flooding from rivers, the sea and groundwater and you’ll be alerted by phone, email or text when flooding is expected.
Types of Environment Agency flood warnings
The Environment Agency issues three types of flood warning:
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Flood alert - Prepare
A flood alert is issued when forecasts show that flooding may be possible from rivers, high tides or strong winds at sea.
It means that flooding is possible within two to 12 hours, so you should prepare now.
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Flood warning - Act
A flood warning means that flooding is expected from rivers, heavy rain or high tides coupled with strong winds at sea.
It means that flooding is possible within 30 minutes to two hours, so you should act now.
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Severe flood warning - Survive
A severe flood warning means that flooding could cause danger to life and significant disruption to communities. You must act now.
Stay in a safe place, call 999 if you're in immediate danger and follow advice from emergency services.
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  Before a flood
The best way to protect yourself from flooding is to know what to do in advance. If you live in a flood risk area, do what you can now to prepare for a flood. Don’t wait until it happens. You may not have time.
Creating a personal flood plan will ensure that you have thought about what you need to do in the event of a flood and have all the relevant and useful information in one easily accessible place. You can download a personal flood plan template from the Environment Agency website to help you compile a list of things you should do to prepare for a flood.
If you have specific medical or communication needs, utility companies can offer you extra assistance when there is a disruption to utility supplies. Contact South West Water, National Grid and your specific gas or electricity supplier for more information about their Priority Service Registers. You'll need to sign up for each individual service as the companies do not share data between them.
If your property is flooded it can be very disruptive and upsetting. It can also be expensive and take a long time to repair. It may not be possible to fully protect your property against flooding, but there is a lot you can do to reduce the amount of flood water that gets in. Visit the Government's website to find out more.
During a flood
The most important thing to do during a flood is to make sure that you and your family remain safe! If there is an immediate danger to life call 999.
Flood water is often dangerous because it can be deep, fast flowing and contain hidden debris or be contaminated, so stay out of it. If your property begins to flood, either move to upper parts of the building and call for assistance, or leave by a safe, dry route.
If it's safe to do so, turn off your electricity supply via your isolator switch or fuse unit. Do not touch any electrical appliances, cables or equipment while stood in flood water or any which have been immersed in flood water.
Don’t attempt to walk through flooded areas as even shallow moving water can sweep you off your feet. Flood water can also hide dangers like open drains, damaged road surfaces, submerged debris or deep channels that can cause serious injuries or even death.
Never drive through floodwater or swollen flowing water, you don’t know how deep it is. Vehicles can become stuck and even swept away in just 30cm of flowing water. If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and find safety on higher ground.
After a flood
Do not return to your property until it is safe to do so.
If utility supplies to your property have been cut-off due to the flood water, then do not return to your property until these have been checked and the supplier has either reinstated the service or confirmed it is safe to return.
Wait for the flooding to subside before re-entering your property, and try to return in the day time. Be aware of potential hazards, such as hidden debris and contamination, and take necessary precautions to ensure your safety.
If you need to contact your insurance company, do this as soon as possible. Most insurance companies have a 24 hour helpline. If you haven’t got insurance, the National Flood Forum can offer help and support.
It’s important not to underestimate the stress and strain of being flooded, and it can cause a range of health problems. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) website has lots of useful guidance on how to safely clean your property after a flood and advice to help you mentally cope and recover.
 Make sure you report a flood
If you experience flooding, it is very important to report it.
You can report flooding to your property using our 'Flood Online Reporting Tool' known as FORT.
If the flooding is elsewhere, such as on the road or sewer, please report it directly to the relevant authority as early as possible. This is so that flood risk management teams are aware of problems and can deal with incidents effectively, for example by unblocking gullies, closing roads and coordinating and prioritising recovery efforts.
It is important that you continue to report each incident of flooding and flood risk issues because it allows data to be collated to keep track of the overall picture of flooding in an area. Reporting helps authorities to identify recurring issues and it can influence maintenance schedules. It can also inform business cases for alleviation works and flood defence schemes, and capture the economic cost of a flood to help attract funding.
Types of flooding
Simply put, flooding is an overflow of water, but there are many different types of flood depending on where that water comes from and why it is overflowing.
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River flooding (fluvial flooding)
Occurs when the capacity of a river is exceeded, causing it to burst its banks. It's usually as a result of heavy rain, but can also be caused by obstructions in the river, such as a build-up of rubbish or a fallen tree, or runoff caused by melting snow.
Main river flooding should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.
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Groundwater flooding
Occurs when the water table rises up to the surface during a prolonged wet period as the ground becomes so waterlogged that it can no longer drain water away naturally. Low lying areas, areas near aquifers and properties with cellars or basements are more likely to experience groundwater flooding.
Groundwater flooding should be reported to our Customer Service Centre on 0345 155 1004.
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Surface water flooding
Occurs when the volume of rainfall is unable to drain away through the drainage systems or soak into the land quickly enough and instead flows over land. Blocked drains and sewers can increase the risk of surface water flooding as the water has nowhere to go.
Surface water flooding should be reported to our Customer Service Centre on 0345 155 1004.
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Coastal flooding
When the coast is flooded by the sea. The most common cause is storm surges in conjunction with high tides, where the storm wind creates higher than
normal waves.
Coastal flooding should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.
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Sewer flooding
The result of overloaded sewers following heavy rainfall, or due to damage or blockages caused by misuse of the sewer system such as flushing unsuitable items down the toilet. Can be extremely hazardous to health as the water is full of bacteria and contaminants.
Sewer flooding should be reported to South West Water on 0344 346 2020.
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We’re pioneering new ways to build Flood Resilience in our communities and Flood Preparedness and Recovery. Visit the Devon Resilience Innovation Project website for more information.
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