Community Safety Advice
Flooding

For information about flooding in your area, contact the Environment Agency’s Floodline on 0845 988 1188 or visit their website:

www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Please note that Fire and Rescue Services do not hold stocks of sandbags. Contact your Local Authority for advice (see links below).

DO:
• Keep a list of useful numbers to hand e.g. your insurance company, the Environment Agency Floodline number.
• Check with Floodline to see if there are any specific flood warnings for your area.
• Get some sandbags to block doors and airbricks (making sure there is adequate ventilation). Contact your Local Authority for advice.
• Make a flood kit. Keep a torch, battery radio, emergency numbers, rubber gloves and your insurance policy in a safe place.
• Know where your mains electricity and gas supply switches are.

DO NOT:
• Underestimate the damage a flood can do. Contact your insurance company to make sure you have adequate flood cover.
• Assume everyone knows what to do. Make a family flood plan.
• Wait for the flood to happen. Floods can occur very quickly. Get prepared now.

DO:
• Remember that during a storm the emergency services will be very busy. Only call for immediate assistance if there is risk to life.
• Keep an eye on weather reports on local television or radio news channels. Do not travel in heavy rainstorms unless absolutely necessary.
• Look after neighbours. People have been known to suffer from hypothermia after their homes have become flooded with cold rainwater even in summer.

DO NOT:
• Attempt to drive through flooded roads or fords. The water is often deeper than it looks and may be moving quite fast. Your vehicle may be swept away or become stranded.
• Try to walk through flooded areas. Even shallow water moving fast can sweep you off your feet and there may be hidden dangers such as open drains, damaged road surfaces, submerged debris or deep channels: these can cause serious injury or even death.
• Take boats onto rivers or walk alongside rivers – this is extremely dangerous in a flood situation.
• Allow children to play in floodwater – it can be contaminated with sewage and chemicals.
• Smoke, eat or drink whilst in contact with floodwater and always wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

DO:
• Turn off the electricity supply at the mains, if you can do so safely.
• Get out of the water - move family and pets upstairs or to higher ground.
• Make sure all electrical circuits are fully dried out and checked by an electrical engineer after the flood, before switching back on.

DO NOT:
• Attempt to turn off the electricity supply while standing in water.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Reading Borough Council

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Slough Borough Council

West Berkshire Council

Wokingham Borough Council