Introduction
So, do not wait for a flood to happen before you take action. We strongly recommend that you do everything you can to protect against the risk of flooding.
Find out if you are at risk of flooding
You do not need to live near a river or watercourse to experience flooding. In Somerset there are approximately 19,000 properties which are at risk from surface water flooding. You can check the long-term flood risk for your area on the GOV.UK website.
To help you assess your flood risk, you should know all the organisations that have a role to play in flood and water management.
Knowing what has happened in the past may also be valuable to help you understand the issues in an area. Records of previous local flood events may be held by your Parish Council, the Lead Local Flood Authority or the Environment Agency.
Flood risk maps
There are also river system (usually known as fluvial) and coastal flood risk maps and surface water flood risk maps on the Environment Agency Check for flooding in England website.
Surface water maps show areas that may be likely to have surface water flooding in a 1-in-200-year flood risk. A 1-in-200-year flood risk means you have a 0.5 percent chance of experiencing a flood every year. This does not mean that if you were flooded this year, you won’t be flooded for the next 200 years. These maps may help to increase your understanding of the risks from surface water flooding.
The Environment Agency’s surface water flood maps give an indication of the broad areas likely to be at risk of surface water flooding. But Environment Agency surface water flood maps are not always the best way to identify whether an individual property will flood. For more information on the surface water flood risk maps, contact the Flood Risk Management Team at flooding@somerset.gov.uk
Planning for a flood
If you are flooded, the emergency services may not be able to reach you. It is up to you to plan for you and your family. Think ahead and build your own emergency plan today.
Your plan should include:
- Things to do before a flood happens – For example, turn off gas and electricity or move important items to a safe place. Prepare for flooding (GOV.UK) gives advice on what to do, how to make a plan and where to get help.
- A Household Emergency Checklist – If you would like the Household Emergency Checklist and Plan template sent to you, please email civilcontingencies@somerset.gov.uk
- A list of useful contact phone numbers and security details – Include your insurance and utility companies, your bank, medical and veterinary facilities.
- We recommend you put together a flood kit before you need it. Depending on the scale of the flooding, it may be some time before the emergency services can get to you. The kit could include important documents, warm clothing and waterproofs, torch, drinking water and food, medicine, phones, devices and chargers, toys for children and nappies.
Other things you can do or find out
- Read our Prepare your property for flooding leaflet for more information.
- Find out about creating a home emergency plan on the Somerset Prepared website.
- Check for flood warnings in Somerset on the GOV.UK Flood Information Service website. For current flood warnings in force, please phone the 24-hour Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or visit the Environment Agency flood warning website
- Be aware of your local flood plan and contact details for the local flood warden.
Flood prevention products
Where there is a risk of flooding to a depth of more than 0.9 metres, keeping water out can sometimes do more harm than good. The pressure of water against your property could cause structural damage to the building itself.
Consider all measures available to protect your home. This could be as simple as making sure that you have adequate insurance but can also mean doing maintenance on exterior of the property, investing in a stock of gel and sandbags or installing flood doors. These are just a few of the steps you can take. Check out the Flood Hub website, which has lots of useful advice and suggestions on what can be done.
Blue pages directory
The National Flood Forum has produced a Blue Pages Directory of flood protection products and services to help you protect your home or business against flooding.
While we cannot endorse any of the products, we are happy to provide the information so that you can make informed choices. The National Flood Forum recommends that you visit the Environment Agency website before you buy any flood protection products.
Floodline Service
The Floodline service is provided by the Environment Agency, and can provide useful information about buying flood protection equipment, as well as up-to-date flood warnings and advice. You can request copies of their information booklets, Preparing for a Flood, During a Flood and After a Flood.
They also offer advice and expertise through education and promotion of good practices to farmers. You can phone the Floodline service for advice on 0345 988 1188.
Sandbags
Sandbags are effective against short duration flooding or wash from vehicles travelling through floodwater. But are not effective against longer duration flooding. Water will naturally make its way through the sandbag, so you should consider more permanent kitemarked flood protection products if your property is at risk of flooding. Using plastic sheeting placed behind sandbags will improve their efficiency.
Traditional sandbag suppliers
Most local builders’ merchants supply sandbags and sand. Residents are advised to take action before flooding is forecast as stock levels in builder’s merchants can be quickly reduced once flood warnings have been issued. Local sandbag suppliers can be found by contacting builder’s merchants directly.
You can buy bags, filled or empty from most local builders’ merchants or from the following suppliers:
- UK Sandbags
- Bradfords
- Sandbags Online
- Travis Perkins
- Sand-bags
- Wickes
- B&Q
- Sackmaker J&HM Dickson Ltd
Modern sand-less sandbag alternatives
A modern type of sandbag is now available which does not contain sand. Sandless sandbags work by using super absorbent polymer technology to provide an alternative to traditional sandbags. They can absorb over 200 times their own weight in water. Several companies offer this type of modern sandbag and can be found on the internet.
How to use sandbags
There is lots of flood protection guidance on the Environment Agency and National Flood Forum websites.
When using sandbags:
- it is essential to fill and lay sandbags correctly
- do not overfill them (no more than half to three-quarters full)
- when laid, stamp them down well to force the upper bags to mould themselves to the lower bags
- build up the layers like brickwork with the bottom row butted up tight to each other, end to end, well stamped down before laying the second row on top
- if the wall is more than two sandbags high, use a double line of bags for the first two layers and a single line on top
If you cannot obtain ready-made sandbags, you can improvise.
- First, put down a plastic sheet to act as an extra seal
- Make your own using compost bags, carrier bags or pillowcases filled with sand or earth
- Use rolled-up mats or carpets
- Use bags of garden compost
- Use timber boards (possibly screwed to door frames and sealed with mastic)
Disposal of sand or gel flood bags at home
Where possible, sandbags and gel bags should be dried out for reuse. The best way to do this is to raise them off the ground while they dry to help prevent mould forming. If this is not possible, you can remove the contents by splitting the bag and distributing or burying the contents in your garden. The outer sacks can then be put in your refuse bin – the gel used in the bags is harmless and fully biodegradable.
Disposal of sand or gel flood bags at recycling sites
You can take bags, of sand or gel, to any of Somerset’s 16 recycling sites and you should put them in the ‘landfill/non-recyclable’ skip. If the sandbags have been exposed to, or contaminated with raw sewage, take care with their disposal. Wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after handling. Please ‘double bag’ by putting them in at least two bags.
Useful contacts and information
- Information on preparing for flooding, the latest flood warnings and what to do after a flood can be found on the GOV.UK Flooding and extreme weather section
- See our emergency contacts information
- Flooding advice for the public leaflet
- The Environment Agency has both national and regional Twitter accounts which provide timely and accurate information. The Southwest regional feed can be followed here: @EnvAgencySW.
- You can register to receive Environment Agency flood warnings here: GOV.UK – Sign up for Flood Warnings
- For weather information, visit the Met Office website.
- You can find out about the Somerset Levels and Moors 20-year action plan here: Somerset Rivers Authority
- For up-to-date information about floods and other adverse weather conditions affecting roads in Somerset, visit our Roads, travel and parking section.