Flooding
Reporting flooding
Call 999 for immediate assistance if there is a risk to life or a risk of serious property or environmental damage. Please telephone us to report any flooding.
To report | Contact | Contact details |
---|---|---|
Burst water main | Thames Water | Call 0800 316 9800 or text phone 0800 316 9898 Website: Thames Water website |
Burst water main | Severn Trent Water | General enquiries: 0800 7834 444 Website: Severn Trent water website |
Burst water main | Bristol Water | General enquiries: 0845 702 3797 Website: Bristol Water website |
Roads, blocked gullies, gratings and drains | Gloucestershire County Council | 24 hour tel: 08000 514514 Website: Gloucestershire County Council |
Main rivers | Environment Agency | General enquiries: 08708 506 506 Incident hotline: 0800 807 060 Website: Environment Agency website |
Other watercourses such as streams or ditches | Riparian owner or our Land Drainage Team | Tel: 01993 861000 |
Prepare for flooding
Flood warnings
The Environment Agency offers a free service that sends flood warnings direct to your phone, mobile, email or fax. Sign up at:
- Flood information service
- Call 0345 988 1188
Protect your home from flooding
For useful information on how to prepare for a flood:
- Visit: Environment Agency
- Download the Environment Agency's leaflet - prepare your property for flooding
- Download and complete a flood plan
Flood protection products: the National Flood Forum produce a directory of flood protection products and services called the Blue Pages. It gives details of what a product does and where it can be obtained.
Sandbags
Cotswold District Council does not provide sandbags for individual domestic use.
We do and have provided sandbags for strategic deployment during flooding – for the protection of essential services e.g., electricity or water supplies.
Sandbags when used correctly, can provide some protection from flood waters. If you wish to keep a stock of sandbags, your local builders merchants should be able to help you.
Sandbags are only effective for water up to about 20cm/8" deep.
Advice on the most effective use and position of sandbags
Sandbags are simply cloth bags that hold sand or soil so that a low wall can be built to dam the flow of water. Lay plastic sheeting under and around the wall to make it more water tight. Hold the plastic in place using sandbags.
How to build a sandbag wall
A video showing how to build a sandbag wall can be found on the Gloucestershire Prepared website.
You can also use bin liners or carrier bags filled with soil. 'Grow bags' are the right shape and light enough to be carried around easily.
Disposal of sandbags
Property owners /occupiers are responsible for disposing their own sandbags once the risk of flooding has subsided. If emptied and dried, the sacks can be used again. The sand can be dug into the garden to assist in soil drainage.
Travel during flooding
Walking
Do not walk through flooded areas as there may be hidden dangers such as open drains, damaged road surfaces, submerged debris or deep channels.
Transport and travel
Do not try to drive through flooded roads or fords; the water is often deeper than it looks and your vehicle may be swept away or you may become stranded.
For the latest information about:
- road closures, travel and emergency information from Gloucestershire County Council
- local bus services updates from Stagecoach
- updates on rail services from National Rail Enquiries
Clearing up after a flood and sewage problem
Public Health England have produced the following guidance:
For further information about coping in the aftermath of a major incident and flooding guide, please:
Do not re-enter your house until all floodwater has been removed. The fire service may be able to help you with pumping floodwater out of your house but if the water is still rising there is no point in doing this as it will only come straight back in
Repair and Renew Grant and Business Support Scheme
The Repair and Renew Grant (RRG) and Business Support scheme were both terminated in June 2015.