Cotswold District Council - Flooding

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.

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: 

• view Flooding: advice for the public 
• view Flooding health guidance and advice on the Gov.UK website

For further information about coping in the aftermath of a major incident and flooding guide, please:

• visit the Flooding and drainage page of Gloucestershire County Council's website 

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.