Civil emergencies - flooding
also known as: Flooding, Monitoring Flood Levels, Risk of flood.
Civil emergencies, how we deal with flooding
Flooding - Monitoring the Current Situation
Using the latest available technology the Environment Agency
monitor rainfall, river levels and sea conditions 24 hours a day
and use this information to forecast the possibility of
flooding.
If flooding is forecast, warnings are issued using a set of four
easily recognisable codes:
- Flood Alert - Flooding possible. Be
prepared.
- Flood Warning - Flooding expected. Immediate
action required
- Severe Flood Warning - Severe flooding. Danger to life.
- All Clear - An all clear will be issued when
flood watches or warnings are no longer in force.
For more information on the current flooding situation:
- visit the
Environment Agency website
- call the Environment Agency Floodline Service
on 0845 988 1188. You can listen to recorded flood
warning information or speak to an operator for general information
and advice 24 hours a day.
Flooding - What Northumberland County Council Will Do
The County Council is actively working towards
fulfilling recommendations made within the Pitt Review (2008) with
the development of the Northumberland Flood Action
Plan.
The Council keeps a stock of filled sandbags
during times of potential flooding to aid the speed of response.
Northumberland County Council has no legal obligation to
provide sandbags to residents; however, the County Council’s Draft
Sandbag Policy identifies public sandbag collection points within
very high and high risk flood areas. It is the responsibility
of the individual homeowner/occupier to protect their property from
flooding and to dispose of used sandbags. The County Council
will participate in strategic sandbagging in partnership with
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service.
The County Council will assist with the
dissemination of Environment Agency Flood Warnings where
appropriate.
Flooding may result in the need for evacuation
of houses and the provision of temporary accommodation, including
Rest Centres. The process for activiating and operating Centres
is detailed in the Northumberland County Council Emergency
Reception / Rest Centre Guidance.
Flood Action Plan
Northumberland County Council has prepared the Action Plan as
part of the Northumbria Local Resilience Forum (LRF) Multi Agency
Flood Plan. It is designed to form part of a document for the
response to severe and/ or wide spread flooding in the Northumbria
area.
