Flooding can happen very quickly and unexpectedly so the time to think about what you would do in the event of flooding is now. Don’t leave it until you are already flooded. The better prepared you are the easier you will find it to cope with the effects of flooding.

Are you at risk?

Click on the link below to find out if you are in an area at risk from flooding and if you are, how you can protect yourself, your home and your business.

Natural Resources Wales / Check your flood risk on a map (Flood Risk Assessment Wales Map)

• Check your insurance documents are up to date and that you are adequately covered in the event of a flood.
• Try and store valuables and other sentimental items in a high cupboard or upstairs.
• Make sure you know where and how to turn off your gas, electric and water supplies.
• Consider purchasing sand bags, or flood boards to direct water away from your property if flooding is a high risk.
• Keep household documents upstairs in a safe place.

Natural Resources Wales provides comprehensive information about how both to protect your property from flooding and what to do if you are affected.

For more information on “Guides for older people” and “Guides for businesses” together with information on “What To Do Before, During And After A Flood” click on the link below:

Natural Resources Wales / Preparing for a flood

To ensure your property is adequately prepared from flooding visit the “Association of British Insurers” website by clicking on the link below:
Floods | Flooding | What shall I do when there’s a flood? | ABI

Click on the link below for current flood warnings in force:

http://www.naturalresources.wales/flooding/check-flood-warnings/?lang=en

or telephone FLOODLINE on 0345 988 1188

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE FLOOD WARNINGS

This service is provided by NATURAL RESOURCES WALES (NRW).

Get warnings in Wales by phone, email or text message if your home or business is at risk of flooding.  To sign up for flood warnings, you’ll need to provide:

• the address or location you are registering for
• a phone number you can be contacted on day or night
• an email address

The service is free.

Click on the link to take you to the Natural Resources Wales website: https://naturalresources.wales/flooding/flood-warning-service/?lang=en

You can also register, update your details or cancel your account by calling Floodline:

Telephone: 0345 988 1188

Typetalk: 0345 602 6340

24-hour service

You can choose to receive warnings and correspondence in either Welsh or English.  In an emergency NRW may send you warning information in English instead of Welsh.

Flood Warning Information Line

Floodline provides live flooding information and advice on how to prepare for or cope with the impacts of flooding 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: 0345 988 1188

Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) are aware of the problems flooding can cause and try to ensure that adequate arrangements are in place to receive flood warnings, to monitor local conditions and respond to requests for help from the community.

Before flooding, we:

• Prepare for potential flooding through planning, training and exercises;
• Ensure that a 24 hour response system is in place;
• Monitor vulnerable locations;
• Consult with the community in key flood prone areas.

During flooding, we:

• Liaise with all agencies/organisations concerned;
• Activate our workforce to respond to the needs of the community;
• Issue sandbags on request via MCC Operations;
• Offer temporary housing to families affected by flooding if necessary via MCC Housing.

After flooding, we:

• Offer additional advice on food safety and other public health advice: MCC Environmental Health.
• Clear public highways and affected public land: MCC Highways / Recycling and Waste
• Assist you in finding somewhere to live if you are uninsured: MCC Housing.
• Assist in locating reputable tradesmen via the TrustMark scheme: MCC Trading Standards.

If the flooding has affected a large number of properties the council will work with other agencies to provide central facilities to assist everyone affected. Such arrangements will be published at the time.

SANDBAGS

There is no statutory requirement for local authorities to provide sandbags for flood protection to assist private residents or businesses.

We will however assist where we can on a priority basis, within the resources we have available.

Call 01633 644644 and ask to be put through to the relevant Council department.

Reservoirs in the UK have an extremely good safety record. Reservoirs are carefully maintained which means reservoir flooding is very unlikely to happen.

Under the Reservoirs Act 1975 reservoir flood maps have been produced for large reservoirs that hold over 25,000 cubic meters of water. 

Local authorities are responsible for coordinating emergency plans for reservoir flooding and ensuring communities are well prepared. Local authorities work with other organisations to develop these plans.

Even though reservoir flood plans are still in development local authorities already have general emergency response plans that can be used to respond to any emergency.

How to use reservoir flood maps

Reservoir flood maps are available online to help you find out if you could be affected by reservoir flooding. Check your flood risk on a map (Flood Risk Assessment Wales Map)

Even though reservoir flooding is very unlikely it may be helpful to you to find out if you live or work in an area that could be affected.  If you do you might want to think about what you might do if an emergency did happen.

You should be aware that only flood maps for large reservoirs are displayed. Large reservoirs are those that hold over 25,000 cubic meters of water.

The maps show the largest area that might be flooded if a reservoir were to fail and release the water it holds. The maps are only intended as a guide and are not a prediction of what will happen.

Preparing for reservoir flooding

To be prepared for reservoir flooding you should:

• Know your risk. Use the reservoir flood maps to see if you live or work in an area that might be affected by reservoir flooding;
• Plan where to go if you get caught in a reservoir flood;
• Put together a grab bag or flood kit of things you might need in an emergency;
• Know who you would need to contact and how;
• Be alert and be prepared to act quickly to get yourself to safety.

What to do in a reservoir emergency

Reservoir flooding could be very different from other forms of flooding. It could happen with little or no warning and you may need to evacuate immediately.  Seeking refuge from floodwaters upstairs could be unsafe. You may need to react before emergency services can reach you. It is important to:

Keep yourself and others clear of danger. Move away from the reservoir, keeping to higher ground, if you can do so safely;

• Make sure 999 has been called if people are injured or if there is a threat to life;
• Do not walk or drive through floodwater;
• Follow the advice of emergency services in the area;
• Try to remain calm, think before acting and try to reassure others;
• Check for injuries – remembering to help yourself before attempting to help others.

• Activate your ‘Home Emergency’ or ‘Personal Flood Plan’ if you have one.
• Phone Floodline on 0345 988 1188 for the latest information for your area.

What to do in a flood

• Tune in to the local radio/TV station for the latest flooding updates.
• Move valuables, photographs and sentimental items to a safe place e.g. upstairs.
• If possible move rugs and lightweight items of furniture upstairs.
• Throw curtains over the rail out of reach of flood water.
• Raise heavy electrical items such as fridges, freezers, washing machines on bricks.
• Be ready to turn off gas and electricity (get help if needed).

To stop flood water entering your home; put plugs in sinks and weigh down with heavy objects; plug water inlet pipes with towels or cloths and disconnect washing machines and dishwashers to prevent backflow. Also lower toilet lids and place weights on them.

• Put sandbags or flood boards in place – but make sure property is ventilated.
• Locate your ‘Home Emergency Kit’ and ‘Go Bag’ if you have one and where possible prepare to move your family and pets upstairs or to a safe place with a means of escape.
• Alert your neighbours, especially the elderly.
• Do as much as you can in the daylight. Doing anything in the dark will be a lot harder, especially if the electricity fails.

Be safe in a flood

• Do not leave your home or enter floodwater unless directly instructed to do so by the emergency services. Flood water can be extremely dangerous and can hide hazards.
• Do not try to walk or drive through floodwater, six inches of fast flowing water can knock you over and two feet will float your car.
• Manhole covers may come off and there may be other hazards you can’t see.
• Avoid contact with flood water where possible as it may be contaminated with sewerage or chemicals.

What to do after a flood

• If you have left your property, find out from emergency services if it is safe to re-enter.
• Take care when re-entering your property as there may be hidden dangers caused by flooding such as structural damage and contamination.
• If possible take photographs of the damage to your property.
• Call your insurance company (24hour) Emergency Helpline as soon as possible.  They will be able to provide information on dealing with your claim, and provide assistance in getting things back to normal.