The Environment Agency operates a flood warning system, giving information to the public, media, emergency services and Local Authorities.
 
Using the latest available technology, staff 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.

The following codes are used:

• Flood Watch - Flooding possible. Be aware! Be prepared! Watch out!
• Flood Warning - Flooding expected affecting homes, businesses and main roads. Act now!
• Severe Flood Warning - Severe flooding expected. Imminent danger to life and property.
• All Clear - An all clear will be issued when flood watches or warnings are no longer in force.

The Environment Agency has recently upgraded its flood warning service. Residents in "at risk" areas are encouraged to sign up to the new service, which provides warnings direct to customers, 24 hours a day, via telephone, mobile phone, fax or pager.

If you are in an area which is at risk of flooding please sign up to the floodline warnings direct service by phoning 0800 100141. If you don't know if your property is at risk of flooding then either ring 08459 881188 to find out or log on to the EA website and check the flood maps at www.environment-agency.gov.uk (external link)

Useful Contacts

• Foul Sewage Problem - Severn trent Water Authority 0800 783 4444
• Blocked Road Gullies - Our Customer Services Desk (01283) 595795
• Water on the highway - Derbyshire County Council (01629) 580 000
• Fire Brigade (for pumping out) - (01332) 771221
• Environment Agency Floodline (advice on river levels) 0845 988 1188

Information on flooding, and preparing for flooding if your property may be at risk and also what to do after a flood is available on Derbyshire County Council's website (external link)

For more information on the current flooding situation, visit the Environment Agency (external link) website.

When there is a risk of flooding the Environment Agency also issues warnings through the media; they are broadcast on TV weather bulletins and on radio weather and travel reports. Make sure you know which is your local radio station.  Flood warnings are also displayed on ITV Teletext regional weather pages (page 154) and on BBC Ceefax (page 419).

The Environment Agency provides the Floodline Service - Telephone Number 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.

What This Council Will Do

Our approach to providing emergency assistance during times of flooding:

• We have no legal responsibility to provide assistance to residents during times of flood, however we have provided emergency assistance on an ad hoc basis depending on local knowledge and experience of the situation. 
• We will provide sandbags or other such equipment as it feels appropriate, if they are available, to assist with the defence from flooding to persons or property within the area. 
• We will keep a stock of filled sandbags during times of potential flooding to aid the speed of response. We will deliver the sandbags or other equipment where the owner/occupier is unable to collect them from Council's depot. It will be your responsibility to dispose of the sandbags once you are satisfied the risk of flooding has subsided. 
• We, as Land Drainage Authority, will provide engineering advice on ways you can alleviate the risk of flooding to your properties on request and issue general guidance to all properties in the area of their roles and responsibilities under the Land Drainage Act 1991. We will provide, if possible and where appropriate, during times of severe flooding, engineering advice on site to assist with the use of resources and control the situation. 
• We will assist with the announcement of Environment Agency flood warnings where appropriate. We will keep the necessary equipment at their depot to carry out the above functions, or have facilities to get access to the appropriate equipment rapidly. 
• Very serious flooding resulting in the need for evacuation of houses, provision of temporary accommodation and the like is covered by our Emergency Plan.

Events over the past few winters have demonstrated that exceptional storms can cause flooding even on hill slopes, when the drainage system is simply overwhelmed by the amount of water it is expected to carry.

In addition, when the ground is saturated even small additional amounts of rainfall will find it difficult to drain away from gardens and enclosed spaces.

In times of emergency, we will try to protect the public generally and will not be able to assist a large number of individual homeowners who may find their properties threatened.

Contact Details
South Derbyshire District Council
Grounds & Facilities
Civic Offices
Civic Way
Swadlincote
Derbyshire
DE11 0AH

Telephone: 01283 595756 
Fax: 01283 595720 
Online: online enquiry form
E-mail: grounds@south-derbys.gov.uk    

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