Are you prepared?

September to April is the region's flood season.

Prepare for flooding now - you will not have time when the flood has started.

Floods occur rapidly, if you have not prepared you will be caught out. You may hear warnings on the radio or television during or following the weather forecast. Do you know what they mean? There are four warning messages, which are:

Flooding is possible, and the situation could worsen

• Stay tuned to local radio or TV
• Ring Floodline on 0845 988 1188

Flooding is now expected, so put your flood plan into action

• Move pets, vehicles, food, valuables and other items to safety
• Put sandbags or floodboards in place

Severe flooding is now expected

• Be prepared to lose power, gas, electricity, water, telephone
• Try to keep calm, and to reassure others, especially children

An all clear will be issued when flood watches or warnings are no longer in force

What to do before, during and after a flood

Be Prepared!

In a flood, you may find you're without lighting, heating or a telephone line.

The following simple actions will help you to be prepared. The time to think about it is now - don't wait until it happens. The better prepared you are, the better you'll cope if it happens to you and your family.

• Make sure you have adequate insurance. Flood damage is included in most buildings insurance policies but do check your home and contents are covered.
• Make up a flood kit - including key personal documents, torch, battery or wind-up radio, rubber gloves, wellingtons, waterproof clothing, first aid kit and blankets.
• Keep details of your insurance policy and the emergency contact number somewhere safe - preferably as part of your flood kit.
• Get into the habit of storing valuable or sentimental items upstairs or in a high place.
• Buy some sandbags or flood boards to block doorways and airbricks. Tips on how to how to lay sandbags effectively are included in the Environment Agency's flood proofing guide on their website.
• Make sure you know where to turn off your gas and electricity.
• Keep your Flood Directory to hand - it contains a list of the numbers you may need - your local council, the emergency services and your Floodline quick dial number.

What to do when you hear a warning

• Listen out for warnings on radio and TV and phoneFloodline 0845 988 1188 or go to the Environment Agency Floodline homepage for more information.

• Move pets, vehicles, valuables, and other items to safety.
• Alert your neighbours, particularly the elderly.
• Put sandbags or flood boards in place - but make sure your property is ventilated.
• Plug sinks/baths and put a sandbag in the toilet bowl to prevent backflow.
• Be ready to turn off gas and electricity (get help if needed). Unplug electrical items and move them upstairs if possible.
• Co-operate with emergency services and local authorities - you may be evacuated to rest centres.
• Do as much as you can in daylight. Doing anything in the dark will be a lot harder, especially if the electricity fails.

Stay Safe in a flood

• Floods can kill. Don't try to walk or drive through floodwater - six inches of fast flowing water can knock you over and two feet of water will float your car.
• Manhole covers may have come off and there may be other hazards you can't see.
• Never try to swim through fast flowing water - you may get swept away or be struck by an object in the water.
• Don't walk on sea defences, riverbanks or cross river bridges - they may collapse in extreme situations or you may be swept off by large waves. Beware of stones and pebbles being thrown up by waves.
• Avoid contact with floodwater - it may be contaminated with sewage.
• Move your family and pets upstairs or to higher ground. If the flooding is severe the authorities may move you to temporary accommodation.
• Switch off water, gas and electricity supplies at the first sign of flooding to your property.
• Cleaning up - if you've been flooded call your insurance company's (24 hour) Emergency Helpline as soon as possible. They will be able to provide information on dealing with your claim, and assistance in getting things back to normal.
• Find out where you can get help to clear up. Check with your local authority or health authority in the first instance or look under 'Flood Damage' in Yellow Pages for suppliers of cleaning materials or equipment to dry out your property.
• Open doors and windows to ventilate the house, but take care to ensure your house and valuables are secure. It takes a house brick about a month per inch to dry out.
• Contact your gas, electricity and water company. Have your power supplies checked before you turn them back on. Wash taps and run them for a few minutes before use.
• Throw away food which may have been in contact with floodwater - it could be contaminated. Contact your local authority Environmental Health department for advice.
• Beware of bogus traders. Always check references and if possible get recommendations. Contact local authority Trading Standards department for advice.

A guide to repairing and restoring flood damaged property is available on the Environment Agency's web site or from Floodline.

Other useful web sites include the ABI (Association of British Insurers) and CIRIA (Construction Industries Research & Information Association)

Follow this link to download the Environment Agency's North Essex Catchment Flood management Plan

Sandbag Stockists:

Look in Yellow Pages under DIY stores or Builders Merchants.

Available to download in Acrobat (pdf) format is the Policy Statement On Flood and Coast Defence (April 2004).