Home Owners Urged To Be Prepared For Flooding

As winter sets in, residents living in areas prone to flooding are being urged to prepare themselves. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council’s Environment, Roads and Facilities Service is not able to provide sandbags to homeowners and advise those who have experienced flooding in the past to ensure they have their own supply. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member Cllr Dave Cowans, explained, “Last Christmas we saw unprecedented levels of rainfall and severe flooding problems across many parts of the county.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The ERF Service must give priority to responding to flooding on the roads, with strategic routes taking priority. Home owners are responsible for protecting their own property from flooding and we want to ensure that those at high risk are prepared as best they can be.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To find out if your house or business is at risk, or to sign-up to receive alerts when flood warnings are issued in your area, visit the Natural Resources Wales website:
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk or call Flood-line: 0345 988 1188. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Cowans added, “Preparation is the best line of defence as very little can be done once water levels have risen. So, if you live in a flood risk area, we’re advising you to buy your own sandbags in advance, and keep your flood-boards at hand to block doorways and airbricks.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“During severe weather, our workforce is likely to be attending to a large number of incidents across the county. Unfortunately, this means that we just won’t be able to provide people with sandbags.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Staff will be on call over Christmas in case of potential road flooding and storm damage. Road gullies and culverts in areas prone to flooding are also being cleared this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sandbags are generally available from local builders’ merchants. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In case of flooding: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Visit the Natural Resources Wales website: www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk or call Flood-line: 0345 988 1188.
• Prepare a list of useful telephone numbers e.g. the Council, emergency services, your insurance company, Natural Resources Wales Flood-line and keep it to hand.
• If it’s safe to do so, check that vulnerable friends and family know about any flood warnings issued.
• Store valuable or sentimental personal belongings upstairs or in a high place downstairs. If it’s safe to do so, remove vehicles to areas unaffected by flooding.
• Put together a ‘flood kit’ including a torch, blankets, waterproof and warm clothing, wellingtons, a portable radio and batteries, first aid kit, rubber gloves, food and any important personal documents.
• If you are in imminent danger of flooding telephone 01492 577999.
• In the event of a flood switch off gas, water and electricity.
• Assume that flood water contains sewage or is contaminated. Ensure that you wear plastic / rubber gloves when handling affected items.
• If you are aware of flooding problems in your area please report it at www.conwy.gov.uk/flooding email erf@conwy.gov.uk or ring 01492 575337.