Flooding Helplines and Resources
While flooding can have a huge impact on your home or business, there is a lot of help available so you can get back on your feet.
This ranges from organisations giving flood prevention advice, so you won’t go through the trauma of flooding, to those who help with the restoration work after a flood.
The Environment Agency is responsible for building and maintaining flood defences in England and Wales. They also issue flood warnings, through Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
Lots of practical advice about flood prevention can be found on the Environment Agency site.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has much of the same responsibilities as the Environment Agency, and operates in Scotland. They operate Floodline on 0845 988 1188, as well as the Pollution Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
They also provide advice about preparing for a flood, through the Floodline Scotland site.
While SEPA and the Environment Agency provide flood warnings, you can also get up to date weather forecasts from The Met Office. Their forecasting site provides five day forecasts for all over the UK.
The Met Office also provide severe weather warnings, covering floods, snow fall and severe wind.
Local authorities will help to coordinate the response to a flood. They will also help to set up accommodation for people who have been evacuated and may provide sandbags in the event of an emergency.
You can find contact details for your local authority through GOV.UK.
The emergency services have an important role during flooding. The Fire and Rescue service are responsible for saving people at risk, and may also pump out flood water. The Police will help with evacuation and will also coordinate the response by all emergency services.
Flooding has an obvious impact on the roads and (depending on where you are in the country) the Highways Agency, Traffic Scotland, Trafficwatch Northern Ireland or Traffic Wales can help you plan any journeys.
The Highways Agency provides news, such as road closures, for England. Traffic Scotland provides a similar service in Scotland, Trafficwatch Northern Ireland operates in Northern Ireland and Traffic Wales provides Welsh traffic news.
The National Flood Forum provides invaluable advice about preparing for, and dealing with, a flood. They will also point you to retailers who sell flood prevention products.
If you believe you are at risk of flooding, the National Flood Forum can help.
In Scotland the Scottish Flood Forum can also help provide support for and represent those who are affected by, or are at risk of flooding.
The Citizen’s Advice Bureau will give you advice about dealing with insurance companies in the event of a flood, and how to secure funds in the event of a flood.
You can find your local branch on the Citizen’s Advice Bureau site.
While there is a lot of support available if your home or business is flooded, you should develop a flood plan to help ensure you do not need this support.
Quick Links
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Website
Floodline 0845 988 1188
Flood Information Service
SEPA
(Scottish Environment Protection
Agency)
Website
Floodline Scotland Website
Floodline 0845 988 1188
MET OFFICE
Website
Severe Weather Warnings
LOCAL AUTHORITY
Find details of your local authority at
direct.gov
Website
Traffic & Highways
HIGHWAYS AGENCY (England)
Website
TRAFFIC SCOTLAND
Website
TRAFFIC WALES
Website
TRAFFICWATCH NORTHERN IRELAND
Website
Flood Organisations & Support
NATIONAL FLOOD FORUM
Website
Helpline: 01299 403055
SCOTTISH FLOOD FORUM
Website
Helpline: 01738 448 411
CITIZEN’S ADVICE BUREAU
Website