Isle of Wight Council advice – July 2021 - Flooding advice

Isle of Wight Council advice – July 2021 

Flooding 

The Council’s emergency planning and resilience team continue to liaise with all of the statutory agencies responsible for responding to a flooding incident but it will always be quicker for residents to raise issues with the responsible agency. In particular, if any residents have issues with sewage and flooding then it is really important to log this with Southern Water so that they can respond directly. 

Who to call in the event of a flood 

If you need to be evacuated because of severe flooding or damage, contact the police or dial 999. 

For general issues around flooding, contact the Isle of Wight Council on (01983) 823600 (this also doubles up as the COVID-19 support line). 

If you believe the flooding is from the main river or the sea, contact the Environment Agency on 0345  988 1188. www.environment-agency.gov.uk 

The Environment Agency also provides help on flooding issues via its Floodline: 0345 988 1188. 

To report flooding on the highway or drainage issues, contact Island Roads on (01983)  822440. www.islandroads.com 

Notify Southern Water if flooding affects your mains sewage/public drains by calling 0330 303  0368. www.southernwater.co.uk 

Notify the National Grid to report a gas leak as the result of flooding on 0800 111 999. Notify SSE of electrical issues such as power cuts by calling 105. 

For non-emergency calls pertaining to vulnerable older people, call adult services on (01983) 823340  (office hours) or (01983) 821105 (out of hours). 

NHS '111' for non-urgent health concerns. 

Think about flooding before it happens 

The council or the Environment Agency can tell you about the dangers of flooding where you live. 

If available for your neighbourhood, sign up for free flood warning messages from the Environment  Agency’s Floodline: 0345 988 1188. 

Make a personal ‘flood plan’ for what you will do in a flood. Advice is available  from: www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood/make-a-flood-plan 

Prepare your home in case there is a flood. This includes floodproofing, flood boards and airbrick covers. Advice is available from: http://ow.ly/GRsij 

Buy flood insurance to protect your home and your belongings. 

Sandbag provision 

While it is not the council’s responsibility to protect individual homes or businesses and people are  responsible for their own properties, in some emergency situations, the council will instruct Island  Roads to position stocks of sandbags at the following strategic locations: 

• Well Road, East Cowes. 

• Simeon Street Recreation Ground, Ryde. 

• St Mary's Car Park, Cowes.

Additional sandbag locations may be identified around the Island based on the forecast impacts of flooding and in areas where the Environment Agency has advised there is a potential risk of flooding. 

Public health information 

In the event of a flood, try to avoid contact with the floodwater. Do not drive through flood water and do not let children play in it. 

Take care if you must go through flood water as there could be hidden dangers like sharp objects, raised manhole covers and pollution. 

When cleaning up after a flood, wear rubber gloves, boots and eye protection, and wash your hands afterwards. 

If your home is flooded, do not use petrol or diesel generators indoors to dry out your home. The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which can kill. 

Dealing with damaged belongings following a flood 

Speak to your insurance company about losses and clean up including the removal of damaged property. Bagged flood-damaged property can be taken to the tip. 

Other useful contacts 

For adverse weather and flooding guidance, 

visit https://www.iow.gov.uk/.../Adverse-Weather-and-Flooding 

The Met Office, 0370 900 0100. www.metoffice.gov.uk 

For food safety advice after flooding, including how to make baby food without mains water, contact the Food Standards Agency: 020 7276 8829. 

Trading Standards (01983) 823000. Be wary of cold callers offering services following a flood at your property. 

For more information about the Isle of Wight Trader Approval Scheme,  

visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/tas/ 

Disposal of larger items 

Larger furniture items may need specialist removal. If this is not covered by your insurance, please contact waste.contract@iow.gov.uk for advice on waste removal. 

Find out more 

This government PDF file provides more useful information (publishing.service.gov.uk)