Flooding

During a flood you should:

• Keep up to date about the weather and risks to your property using radio, TV, web, or social media.
• Keep outside drains clear to let surface water escape.
• Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies before flood water enters your property (if it's safe to do so).
• Put plugs in sinks and baths and weigh them down to stop water overflowing into your home.
• Wash your hands whenever they come into contact with flood water as they may be contaminated.
• Look after your neighbours - even in the summer, people can suffer from hypothermia after their homes have become flooded with cold rainwater.
• If your home has been flooded, move your family and pets upstairs, or to a high place with a means of escape, take your emergency grab bag with you.

During a flood you should not:

• Touch sources of electricity when standing in flood water.
• Enter your home if there is raw sewage in it - stay somewhere else until it has been cleaned.
• Smoke, eat or drink whilst in contact with flood water (always wash your hands in clean water before doing so).
• Let your children play in flood water, it can become contaminated with sewage and chemicals.
• Walk through flooded areas - even shallow water moving fast can sweep you off your feet, there may be hidden dangers such as open drains, damaged road surfaces, submerged debris or deep channels - these can cause serious injuries or even death.
• Drive through flooded roads or areas.

Practical help available from the Council

You can contact Streetline on 020 7361 3001 to request rain gullies to be unblocked.

The Council does not provide sandbags. Please search for any local traders via the internet.

Please note the Council has neither the responsibility nor the equipment to pump out floodwater from flooded properties. This will be carried out by either Thames Water (0800 316 9800), by the London Fire Brigade or privately by residents.