Register for Floodline on 0345 988 1188

RIBBLE VALLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Flood Warning Codes Local Flood Plan for Telephone Contacts When a flood is forecast, the Environment Agency will either issue a Flood Alert, a Flood and Information Warning, or a Severe Flood Warning. The flood MEARLEY BROOK warning codes are based on expected danger levels. Environment Agency Floodline (24 hours) 0345 988 1188 Flood Alert. Web: www.gov.uk/government/ Flooding possible organisations/environment-agency Be prepared ‘DISTRICT

Flood Warning. Borough Council Flooding is expected RESPONSE Immediate action required Daytime 01200 425111

Severe Flood Warning. Out of hours 01200 444448 Act Now. Severe flooding FORUM’ is expected Further guidance: Danger to life and property Web: www.ribblevalley.gov.uk

Warning No further flooding is no longer expected. Water levels will in force start to go down.

NOVEMBER 2016 Flooding information for Mearley Brook, REMEMBER …

Following the severe floods of Winter Don't throw rubbish into watercourses or leave debris on the banks - it 2015, discussions have been ongoing can add to the flooding problem. between the Environment Agency, Police, Fire and Rescue and local Don’t go near moving water. Moving water only 6 inches deep can authorities with regard to preparing sweep adults off their feet. plans for dealing with a severe incident. It was felt essential that Don't use electrical circuits or equipment exposed to floodwater until some of this information be shared checked by a qualified electrician. with you along with lessons learnt from the 2015 floods. Don't use food that has been in contact with floodwater.

The aim of this leaflet is to provide Don't use contaminated water to drink, wash dishes, brush your teeth, advice and information on flood risk wash or prepare food or make ice. and the considerations and preparations you can take in relation Don't lift drain or manhole covers or grilles. to flooding before it happens. Don't use 'Closed Roads'. Information regarding flooding can be found in the following booklets:

During a Flood: practical advice on what to do to stay safe in a flood After a Flood: practical advice on recovering from a flood Flood preparation: a guide to householders Types of flooding These booklets are available from Floodline on 0845 988 1188. There are generally considered to be 3 types of flooding: Information is also available on the Environment Agency's website: Online flood library Fluvial - Rivers overtopping to flood surrounding areas;

Pluvial - localised heavy rain causing direct surface water flooding www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency as a result of overwhelming the local drainage system; Advice and information is also available from: Groundwater - occurs where the land is saturated and the water table the National Flood Forum: reaches the surface. This form is the most difficult to protect against. Website: www.nationalfloodforum.org.uk Mearley Brook is considered to be at ‘Significant’ risk from fluvial and www.fighting floods.co.uk flooding.

page 2 page 7 During an event The Environment Agency

The Environment Agency is the lead directly to any residential property or Stay calm. Don't panic. Respond to flood and severe weather warnings. authority for flood risk management in business within the flood warning area. Report any flooding to Floodline 0345 988 1188. England. The Environment Agency's Please ensure you have signed up role in a flood event is to issue flood to receive this free service by Stay alert to local conditions and move warnings to the public, local authorities, contacting Floodline on 0345 988 valuable items upstairs. It will not be Find a place to move pets to if a flood emergency services and the media. 1188. (Area specific Quick Dial possible to issue a personal separate is on the way. Provide a litter tray or Once properties are identified as being available) warning to every property. other facility. located within a Flood Warning Area, it is strongly recommended that every The Agency is undertaking a review of Listen for sirens and instructions from Store valuable or sentimental personal occupier register to receive flood its flood incident information and the police. belongings upstairs or in a high place warning information. defences and will seek to improve downstairs. It is of considerable concern that less flood defences, where practicable and Park your vehicle away from the flood than 50% of premises have registered affordable, in the future. risk area, be considerate to other If you need to be evacuated contact locally for flood warnings. Flood residents and do not obstruct the Police on 101 or dial 999. warnings can be issued to telephone, Report flooding on Floodline 0345 emergency services. Move your fax, pager, SMS text message or email 988 1188. vehicles to a safe position in good If you live in a bungalow, caravan, time. Where possible ask friends and prefab or any other dwelling without Registering for Floodline will NOT affect your insurance status. relatives if you can use their parking access to a second storey and you facilities and park off street. Park find yourself in difficulty, alert the Ribble Valley Borough Council considerately. Avoid and do not Emergency Services so you can be obstruct any major access routes that evacuated. If you are able to self Ribble Valley Borough Council is on request from the Police or the could be used by the emergency evacuate and stay with family or tasked to help care for people Borough Council will open a local services for access and possible friends, inform the Emergency displaced by flooding. The precise reception centre for those evacuated evacuation eg. Taylor Street, Services so your location is known. nature and extent of this response from their homes. Road, Whalley Road, Waterloo Road will depend on available resources. and Pendle Road. If flooding traps you, stay by a Ribble Valley Borough Council window and try to attract attention. works closely with County Check that neighbours or any Council Emergency Planning, who vulnerable members of your Obey road closures or advisory community know about any flood notices that are put out for your safety. warnings issued. Evacuation The police will normally decide Listen to the local radio (Radio when an evacuation is necessary. Lancashire / Rock FM) for up-to-date In this situation you will need to respond quickly and if you are without news on the flood. Have a battery- transport make your way to the Evacuation Point. If you live north of Mearley powered or wind-up radio in your Brook the Evacuation Point will be Tesco’s Car Park and if you live south of Disaster Supply or Flood Kit. Mearley Brook it will be the junction of Pendle Road and Hayhurst Street, where a coach will be provided to take you to the nearest Designated Switch off gas, water and electricity Reception Centre, Roefield Leisure Centre, Edisford Road, Clitheroe. before you get flooded. page 6 page 3 Assistance for Vulnerable People Road/drainage flooding

In an extreme event, many people Sandbags are believed to have a Rainwater on roads may not be able to Flooding from sewers is the will look after themselves and make useful role in certain types of flooding, drain away if the watercourses next to responsibility of United Utilities and their own arrangements. However, when used strategically to divert them are flooding. Flooding of the their contact number is 0845 746 2200. some people may not be so flowing water away from property. highways is the responsibility of fortunate or able. Spare a thought Their benefits are lower when used Lancashire County Council Highways and consider offering assistance by householders to protect individual Division Whalley Area Office, they can to your neighbours if they are elderly, properties. Sandbags are relatively be contacted on 0845 0530011. disabled, have special medical inefficient and ineffective when needs, are single parent families or are compared with alternative 'dedicated' Report any road gullies or foul on their own etc. flood defence products developed drainage/sewers which do not accept recently, such as floodgates and water freely or may not be working If you do not have relatives or peo- airbrick covers. properly. ple you feel able to rely upon to help in an emergency, please let us know Preparing for a flood on 01200 425111 and we will keep a list to be used for reference purposes Flooding cannot be prevented but it can be prepared for. There are simple steps by the emergency services. that can be taken to prepare for flooding and help reduce the damage that can result. These include: It is not normal for any of the agencies Register on Floodline Warnings Direct Seek to incorporate simple flood to issue sandbags. If you intend to use so that you can receive an early warning modifications to your house when sandbags, these can be sourced of flooding. undertaking structural work - e.g. raising locally from most builders' merchants. appliances on plinths, raising the height of Keep the Floodline 0345 998 1188 number power sockets. See 'Flood preparation; a in a visible place. Floodline is available 24 guide to householders' issued by the EA. hours a day, 7 days a week. Ring to hear Emergency Services the latest flooding information and if any Your insurance company may warnings have been issued for your area encourage you to invest in one of the use your Quickdial number to access up to many ranges of DIY flood protection The Police co-ordinate the emergency pumping operations in certain date information. Quickdial numbers are equipment as a condition of maintaining response to a flood incident. They circumstances to help alleviate available from Floodline. your insurance cover. assist in the saving of life and damage and in the protection of vital protection of property, working with services. A charge may apply to Obtain 'dedicated' flood defence Make up a specific Flood Kit, including a other emergency services in the pumping carried out in commercial products developed recently, such as torch, blankets, waterproof and warm protection and care of the public. The premises. floodgates and airbrick covers or use clothing, Wellingtons, a portable radio and police can be contacted on 101 unless flood boards, and block doorways and batteries, first aid kit, rubber gloves, food it is an emergency - in which case call The Ambulance Service provides airbricks. You may need a sandbag to and pet food and key personal documents. 999. The Police do treatment and care of those injured. block any ground floor toilet bowls. Do not forget essential medicines. Keep (Remember to unblock vents and the flood kit upstairs if possible. not issue sandbags. They work with other medical airbricks before switching everything personnel and emergency services, back on). More advice is available from Talk about possible flooding with your The Fire Service undertake life-saving attending to and advising on the the National Flood Forum and Blue Book family or those you live with. Consider through search and rescue. The Fire medical needs of those affected by Directory - see details on page 7. writing a Flood Plan and store these and Rescue Service will carry out flooding. notes with your Flood Kit. page 4 page 5