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Suffolk Resilience Forum news release

The Suffolk Resilience Forum is continuing to urge residents and businesses in coastal areas of Suffolk to be prepared as severe flood warnings are issued for the east coast.

Specific areas have been identified as being at high risk of flooding, which includes around 1,880 properties, and plans are underway for the evacuation of homes, businesses and other properties in those areas.

There are two times today, Friday 13 January, when specific locations are at greatest risk of flooding.

Around 11.30am - midday today, the Environment Agency is anticipating a flood risk in the following areas:

• Ferry and Quay

• Felixstowe Ferry Hamlet and the Deben Marshes

• Isolated riverside properties on the Deben Estuary

• Tidal Orwell at Quay

Where possible, anyone living in those areas should make arrangements to stay with friends or family outside of the affected areas. Alternatively, the Suffolk Resilience Forum has identified rest centres for people who are likely to need to relocate.

A rest centre at Brackenbury Sports Centre High Road East, Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 9JF is now open (as of 8am this morning).

Around 9.30pm tonight there is anticipated severe flooding in the following areas:

• and • seafront and docks

• North bank of Lake Lothing

• near Lock

• Snape, and surrounding marshland

• and surrounding marshes

Rest centres will be open today in the following locations, from 2pm (Friday 13 January)

• Leisure Centre Red House Lane, Leiston IP16 4LS

• Water Lane Leisure Centre, Water Lane, Lowestoft NR32 2NH

• Community Centre, Hall Road, Carlton Colville Lowestoft NR33 8BT There will be coach pick up points available from 2pm today at the following locations for those residents with no transport available • Aldeburgh - Community Centre – to take people to Leiston rest centre • Snape – Snape Maltings – to take people to Leiston rest centre • Lowestoft North – Lowestoft Railway station – to take people to Water Lane rest centre • Lowestoft South – South Beach Pavilion – to take people to Carlton Colville rest centre • Oulton – Nicholas Everitt Park – to take people to Carlton Colville rest centre • Southwold – Car Park by Southwold Pier shuttle bus – to take people to Carlton Colville rest centre

If you need help with transport to a rest centres or if you have any other questions relating to these flood warnings, you can call Suffolk County Council’s helpline on 03456 032814, which is open now (from 8am, Friday 13 January)

Police officers are visiting homes in affected areas, to provide details of local rest centres and an information leaflet.

The following advice is offered for those people preparing for evacuation:

• Stay calm and do not panic. • Police officers and / or other officials will try to visit all properties at risk to advise on the requirement to evacuate. • If road conditions permit, move vehicles to unaffected areas; for example higher ground, and ask friends / family if you can share their parking facilities. • You will be given details about your evacuation point for transport and the location of the reception centre either verbally or by a leaflet. • Try to check that any elderly / vulnerable family members or neighbours know about the evacuation. • Try to inform family members / friends as to where you are evacuating. • Listen to the advice of the authorities and follow any instructions to leave the property. • Take special foods and medicines with you. • Switch off gas and electricity. • If possible, move electrical equipment and furniture upstairs. • Any furniture that you cannot move upstairs, try to raise well off the floor. • Lock all doors and windows. • Block doorways and air bricks – sandbags are not available via local authorities • Avoid walking and driving through floodwater, there could be hidden hazards.

Residents in the areas likely to be affected are advised to check advice from the Environment Agency on preparing your property for flooding:http://www.environment- agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31644.aspx and take all necessary steps. People can also find out more information by calling the Environment Agency’s Floodline on 0845 988 1188.

All of the agencies involved – including Suffolk Police, Suffolk Fire and Rescue, East of Ambulance Service, the Environment Agency, Suffolk County Council, Waveney District Council and District Council - have made plans and are working together to safeguard Suffolk residents and visitors to the county. Superintendent Kerry Cutler, of Suffolk Constabulary said: "We are taking this matter extremely seriously and would urge people in the areas likely to be affected to do the same. Rest centres have been established in the county and people in those areas are encouraged to find alternative accommodation outside of the affected areas or to make their way to the nearest rest centre well in advance of the high tide times. Leaflets have been distributed overnight

“We continue to work with agencies both locally, regionally and nationally, and are out on the ground talking to residents that are likely to be affected. We would continue to ask that you monitor local media and the Environment Agency website to ensure you keep up to date with any developments.

“We would urge anyone who may be currently considering going to the coast to watch the tidal surge, do not do this. This would be incredibly dangerous not only for those people but also as it may cause disruption and delay for emergency response teams and vehicles who are supporting local communities in these areas.”

For updates follow Suffolk Police Twitter @SuffolkPolice

ENDS