Flooding

The Environment Agency operates a flood warning system, giving information to the public, media, emergency services and local Authorities.

Using the latest available technology, Environment Agency staff monitor rainfall, river levels and sea conditions 24 hours a day and use this information to forecast the possibility of flooding. If flooding is forecast, warnings are issued using a set of four easily recognisable codes.

The following codes are used:

• Flood Watch - Flooding possible. Be aware! Be prepared! Watch out!
• Flood Warning - Flooding expected affecting homes, businesses and main roads. Act now!
• Severe Flood Warning - Severe flooding expected. Imminent danger to life and property.
• All Clear - An all clear will be issued when flood watches or warnings are no longer in force.

For more information on the current flooding situation, visit the Environment Agency website.

When there is a risk of flooding the Agency issues warnings through the media; they are broadcast on TV weather bulletins and on radio weather and travel reports. Make sure you know which is your local radio station.

Flood warnings are also displayed on ITV Teletext regional weather pages (page 154) and on BBC Ceefax (page 419).

The Environment Agency provides the Floodline Service - Telephone Number 0845 988 1188. You can listen to recorded flood warning information or speak to an operator for general information and advice 24 hours a day.

Be aware, be prepared

• Preparing for a flood

  Practical advice on what to do to protect you and your property
  

• During a flood

  Practcal advice on what to do to stay safe in a flood.
  

• After a flood

  Practical advice on recovering from a flood.

What will the Council do?

Our approach to providing emergency assistance during times of flooding is as follows:

• We have no legal responsibility to provide assistance to residents during times of flood, however we can provide emergency assistance on an ad hoc basis depending on the situation.
• We will provide sandbags or other such equipment as appropriate, if they are available, to assist with the defence from flooding to persons or property within the area.
• We will keep a stock of filled sandbags during times of potential flooding to aid the speed of response. It will be the responsibility of the property owner/occupier to dispose of the sandbags and their contents once they are satisfied the risk of flooding has subsided.
• We will provide engineering advice if requested on ways residents can alleviate the risk of flooding to their properties and issue general guidance to all properties in the area on their roles and responsibilities under the Land Drainage Act 1991. We will provide, if possible, during times of severe flooding, engineering advice on site to assist with the use of resources and control the situation where appropriate.
• We will assist with announcing of Environment Agency flood warnings where appropriate. We will keep the necessary equipment at their depot to carry out the above functions, or have facilities to get access to the appropriate equipment rapidly.
• Very serious flooding resulting in the need for evacuation of houses, provision of temporary accommodation and the like is covered by our Emergency Plan.

At times of emergency, we will be endeavouring to protect the public at large and will not be able to assist a large number of individual homeowners who may find their properties threatened.

Contact Details

Environment Agency:

• Enquiries: 08708 506 506
• Enquiries (non-UK calls): 00 44 1709 389 201
• Floodline: 0845 988 1188
• Incident hotline: 0800 807060

Solihull Council:

• Request for sand bags: 0121 704 8000
• Service Requests during office hours: 0121 704 6530
• Out of hours emergencies: 0121 704 8000
• Enquiries - Land Drainage: 0121 704 6418