09 February 2012General flooding advice
Pets and floods
Who to contact in the event of a flood
Further information
Latest advice
From 30 November 2010, the flood warning codes the Environment Agency use to notify those at risk from flooding are changing. You can find out more information about the changes and how to prepare for flooding on their website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fwd. You can download a one page summary of the new codes, icons and their associated wording by clicking EA New Flood Warning Codes 11-10 (
PDF File 53KB file details).
The Environment Agency have produced three leaflets concerning flooding, before, during and after.
EA Before Flooding ( PDF File 239KB file details)
EA During Flooding ( PDF File 318KB file details)
EA After Flooding ( PDF File 239KB file details)
An advice leaflet from the Environment Agency and other Kent partners is available to download Kent Environment Agency Leaflet ( PDF 2163K file details). If you would like a paper copy, please contact the Emergency Planning Officer.
Sandbags are not a very efficient way of protecting your property. There are other ways to protect your property using proprietary barriers. Details of suppliers can be found on the 'Help Yourself' section of the Environment Agency 'flood' website together with further information on flooding and flood defence. The British Standards Institution has given a 'Kitemark' to various flood protection products and a listing can be found on the BSI website.
The National Flood Forum also has a directory of flood protection products called the Blue Pages.
There is no guarantee that any flood protection system will work and the Council (and the Environment Agency) does not endorse a particular product or supplier. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure the products are appropriate for their property, fit for purpose, correctly fitted and meet their specific needs. Also, be careful to consider all the ways water can enter your property. For example, in addition to flood boards across your doorways you may also need to install airbrick covers and non-return valves on your drainage system.
When Flood Warnings or Severe Flood Warnings are in force, the Council supplies and delivers sandbags to homes and businesses at risk. These are intended solely for the protection of your home or business.
For the delivery of sandbags phone 01732 227000
If you have an enquiry about the sandbag distribution service, contact the Emergency Planning Officer.
Sandbags can be purchased from the Council's Dunbrik Depot, see the Sandbags and Road Salt page. You can also buy sandbags from most builders' merchants.
After a flood you should dispose of sandbags that have been contaminated with petrol, oil, diesel or sewage. Those that have not been contaminated should be kept for reuse. Bags supplied by the Council are made of polypropylene that will eventually degrade in daylight. To prolong their life it is best to store them under cover.
The Environment Agency operates an automated flood warning service for people whose property is in the flood plains of the main rivers (the Darent, Medway and Eden in Sevenoaks District). If you need to receive these warnings, please phone Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
The better prepared you are, the better you'll cope with the effects. The Environment Agency has published the following helpful checklist:
For information about flood warnings in force in your area, call the Environment Agency Floodline on 0845 988 1188 and, when prompted, enter the quick-dial number for the section of river that affect you:
Pets and floods
The Blue Cross have produced a leaflet about looking after your pets during floods. It can be downloaded from here: Pets and Floods ( PDF 2680K file details).
Who to contact in the event of a flood
If your property is flooded, see the questions and answers below for further advice and contacts:
Is the flooding from a private sewer?
This is a private matter - residents own responsibility along with residents who share the sewer. Contact a company that can clear the sewer. You can find details in a telephone directory or on-line.
Is it from a public sewer?
Contact your local water company. Details will be on your water bill. Alternatively click on the following link for details of local water companies.
Is if from the public highway?
Refer to Kent Highways. Click on the following link for details of how to contact Kent County Council Highways.
Is if from a water main or stop cock?
Contact your local water company. Details will be on your water bill. Alternatively click on the following link for details of local water companies.
Is it from a river
Contact the Environment Agency or call 0845 988 1188 for general information or 0800 807060 to inform the Environment Agency or a flooding incident.
Is it from a minor watercourse?
Contact Sevenoaks District Council's Emergency Planning officer.
Further information
If you have any further queries, please contact the District Council's Emergency Planning Officer:
Emergency Planning Officer
Sevenoaks District Council
Argyle Road
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN13 1HG
Tel: 01732 227000
Fax: 01732 227176
E-mail emergency.planning@sevenoaks.gov.uk
