Property Level flood protection measures
What’s the alternative to sandbags?
“80% of households have taken steps to reduce the risk of fire, and 54% have taken steps to reduce the threat of burglary, but only 6% of people at risk of flooding in the UK have taken steps to reduce the impact.”
(Environment Agency Research)
Visit the Blue Pages for a directory of property flood products and services put together to advise and inform you of what’s available to help reduce the risk of flooding to your home or business.
Flood Re - A flood re-insurance scheme is a re-insurance scheme that makes flood cover more widely available and affordable as part of your home insurance.
National Flood Forum – A charity to help, support and represent people at risk of flooding
Helping people to recover after they have been flooded, supporting and listening to communities so they feel empowered to manage their flood risk, representing people at risk of flooding to make sure the authorities and government develop a community perspective.
Boston Borough Council
Reporting flooding
Everyone living and working in Boston should be aware that there is a possibility of flooding in all coastal areas of Lincolnshire and that global warming and sea level rise will make this more likely in the future. Information about flood protection is published by the National Flood Forum. Visit their website for more information.
If you are experiencing flooding, or you need to report potential flooding, please call Lincolnshire County Council's dedicated 24-hour flood reporting line on 01522 782082.
In a flooding emergency however, you should call 999.
For clarity, Boston Borough Council does not supply sandbags, neither empty nor filled, to any resident or business in Boston Borough as the responsibility for safeguarding homes and businesses lies with the owner.
If you are a tenant of a Housing Association or a Private Landlord and your home is at immediate risk of flooding, you may wish to contact them directly to see whether they are able to provide you any assistance
City of Lincoln Council
Flooding advice
If you think your property may be in danger of flooding be prepared in advance if you know that your property is in a location which could be threatened by flooding.
Preparing before a flood:
- Be aware of the flooding risks to your property
- Make sure that you are insured, check with home contents and building insurers and seek their advice
- Be aware of the latest news, weather reports and any flood warning in force from the Environment Agency
- Make up a family flood plan. Make a flood kit, including a battery/wind up radio, torches, blankets, waterproof clothing, plastic gloves, first aid kit, camera, and any other personal documents or valuable possessions
- Ensure that you understand the flood warning system
- Prepare children’s essentials
- Safely store family medication
- If flooding is imminent, turn off gas, electricity and water at the mains
- Unplug electrical items and move them upstairs if possible
- Move furniture and any sentimental items upstairs if possible
- Install sandbags and / or flood boards to external doors, cover up air-bricks
- Put sandbags on top of manholes
- Move your car to higher ground if possible
- If there are any vulnerable neighbours living nearby ensure that they are also prepared
- House gullies should be cleared of debris, leaves etc, to help flood water drain away
- Plug sinks/baths and put a sand bag in the toilet bowl to prevent backflow
- Ensure safety of pets and animals.
Sand bags
Please be aware - the City of Lincoln Council do not distribute sandbags to the public. Suitable sand bags or aqua bags can be purchased from local building merchants.
If an emergency is declared by the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, they do have a limited number of emergency sand bags, but these will only be made available to the most vulnerable members of the public.
North Kesteven District Council
Flooding advice
Are you experiencing flooding or do you want to report potential flooding? If so, please ring the Lincolnshire County Council, Customer Service Centre’s Highways Team on 01522 782082.
Your call will be logged and passed to a Highways officer to investigate on a priority basis. Callers who require assistance and cannot self-help will be prioritised. If, however, your situation gets worse please ring back again and let the team know, or ring 999 if the situation becomes life threatening.
West Lindsey District Council
Flooding advice
The Environment Agency is the national lead flood authority in England and is responsible for issuing flood warnings: Floodline: 0345 9881188. You can also find out on their website if your property/location is at risk of being flooded.
Lincolnshire County Council Highways is the Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFA) and West Lindsey District Council will be following their lead in a flooding emergency.
All incidents of flooding should be reported through to the Highways team as they have a duty under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 Section 19 to investigate the source of flooding and provide a co-ordinated public response.
Sandbags will only be distributed as directed by the LLFA on a priority basis during a flooding event. Residents can be proactive and help themselves by obtaining sand/sandbags from builder’s merchants if they are concern about the possibility of being flooded.
East Lindsey District Council
Flooding advice
the council do not deliver sandbags to help protect private property or commercial property.
Some Town and Parish Councils hold their own local stocks of empty sandbags and sand to assist local communities.
Residents and businesses who believe they might be at risk of flooding are advised to take proactive steps to protect their property. This could include installing their own flood protection measures or retaining their own stock of sand/sandbags.
During a declared emergency and only at the request of the Emergency Services or Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, the team will work with the lead agency to endeavour to help residential properties. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable members of the community who are least able to help themselves.
South Holland District Council
Flooding advice
The Lead Authority for Flooding within Lincolnshire is Lincolnshire County Council.
Lincolnshire County Council operate as the Lead Local Flood Authority for Flooding in order to co-ordinate with other agencies to respond to flooding issues which often arise due to heavy rainfall.
To report a flood, please call:
Floodline on 01522 782082
Address:
Environment and Economy,
Lancaster House,
36 Orchard Street,
Lincoln.
LN1 1XX.
Email the Flood and Water Team at [email protected].
Or visit Report A Flood where you can find further information and guidance.
South Kesteven District Council
Flooding advice
It is the responsibility of the householder to protect their property from natural events such as flooding and high winds. Sandbags will not be made available to private dwellings unless under very strict conditions and only in very limited numbers.
- The council will not provide sandbags to commercial property
- The council will not provide sandbags to protect unoccupied property where there is no human safety risk
- The council will 'DURING A DECLARED EMERGENCY*'endeavour to help residential properties with a real risk from flooding by providing filled sandbags. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable groups within the community who are least able to provide self-help. During a declared emergency additional resources and/or funding may be available to support a co-ordinated response, with support from Lincolnshire County Council Highways, the Internal Drainage Boards and the Environment Agency
- The council maintains a stock of sandbags and may provide sandbags to residential properties 'OUTSIDE OF A DECLARED EMERGENCY*'. This will be dealt with on a case by case basis and at the discretion of the district's duty Emergency Planning Officer. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable groups within the community who are least able to help themselves
* The emergency services will declare an Emergency should they deem it necessary, as defined by the emergency definition of the 2004 Civil Contingencies Act.
The council has a general policy to encourage self-help wherever possible. Parish Councils have been encouraged to play an active role in flood protection and a number have been provided with a supply of sandbags for local use.
For responses to other sources of flooding (e.g. rivers, highways, sewers etc.) please see the Lincolnshire County Council website >>
Advice from Senior Flood Risk Officer at LCC regarding property level flood protection
- Visit the Blue Pages - the ‘yellow pages’ for all flooding information
- [email protected] e-mail inbox for questions regarding property flood resilience
LCC web pages Managing flood risk – Lincolnshire County Council