Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Flooding – how to prepare for a flood

Is my home likely to flood?
You can check if your home is at risk of flooding by entering your postcode on this page of the Environment Agency website

How do I know if a flood is likely to happen?
Flood warnings are issued by the Environment Agency. See this page of the Environment Agency website to find out if there are any current flood warnings in force.

If you live in the flood plain you can sign up to the Environment Agency’s flood alert system which will enable you to receive early warnings by telephone. For more information about this service and to sign up to it call the Environment Agency's Floodline on 0845 988 1188, or download the following leaflets which give flood warning information for the following areas:

• Flood warning information leaflet for the River Ock from Watchfield to Abingdon - which includes Stanford in the Vale, Charney Bassett, Lyford and Garford, and also the Letcombe Brook at Letcombe Bassett and Letcombe Regis
• Flood warning information leaflet for the River Thames from Abingdon to Little Wittenham - which includes the areas of Culham, Clifton Hampden and Dorchester
• Flood warning information leaflet for the River Thames and tributaries in the Oxford area - which includes the areas of Wolvercote, Botley, New Hinksey, North Hinksey, Kennington and Radley
• Flood warning information leaflet for the Ginge Brook from Steventon to Sutton Courtenay - which includes the areas of Steventon, West and East Ginge, West and East Hendred, Ardington and Lockinge

What should I do if a flood warning is issued?
First and foremost stay calm and stay safe. The Environment Agency offers the following advice for what you should do to prepare if a warning is issued:

• Listen out for warnings on local radio and TV and phone Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for more information.
• Move pets, vehicles, valuables and other items to safety.
• Alert your neighbours, particularly the elderly.
• Put sandbags or flood boards in place - but make sure your property is ventilated. Plug sinks/baths and put a sandbag in the toilet bowl to prevent backflow.
• Be ready to turn off gas and electricity (get help if needed). Unplug electrical items and move them upstairs if possible.
• Co-operate with emergency services and local authorities - you may be evacuated to a rest centre.
• Do as much as you can in daylight. Doing anything in the dark will be a lot harder, especially if the electricity fails.

Will the Council help to protect my home from flooding?
District Councils have no statutory obligation to provide flood defences to protect homes. Responsibility for protecting homes and businessess lies primarily with owners and/or occupiers. However, the Vale Council will always try to provide assistance where it is considered most needed and if resources, circumstances and budgets permit. The Council has a limited supply of sandbags which are used primarily for the protection of vulnerable homes when occupied homes are in imminent danger of flooding. We cannot provide sandbags for protecting gardens or outbuildings.

How can I protect my home from flooding?        
Sandbags are most commonly used during floods and most builders' merchant will stock sandbags. For other ways see the Environment Agency booklets "How to make your home flood resistant" and "Flood products - a guide for homeowners" which can both be downloaded from the right of the page.