Guidance

Community flood plan

Updated 15 November 2023

Applies to England

漏 Crown copyright 2023

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This publication is available at /government/publications/community-flood-plan-template/community-flood-plan

Taking simple steps can go a long way to help protect your community from flooding. Preparing in advance will make it easier to respond to and recover from a flood.听听听

Read our personal flood plan advice for core steps to take to stay safe in a flood.听

1. Before a flood听

Actions you can take to protect your community include to:听

  • think how information will be communicated to residents and emergency services during a flood听
  • describe or map emergency routes and evacuation points听听听
  • list contact information and locations of residents who need help and who could provide help听
  • list volunteers and their contact information听
  • think about how to scale up your response if a flood gets worse听

Make sure you comply with GDPR regulations when gathering personal information from people.听

Think what a flood would look like in your area, so you know what signs to look out for.

These could include:听

  • water level trigger points on a bridge or lamppost 听
  • the condition of any local flood defences听
  • the direction a flood could come from听
  • the latest 听

Think how to help people in your community. Volunteers could help:听

  • with communication and administration听
  • to move furniture and other possessions听
  • to check on vulnerable neighbours听

1.1 Test your flood plan听

Regularly check if your flood plan will work, and the information is up to date.听

You could ask your local Environment Agency office and council to help you carry out a simulated flooding event.听

Think about who you could share your community flood plan with, for example your local council.听

2. Community flood plan checklist听

Some examples of information you could include in your plan are:听

  • the flood warnings that you are registered for听
  • local flood triggers, for example if the water reaches the bottom of a bridge听
  • a list of locations at risk of flooding听
  • their trigger level and actions to take听
  • any equipment you might need听
  • what timescale you might need to do your plan听
  • emergency contact information听
  • location and contact details of vulnerable people听

Make sure you comply with GDPR regulations when gathering personal information from people.听

Make a list of important contacts, including:听

  • building services听
  • utility suppliers听听
  • volunteers/flood wardens听

Make a list of information about people who can help and how. For example, people who can help with:听

  • installing flood protection products听
  • moving people to safe locations听
  • emergency storage听
  • emergency supplies听
  • medical support听

3. Immediately before a flood听

The emergency services are responsible for making sure the public are safe and co-ordinating the incident response.听

Do not put yourself or others at risk.听

4. When a flood happens听

Follow your flood plan. You can also follow advice in:听

5. After a flood听

Follow your flood plan. You can also follow advice in:听

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