Flooding

There are resources available to keep you informed on any flood situation and help you measure the risk of flooding to your property.

• Check for current flood warnings or alerts on the GOV.UK website
• Sign up for Government flood warnings by phone, text or email
• Sign up to Met Office weather warnings
• Call Floodline on 0345 988 1188

You can also find information from TV news, local radio, local news outlets and the websites and social media pages for the relevant authorities.

In terms of keeping informed by us at the council, you can visit our website or social media channels.

Visit our report a flood page to find out which authority you should contact for the different types of floods.

Just before or during a flood, you may receive advice from the council, police, fire service or the Environment Agency. This could be over the phone, online, on social media, in person or over loudspeaker.

It is vital that you stay safe and listen to the advice that the emergency services or council give you. If you’re told to evacuate, you must do so. Refusing to leave could put you, your family and those trying to help at risk.

There are several ways you can keep up-to-date with road closures and travel advice during a flood in Peterborough:

• Check council social media channels - Facebook, X and Instagram
• National Highways website - travel updates
• The AA website and the RAC website - both offer traffic news and route planning
• Local radio stations

There are organisations who can provide advice to you before, during and after a flood:

• Floodline
• National Flood Forum – a charity to help, support and represent people affected by flooding
• British Red Cross
• Citizens Advice – flooding in rental properties, who is responsible for repairs, problems with getting insurance cover or claiming

If your mental health is affected during a flood, the NHS website has advice on where you can get help for your mental health. They also give the contact details for Mind and Samaritans.

• Listen to the advice of emergency services and the council if you’re told to evacuate
• Remember to take a grab bag of essential items (see list higher up)
• Rest centres will be set up in places such as local schools, leisure centres or other community buildings – they will have trained volunteers there to ensure you are safe, sheltered and supported
• If you decide to stay with family or friends, please inform someone so they know you are safe
• Check whether your insurance company can offer you accommodation as part of your cover
• If your home is flood damaged, you’re not able to return to live there for some time, and you have nowhere to stay, please visit our Homelessness webpage to see how we can support and advise you

• Check in with other people in your household – if they are not at home, make sure they are somewhere safe
• If you’re on your own, make sure you inform someone so they know where you are and that you’re safe
• Agree a potential meeting point and make sure to have each other’s contact details ready to take with you, should you be evacuated or not have access to a phone
• If staying put, move your family and pets upstairs or to a higher place with a means of escape
• Avoid basements or ground level rooms
• Check in with relatives, friends and neighbours who may be elderly, vulnerable or live alone
• Make sure you have essential medication and baby and pet supplies in case you have to stay put or leave home

A household emergency plan is a document that your household creates to pull together all the important information that you might need in an emergency. Do you all know your home insurance provider and details? Do you all know phone numbers and addresses of family and friends without looking in your phone or address book? Do you all know how to turn off the electricity, water and gas in your home safely? What about looking after pets?

Find a template and other things to consider in your plan on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Prepared website.

It is important to have essential items ready, whether you stay put or evacuate. While away from your home, you may need to contact relatives or insurance companies. The usual utilities and facilities may also not be available.

• List of important contacts – phone numbers, addresses for family and friends, helplines for insurance companies, council services etc
• Vital paperwork such as photo identification, certificates, insurance documents etc
• Mobile phone and charger
• Keys
• Money (cards and cash)
• Glasses
• Medication and prescriptions
• First aid items
• Sanitary products
• Baby items
• Pet items
• Torch
• Spare batteries
• Waterproof and warm clothing
• Drinks and snacks

You can find a full list of items to put in grab bags or emergency packs for different emergency scenarios on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Prepared website.

It is recommended that you turn off your water supply if safe to do so. During a flood, contaminants may enter the water supply network. If you notice a change in the quality of your tap water, such as discolouration or a change in taste or smell, contact your water company.

Make sure you have clean water supplies available in case the water is turned off or affected. Use bottled water if you have any. Fill jugs and saucepans only if floodwater has not yet entered your home. Make sure you have enough for your family and any pets.

For more information about water supply during a flood, please visit the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) website.

Flood water from the sewage system or rivers may be contaminated with bacteria and other pollutants, which may cause a risk to your health.

• Keep cuts and grazes clean and covered with waterproof plasters
• Wear warm, dry, waterproof clothing and wellies
• Wash your hands with clean water and antibacterial soap
• Dispose of any food that has come into contact with flood water
• Read our information about clean drinking water supplies higher up this page
• Contact your GP or ring NHS 111 if you feel unwell

DO NOT drive, walk or swim through flood water. You are at risk of injury, drowning or becoming stranded.

• It is impossible to judge how deep the water is
• It is difficult to tell whether there are any contaminants or submerged hazards, such as sewage, rubbish, wreckage, uneven surfaces, or missing or broken drain and manhole covers
• If your car is damaged or stops working, you may be left stranded
• Drivers who ignore road closure signs will be prosecuted by the police
• Driving in flood water could invalidate your car insurance

Visit the AA website to read their advice on driving in heavy rain, surface water and flooding.

Turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies if safe to do so. DO NOT touch sources of electricity if you are standing in floodwater.

If there are any issues with gas, electricity, water supply or sewage, you must report them to the relevant utility company or an emergency service depending on the situation.

Where possible and safe to do so, you should:

• Safely store (or have in your grab bag) important documents and paperwork – e.g. identification, certificates, insurance documents etc
• Gather essential items together – either upstairs or in a high place
• Move items of personal value such as photos, jewellery and mementos
• Move lightweight household items that you can pick up easily and quickly
• Disconnect and move any electrical items higher up (if safe to do so and not already wet)
• Raise furniture off the floor if it isn’t possible to move upstairs
• Consider moving your vehicle to higher ground (don’t drive it through floodwater)
• Take photos of what your property, rooms and items look like before a flood, which you can use later in insurance claims

If safe to do so, there are things you can do around your home to reduce flood damage.

• Block doorways, low windows and air bricks using flood barriers, sandbags or heavy duty plastic
• Put plugs in sinks and baths – weigh them down with a heavy object
• Disconnect any equipment that uses water – e.g. washing machine, dishwasher
• Plug water inlet pipes with towels or cloths

Please note that Peterborough City Council does not provide sandbags. Under extreme circumstances, we would safeguard critical infrastructure only.

Find advice on pumping out flood water on the GOV.UK website.