Flooding

While flooding can never be entirely prevented, information is available to help you prepare. The more prepared you are, the better you will be able to cope should you experience a flood.

Read the PDF file latest flood recovery update newsletter (126KB - 21 September 2009 - PDF Help).

Read the PDF file East Town of Sidmouth Flooding Concerns meeting minutes (38KB - 09 June 2010 - PDF Help).

More information on sand bags and where to get them.

The Environment Agency is working in partnership with councils in Devon to provide more local flood information to people in the country. With this in mind the Environment Agency have set up a service called Floodline: a 24 hour telephone information service: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline. A range of free guides and leaflets are available, and can be downloaded from the website.

For information on high tides please visit the Environment Agency website: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/857406/1458352/

Floodline: 0845 9881188

For the deaf and hard of hearing there is a Minicom service 0845 602 6340

Trained operators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can provide immediate practical advice on flood risk and what to do before, during and after a flood.

In the event that you are unable to get through on the Floodline number then here are some alternatives:

24 hr freephone emergency hotline: 0800 80 70 60;

The South West Regional Office at Exeter 08708 506 506

For Flooding of a road

If the flood water seems to be from some obstruction in the road then you should telephone Devon County Council Highways Telephone: 01392 381300

Members of the public can help reduce the risk of flooding by telling Devon County Council if they see blocked road gullies or roadside ditches.

Sand Bags

If you are concerned that your property could be at risk from flooding and may require sand bags, you should contact your local town or parish council. Your town or parish council can then put in a request each year for as many sand bags as it believes it requires for use in event of flooding.

East Devon District Council no longer provide sand bags directly to householders. During extreme weather, it is more practical and effective for sand bags to be distributed from lots of localised reserves run by the town or parish councils rather than try and distribute them from one or two locations over roads that may be flooded or blocked by fallen trees or debris.

Click here for a list of Parish and Town Clerks

Page last updated on 9 June 2010