Preparing for emergencies
Be prepared for flooding
Be aware
Check if your property is at risk of river flooding: Am I at risk of flooding?|
If you live in a flood warning area and have a landline you can receive free flood alerts from the Environment Agency when there is a risk of river flooding to property. If you would like to unsubscribe from this service or change the way you receive warnings, contact the Environment Agency:
- Online:
- Floodline Warnings Direct|
- Telephone:
- Floodline 0845 988 1188.
Be prepared
Make sure you have adequate insurance.
Flood damage is included in most buildings insurance policies, but it is worth checking your own policy to ensure that your home and its contents are covered.Keep vital possessions, such as financial and legal documents and items of sentimental value, upstairs or stored as high as possible in waterproof containers. Have plans in place to move such items at short notice.
Make a list of useful phone numbers you may need.
For example the emergency services and the Environment Agency’s 24 hour Floodline number (0845 988 1188);
your personal contact numbers, including friends and family.Add an ICE – In Case of Emergency – to the beginning of one number on your contact list. This is the phone number the emergency services will look for and phone if something should happen to you as a result of the incident.
Make sure you know where to turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies.
If you are not sure, ask the person who checks your meter when they next visit. Mark the tap or switch with a sticker to help you remember.Prepare a Kit Bag in case you need to evacuate your home.
For suggestions of what should be included in the Kit Bag download Get Ready For The Unexpected [PDF file 1078KB]|
Talk to your neighbours about how you could work together in the event of a flood.
Take steps to minimise any damage: How to reduce flood damage|
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For further guidance, download Flooding in Calderdale [PDF file 733KB]|.
In the event of an emergency
The Council is informed by the Flood Forecasting Centre of any potential flood risks. The warning may be a:
- Flood Alert = Flooding possible, be aware
- Flood Warning = Flooding expected, act now
- Severe Flood Warning = Severe flooding expected and danger to life.
Sirens, installed to warn of river flooding across the Upper Calder Valley, will be activated.
Keep informed. Up to date information on the current status of the river Calder is available online: Flood warnings|, or by ringing Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
Report it
If you see flood water, identify the source of the water - blocked gully, watercourse or sewer - so that you can alert the appropriate authority. See Report flooding.
Support from the Council
During a flooding incident the Council will endeavour to carry out the following actions where necessary:
- activate Emergency Plans and put resources on standby;
- work alongside emergency services and deploy resources to the scene to assess the situation and mitigate the effects of the flood;
- provide sandbags to buildings which are at risk of flooding from water on the highway;
- provide advice and information to the public about how to respond to potential flood risk;
- if an evacuation is necessary, ensure residents are provided with temporary accommodation and transport;
- provide advice and assistance to those residents of properties who have been flooded on how to clear up after the event, and assist the community to return to a state of normality as soon as possible.
Keeping you informed
At times when the weather causes disruption to services, the closure of schools or the cancellation of events, information will be published online: Disruptions and closures. You can also follow the Council on Twitter: Calderdale Council on Twitter|
In the event of a serious emergency in Calderdale, we will keep you informed online: Current emergencies.
