Council supporting flood response efforts

The Environment Agency says these conditions are likely to continue, although prediction of future conditions has proved particularly difficult.

A major incident has not been declared, but flood warnings are in place in a number of locations.

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Motorists are strongly advised not to drive through flood water and people should not attempt to walk through it. If you are in danger because of a flood, or know someone who is, you should contact the emergency services.

Cllr Tom Gracey, Leader of the Council said: “Given the current water levels and flooding, I strongly encourage anyone who lives near the Thames or Bourne rivers or near flood plains to be flood ready. Check you have key documents to hand like insurance policies, move your car to higher ground if you believe you may be affected and think about where you could go if you do need to leave your home.

Protecting your home

“Most importantly though, do not wait until your home floods before you act. If you think flooding is likely based on the physical conditions around you or past experience, contact the emergency services and prepare to evacuate.”

Cllr Gracey continued: “We have reviewed our frontline services. Our Meals at Home service will continue as will other services people rely on. We are confident that operations like bin collections can continue except in roads which are actually flooded. In these streets we’ll catch up as soon as we’re able to when the waters recede.

“Our senior staff have been in contact with the Environment Agency and other regional partners throughout the weekend and from the very early hours today to monitor the situation. Our Housing, Community Services and Depot leaders are all aware of the issue at hand.

“The images of flood water stretching out across floodplains and open areas are concerning for people, but residents should be reassured we, the county council, police, fire and ambulance services all have plans in place to respond when needed."

Responding to floods is led by Surrey County Council and the Environment Agency, with Police, Fire and Ambulance teams responding to the effects on people. Runnymede Borough Council’s role is to assist with emergency accommodation, clean up efforts and by providing regular information to residents.

The Council has set up a rest centre in Addlestone in support of the emergency services, if individual households need to be evacuated. Our community transport service stands ready to move people from muster points to the rest centre.

The centre is well equipped for these sorts of incidents we are making sure everything needed to run them is in easy reach from our stores. There is no need for the wider community to offer clothes, bedding or food.

Six steps you can take to be flood ready:

1. Prepare a flood plan document, including nearby places you could stay if your home floods. Keep a printed copy of it upstairs.
2. Prepare a flood kit list of items you would want to grab quickly from the ground floor if there’s a flood. You could include food items, a torch, first aid kit, drinks and snacks.
3. Make sure all adults in your home know how to turn off gas, electricity and water supplies. Do you know where your stop cocks are and have you tried them recently?
4. Check that your insurance policies cover flood damage.
5. Look around your house and think what important items you would want to move from the ground floor if a flood happened. Where could you move them to?
6. Decide if you want to buy barriers and protection to reduce flood water coming into your home.

Published at 6.34pm 8/1/2024