Floods
If there is a flooded road or a blocked ditch in your area, let us know and we will take action to help bring the problem under control, where we can. You can do this by contacting the Streetscene Contact Centre on 01352 701234.
If you're concerned about flooding in your area, call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or you can contact us on 01352 701234.
Sandbags
If you live in a flood risk area, and feel you would like to have a few sandbags at home to keep as a precaution to use in the event of a flood, you can buy sandbags from hardware or DIY stores. There are also other bespoke systems available to protect doorways and air bricks.
Natural Resources Wales: Long term flood risk maps (external website).
We do not provide sandbags to individual properties when there is a flood. Instead, we use sandbags mainly to protect groups of residents, for example by diverting the path of flowing water, and directing it towards gullies and manholes. This enables us to protect whole streets, whereas giving out sandbags to individual householders in a street would be a far less effective use of resources.
Preparing for a flood
During a flood you may be without electricity, lighting, heating or a telephone line. Taking these actions will help you to be prepared. The time to think about it is now - don't wait until a flood happens.
Flood Re is a joint initiative between the Government and insurers. Its aim is to make the flood cover part of household insurance policies more affordable. Find out if Flood Re can help you (external website).
If you live in a flood risk area, consider buying some sandbags or flood boards to block doorways and airbricks. As a council, we don't provide sandbags to individual households.
Prepare a personal flood plan that contains important information you would need to know if your home was flooded, such as insurance policy numbers, and contact details for people you may need to get in touch with in an emergency. Keep your flood plan somewhere safe and easy to reach in a waterproof folder.
How to prepare your home, business or farm for a flood (external website)
Prepare a flood kit of essential items you would need during a flood, or in case of evacuation, including warm waterproof clothing and any medication you would need.
When a flood happens
Don't try to walk or drive through flood water. Six inches of fast flowing water can knock you off your feet, and two feet of water will float your car. There are a number of practical things you can do to help prevent damage to your home, including:
- Turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies
- Put plugs in sinks and weigh them down with heavy objects; plug water inlet pipes with towels or cloths, and disconnect any equipment that uses water, such as your washing machine. These steps will help to stop water from coming in to the property
- Try to avoid contact with flood water if possible, because it may be contaminated
- Do not leave your home or enter flood water unless you are directly instructed to do so by the emergency services
Check the Council's website www.flintshire.gov.uk and follow us on Twitter @flintshirecc (external website) to get updates during a flood.
Natural Resources Wales: What to do before, during and after a flood (external website).
After a flood
Do not go back into your home until the police or emergency services tell you it is safe to do so.
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible - many of them have 24 hour emergency helplines. Find out how long it will take for them to see you, and check whether they have a company that will clean your house, or whether you will have to do this yourself.