Flooding – How to Help
Become a Flood Warden
Volunteer Flood Wardens can help a community prepare for flood events.
Typically, they are members of the local community and are supported by local resilience groups, County, District, Town or Parish Councils.
Local populations have a responsibility to look after themselves, their families and properties and to prepare before, during and after a flood.
Flood Wardens help local communities understand any potential flood risk.
The role of a Flood Warden includes:
- helping to prepare those within the local community at risk from flooding
- monitoring water levels and reporting any unusual levels to the Environment Agency
- alerting local residents of any flood warnings in place
- providing on the ground updates to Councils and the Environment Agency during a flood
- setting up road closure signs (where approved by their Local Authority)
Flood Wardens are the eyes and ears of the community. They keep a look out for issues such as blocked drains and culverts, tree branches in rivers or anything else that may cause a flood risk and report them to the appropriate responsible authorities.
During a flood event, Flood Wardens are a key part of the local response, working with the authorities to protect people and property.
Advice for local Councils…build a Community Flood Plan
Information to include in a plan are:
- flood warnings that your area are registered for
- local flood triggers, for example if the water reaches the bottom of a bridge
- recruitment and retention of Flood Wardens
- a list of locations at risk of flooding
- their trigger level and actions to take
- any equipment that might be needed
- what timescale you might need the plan to cover
- emergency contact information
- location and contact details of vulnerable people
Ensure you comply with GDPR regulations when gathering personal information from people.
Make a list of important contacts, including:
- building services
- utility suppliers
- volunteers and flood wardens
Make a list of information about people who can help and how. For example, people who can help with:
- installing flood protection measures
- moving people to safe locations
- emergency storage and supplies
- medical support
