Derbyshire County Council are the lead local flood authority who is responsible for coordinating a response via local authorities and the emergency services during a major flood event.
Amber Valley Borough Council would like to remind residents of the necessary steps they can take in order to cope with and be prepared for flooding and the assistance the council and other organisations can give.
Find out more using the links below:
Find out if your property is deemed at risk of flooding by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or visit the Environment Agency website and entering your postcode to see the risk of flooding in your area.
Residents should check their flood risk and sign up for free flood warnings to stay up-to-date.
You can find details of flood protection equipment from National Flood Forum Blue Pages.
If local roadside drains or culvert screens appear blocked, please report this to the Derbyshire County Council highways department.
When flood alerts or severe weather warnings are issued, residents living in areas deemed at risk of flooding can call Amber Valley Borough Council to request free filled sandbags, however these will only be issued in line with the agreed sandbag policy. In emergency situations no guarantees can be made in terms of how soon sandbags can be sent out as staff may need to be called in (especially out of office hours) to fill sandbags. This is a very heavy, time-consuming job and dependent upon flooded road conditions detours may need to be taken to deliver the bags. Only small numbers of sandbags are stored already filled as the bags will rot if stored full. As such it is strongly advised you equip yourself with sandbags before any risk of flooding arises.
Derbyshire County Council is the lead local flood authority and is responsible for coordinating a response by local authorities and the emergency services during a major flood event.
The latest flooding information for the county will be posted on Derbyshire County Council's latest flood update page.
Sandbags are available from builders’ merchants. Other protection systems are available commercially, see the National Flood Forum Blue Pages for guidance.
Residents of Amber Valley may obtain a supply of 10 free empty sandbags and guidance literature from the Ripley office.
The council recognises that many residents look to the council for emergency assistance in times of crisis, therefore aims to provide a limited number of free filled sandbags where there is an immediate risk of flooding. This is in line with the Derbyshire wide sandbag policy and is based on an assessment of risk. The assessment will consider:
This service is subject to the availability of staff out of hours, please call 01773 841414 out of hours.
If you have home or business insurance, we have advise you to contact your insurer directly before any cleaning works. They will need details of the damage but can also offer additional help and support.
For future insurance, Gov.uk have a useful web page on preparing for a flood at www.gov.uk/prepare-for-flooding/get-insurance.
Flood water could be contaminated and poses a risk to your health, you should take some basic steps to keep you and your family safe while cleaning up your flooded home.
You should wear appropriate protective equipment including boots, waterproof gloves and an apron to clean up. You may also consider wearing a face mask and goggles.
Do not turn on gas or electrics if they may have got wet. Only turn them on when they have been checked by a qualified technician.
You can find full guidance on cleaning and drying your home safely on the Government website.
It is normal to feel upset, anxious, tired, and have difficulty sleeping when our lives are significantly disrupted through events like flooding.
Reach out to friends and family for support as it can take a long time for life to return to normal.
There are many places you can go to for support:
If you are a food business affected by flooding, please see our further guidance page in our food safety section.
If you rent your home, you should contact your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible. They are responsible for repairs to your home from flood damage.
Advice is available online for anyone whose home has been affected by flooding on the following websites:
Contact the team directly on 01773 570222 or email enquiry@ambervalley.gov.uk
