Flooding

To help reduce the risk of flooding and the damage it can cause, there is national advice to help plan for a flood before it happens, know what to do during a flood, and recovering after a flood.

Advice if you witness flooding

Flooding from sewers

Contact Severn Trent Water online, see link at bottom of page or call 0800 783 4444. To assist them please have your postcode ready and record the incident number given to you. This may enable you to track your enquiry.

Flooding on roads

Contact Leicestershire County Council Highways online using the link at the bottom of the page or phone 0116 305 0001. The problem may be drainage-related or influenced by the capacity of Severn Trent Water Limited’s sewers serving the highway drains.

Flooding from main rivers

(For example, the Soar, Whetstone Brook, Sence, and others.)

Contact the Environment Agency Floodline using the link at the bottom of the page. Warnings of flooding from main rivers can be provided by email or text message by registering with the Environment Agency using the Floodline number 0845 988 1188.

Flooding from ordinary rivers or streams

It is the riparian owner's (for example the landowner's) responsibility to make sure that a watercourse is not obstructed. If you live on the edge of any watercourse you have a responsibility to ensure that it does not become obstructed. 

Is your home at risk of flooding?

Find out if you are at risk of flooding before a flood happens. Check the risk for your area or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

If you are in an at risk area, sign up for flood warning messages from the Environment Agency flood warning service on the Flood Warning Information website.

Leicestershire County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority is interested in recording all reports of flooding in order to identify any patterns emerging.

Report flooding issues to Leicestershire County Council online, see link at bottom of page or call 0116 305 0001. 

Protecting your home from flooding 

It is your responsibility to protect your home in the first instance. 

If you think that your home is at risk of flooding you need to protect your home with suitable flood defence products.

The National Flood Forum, linked at the bottom of the page, is a charity set up to support those affected by flooding. They have a list of available flood protection products on their blue pages.

In an emergency sandbags can be purchased from DIY outlets ready to use in case of a flood. Remember though, sandbags are only a short term fix and may not be appropriate or effective in some flood risk circumstances.

Sandbag policy

We keep a limited number of sandbags, which can only be used to protect:

• Life and important buildings such as hospitals and substations
• The elderly, disabled and vulnerable people
• Access for emergency vehicles

In all other circumstances please buy sandbags from DIY stores or building merchants. Visit the Independent Flood Directory for flood protection products and services.

Water-activated sandbags can be purchased from the Council subject to availability. Charges may vary and are currently £15 per 1.5 metre water-activated sandbag.

In an emergency situation we may be able to deliver sandbags depending upon the individual circumstances and subject to available resources, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Read more information on how to protect your home from flooding on the Environment Agency website.

More flood advice is available on the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Resilience Forum website, linked at the bottom of the page.

Evacuation procedures during Covid-19

Our focus is on protecting the vulnerable and reducing the spread of coronavirus - and our approach to evacuation is in line with Government guidance.

Where there is a risk to life, people are able to move into a friend's or family member's home. We’d encourage residents to try to avoid sheltering with older people aged 70 and over, those who are shielding or clinically extremely vulnerable, and those who are isolating, and to follow the simple steps below.

Again, where lives are at risk, we will also evacuate people to rest centres where required – and these will have measures will in place to reduce the risk of transmission. This includes providing separate transport, wearing PPE and providing hand sanitiser.

For people who are clinically vulnerable, shielding, isolating or have symptoms, we will house them in separate accommodation.

Steps to follow if sheltering with friends or family:

• Keep two metres apart from those you do not usually live with wherever possible
• Wash your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds
• Regularly clean frequently touched surfaces
• Let plenty of fresh air
• Consider wearing a face covering especially in shared areas
• Limit time in shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas
• If possible, each household should use a separate bathroom - or clean the bathroom after use if there is one bathroom
• Use separate towels from the other household