HURSLEY PARISH
COUNCIL
Back to 10th November 2003 minutes
INTRODUCTION
1. This aim of this plan is to provide a pre-meditated and co-ordinated response to increasing groundwater levels in the vicinity of Hursley with a view to maintaining a safe environment and protect householder’s property as far as is practicable in the circumstances.
2. The plan is focused on the operational aspects of flooding, specifically protecting life and property, providing safe access to and from the village and maintaining essential services such as main drainage, water supplies and sewage disposal.
3. The actions of each organisation are listed but they may not necessarily be carried out as the result of a duty or responsibility.
4. When
the plan was prepared, the following external authorities
Environment Agency
Hampshire County Council
Southern Water
5. The Environment Agency’s Local Flood Warning Plan provides details of the flood warning arrangements for Hursley.
6. There are four warning codes:
Flood Watch
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Flooding possible. Be aware! Be prepared! Watch out! |
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Flood Warning |
Flooding of homes, businesses and roads expected. Act now! |
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Severe Flood
Warning |
Severe flooding expected. Imminent danger to life and property. Act now! |
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All Clear |
No Flood Watches or Flood Warnings currently in force in the area. |
7. Flood Watch is a general alert concerning flooding from the sea, estuaries, rivers, streams, ditches, watercourses and high groundwater levels. Flood Warnings and Severe Flood Warnings relate to specific Flood Warning Areas at risk of flooding from the sea and rivers.
8. The Environment Agency do not issue Flood Watch, Flood Warning and Severe Flood Warning for Groundwater flooding, but do issue Groundwater level information to Parish Councils and individual residents by e-mail. Hursley Parish Council (HPC) and a number of residents in Hursley are registered with the Environment Agency to receive this information.
9. Property owners and/or occupiers in risk areas will be informed by personal call or note through letter box of the Groundwater situation by members of the HPC Flood Action Group (see paras 41 to 45). Also, Groundwater level information and situation reports will be posted on the HPC Notice Boards periodically.
FLOODING EVENT
10. The main types of flooding event referred to in this plan are:-
TIDAL (sea, estuaries)
FLUVIAL (rivers)
FLASH (roads, ditches, watercourses)
GROUNDWATER (high water table)
SEWAGE (se
POTABLE WATER (mains
failure)
11. Of
the above flooding events, Flash and
Groundwater are the most likely to
effect Hursley. Flash flooding
occurs on occasions during the year following periods of intense rainfall. In
the main its effects are short lived, restricted to the A3090 and are only
usually exacerbated by highway drainage system blockages caused by debris and
silt progressively running down from adjacent fields. The most recent Groundwater flooding events in Hursley
occurred in the winter months of 1994/95, 2000/01 and 2002/03 suggesting that
the problem could occur every year depending on the rainfall pattern during the
summer and autumn when normally the water table would be expected to be
reducing to its usual pre-winter level.
12. The level of response from the authorities to a flooding incident will depend on what is flooded or is at risk of being flooded. There are five priority categories:-
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PRIORITY |
FLOODING AFFECTING |
RESPONSE |
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1 |
People |
Action to protect life |
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2 |
Houses |
Action to protect life and property |
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3 |
Roads |
Action to protect life and property |
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4 |
Commercial Property |
Action to protect property |
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5 |
Gardens/Agricultural Land |
No action |
13. In
any flood situation HPC will attempt to address problems as they arise, ho
14. Hursley
Parish Council cannot guarantee that assistance will be provided in property
risk areas such as cellars where flooding is a frequent occurrence in high Groundwater situations . In such cases the
owners and occupiers are strongly advised to make their own arrangements to
protect their property from flooding, but without detriment to the public
highway and main se
AUTHORITIES INVOLVED
The following organisations will be involved in direct specific action during a flooding event in Hursley. Property owners are also listed as they have responsibilities not least protecting their own property from flooding.
·
ENVIRONMENT
AGENCY
·
HAMPSHIRE
COUNTY COUNCIL
·
·
HAMPSHIRE
FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
·
SOUTHERN
WATER
·
ELECTRICITY,
GAS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES
·
INDIVIDUAL
PROPERTY OWNERS AND/OR OCCUPIERS
ACTION LISTS
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
15. The principal actions of the Environment Agency (EA) are:
·
ISSUE
GROUNDWATER LEVEL INFORMATION
·
RECEIVE
AND RECORD DETAILS OF ALL FLOODING INCIDENTS
·
MONITOR
THE SITUATION AND ADVISE OTHER ORGANISATIONS
·
DEAL WITH
EMERGENCY REPAIRS AND BLOCKAGES ON MAIN RIVERS AND OWN STRUCTURES
·
RESPOND
TO POLLUTION INCIDENTS
·
ADVISE ON
WASTE DISPOSAL ISSUES
16. One
of the EA’s remote telemetry groundwater level monitoring facilities is
situated close to the junction of the A3090 (
17. The principal actions of Hampshire County Council (HCC) are:
·
MAINTAIN
SAFE CONDITIONS ON THE ROADS
·
PUT FLOOD
WARNING SIGNS ON THE HIGHWAY
·
ORGANISE
ROAD CLOSURES AND TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS
·
CLEAR
· TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT PROPERTY FROM FLOODING BY WATER FROM THE HIGHWAY WHERE THERE IS A FAILURE OF THE HIGHWAY DRAINAGE SYSTEM
18. Both
Flash and Groundwater flooding events in Hursley will place heavy demands on
the highway drainage system; the main road may also become flooded in places.
It is essential that the highway drainage system and the outfall down
19. The
regular maintenance of the highway drainage system bet
20. The high probability of floodwater on the main road through Hursley means that warning signs and diversions will be required; a quick response by HCC is essential to maintaining safe conditions on the roads and walkways. Freezing conditions are also likely to arise during periods of Groundwater flooding for which the provision of grit/salt will be necessary.
21. The principal actions of Winchester City Council (WCC) are:
· ASSIST HCC IN THEIR CO-ORDINATING ROLE
·
FLOOD
WARNING DISSEMINATION (by local agreement
with EA)
·
EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE (S138 LGA 1972) - PROVIDE
SANDBAGS
·
CLEAR
BLOCKED WATERCOURSES ETC. (Land Drainage Act po
·
ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES - POLLUTION
· BLOCKED ROAD CHANNELS & GULLY GRATINGS - STREET CLEANING
· EMERGENCY PLANNING SUPPORT GROUPS
22. As the demand for sandbags at times of flooding is high, WCC cannot be relied upon to provide sandbags for every eventuality. Also, because WCC will only supply sandbags once to a particular property, householders may have to make arrangements to purchase them from local builders’ merchants and DIY sources. If necessary, HPC will negotiate the provision of sandbags to protect the footpaths and walkways through the village, and investigate the bulk supply of materials to allow householders to make up their own.
HURSLEY PARISH COUNCIL
23. The principal actions of Hursley Parish Council (HPC) are:
·
MONITOR
THE CONDITION OF THE HIGHWAYS DRAINAGE SYSTEM
· DISSEMINATION OF GROUNDWATER LEVEL INFORMATION
· SITUATION MONITORING AND LOCAL AUTHORITY LIAISON
· PROVISION OF ADVICE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE CO-ORDINATION
24. The principal actions of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service are:
RESCUE
RESPOND TO ALL EMERGENCY INCIDENTS AS REQUIRED
ASSIST THE POPULACE WHERE A NEED IS IDENTIFIED AND THE USE OF FIRE SERVICE PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT IS RELEVANT
SOUTHERN WATER
25. The principal actions of Southern Water are:
·
EMERGENCY
OVERPUMPING OR TANKERING AT PUMPING STATIONS
·
CLEARING
BLOCKAGES IN PUBLIC SEWERS AND OUTFALL GRILLS
·
REPAIRING
BURST SEWAGE AND WATER PUMPING MAINS
·
TAKE
ACTION TO PROTECT PROPERTY FROM FLOODING BY WATER FROM THE PUBLIC WATER MAINS
OR DISCHARGES FROM THE PUBLIC SEWERAGE SYSTEMS
· PROVISION OF PORTABLE TOILETS WHERE NECESSARY
26. In
the normal course, Flash flood events
are not expected to degrade in any significant way the mains and se
27. A
Groundwater flooding event in
Hursley will almost certainly cause the main se
28. Notwithstanding
the importance of maintaining the se
29. On
receipt of information from the EA that high Groundwater levels are to be expected in Hursley or the Groundwater level reaching 42 metres
AOD, as recorded by the EA’s remote telemetry groundwater level monitoring
facility in Hursley, Southern Water have stated that they will endeavour to
place on standby a suitable portable pump. The flow in the se
30. The
provision of a portable pump to mitigate the effects of a Groundwater flood in Hursley is a critical element of this
Flood Plan. Failure of the se
ELECTRICITY, GAS AND
TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES
31. The principal actions of the electricity, gas and telecommunications companies are:
·
ATTEND TO
EMERGENCIES RELATING TO THEIR SERVICE AT PROPERTIES WHICH PUT LIFE AT RISK AS A
RESULT OF FLOODING
· ATTEND TO FLOODING EMERGENCIES AT THEIR OWN SERVICE INSTALLATIONS
32. Aside
from normal domestic considerations (lighting, heating, cooking, telephones
etc) the principal effect of a loss of electrical po
33. The principal actions of owners and/or occupiers of property at risk of flooding or which is flooded are:
· MOVE TO A SAFE AREA IF LIFE IS AT RISK
· PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING PROPERTY IF POSSIBLE
· SWITCH OFF ELECTRICITY AND GAS SUPPLIES AT MAINS
· MOVE VALUABLE POSSESSIONS ABOVE FLOOR AREAS LIABLE TO BE FLOODED
34. It
is unlikely that Flash flooding will
result in damage to property in Hursley, ho
35. In
the event of Groundwater flooding,
those properties having cellars will almost certainly experience cellar
flooding. In Serious Groundwater flooding
events, the degree of flooding could threaten the ground floor rooms of
properties. For those properties having cellars, controlling the level of
groundwater ingress into the cellar by pumping could prevent the flooding of
ground floor rooms. It should be noted ho
36. The
pumping of water from private properties onto the highway and into the main se
37. Local Authority points of contact, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, and other useful information can be found in Annex B.
FLOOD RISK AREAS
The
following are the Flash flooding
risk areas in Hursley:
Highway
and cellar flooding.
The
following are the Groundwater flooding
risk areas in Hursley:
Cellar
flooding; threat to ground floor rooms.
Cellar
flooding; threat to ground floor rooms; toilet and wastewater problems.
South End Close
Garden
flooding; sewage contamination.
LOCAL CO-ORDINATION
38. On receipt of a high Groundwater level information, the HPC will appoint a small Flood Action Group (FAG) to co-ordinate activities in the Village and provide the essential communications links with the EA, HCC, WCC and Southern Water. The Chairman of the HPC will act as the Flood Action Co-ordinator (FAC).
39. The FAG will consist of the following people:
· Mr Martin Waldron Chairman of HPC 01962-775309
·
Mr
·
· Mr Ken Day South End Close 01962-775319
40. If the situation demands, an emergency centre will be established in the Village Hall and parishioners co-opted on a voluntary basis to assist with the manning of the centre.
·
ROLE OF THE FLOOD ACTION
GROUP
41. During and after a flooding incident, the following actions will require to be taken by the FAG appointed by HPC:
·
ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION LINKS WITH AND PROVIDE
INFORMATION TO THE ENVIROMENT AGENCY, HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL,
· MONITOR THE EFFECTS OF RISING GROUNDWATER LEVELS ON ESSENTIAL SERVICES (HIGHWAY ACCESS AND DRAINAGE, ELECTRICITY, GAS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, WATER AND SEWAGE) AND PROPERTIES IN THE VILLAGE
· MAINTAIN A CLOSE WATCH ON ELDERLY AND INFIRM RESIDENTS IN THE HIGH RISK AREAS OF THE VILLAGE
· KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND ACT AS THE FOCAL POINT FOR THE LOCAL MEDIA WHEN APPROPRIATE
42. While individual property owners and/or occupiers are perfectly entitled to contact the emergency services direct, it is strongly recommended that the FAG is approached first.
ANNEXES
·
A. Environment Agency Advice to Property Owners and/or Occupiers Parts 1 to 6
B. Points of Contact and Communications
·
·
·
·
·
·
· 1. Flooding - who can help?
·
·
Environment Agency
·
·
In
·
·
The Agency also provides the Floodline
0845 988 1188 service. You can listen to recorded flood warning information
for your area or speak to an operator for advice 24 hours a day. Floodline is also available in
·
·
Local Authorities
·
·
Work with the police, fire and rescue services and the Environment
Agency to co‑ordinate the response during severe flooding.
·
Set up rest centres for people evacuated from their homes and arrange
temporary housing.
·
Deal with road closures caused by overflowing drains and se
·
May provide sandbags in some parts of the country. Check the
Environment Agency
Police
·
Co‑ordinate the emergency services in a major flood incident and
help with evacuation of people from their homes where necessary.
Fire Service
·
Is responsible primarily for saving life, rescue and recovery. May also
pump out floodwater (there may be a charge for this service to householders).
Citizens
Advice Bureaux
·
May be able to offer advice on how to obtain money in an emergency and
deal with insurance queries.
·
Details of your local Bureau can be found in the phone book or on the
CAB
2. Flood
Warning Service - how warnings are issued
Through the
Media
When there is a risk of flooding the Agency issues
warnings through the media; they are broadcast on TV
Direct to Your
Home or Workplace
In
areas of particular risk, the Agency can send a warning message direct to
people at home or at work by telephone, fax or pager using our Automatic Voice
Messaging (AVM) Service. We program the system to send warning messages
automatically to a list of contact numbers and
All
types of telephone can receive these messages, including mobile phones. We aim
to give two hours' notice of flooding ‑ day or night ‑ to enable
people to take the necessary action to protect themselves and their properties.
Other Methods
Some
Agency offices use Flood Wardens to alert the local community when a flood
warning is issued. The flood warden is contacted directly by the Agency, and
passes the information on to neighbours.
Public
address, loudhailer or siren systems are used in many flood risk areas to warn the
public that a flood warning has been issued in their area. This is particularly
valuable in urban areas, where
The
Environment Agency provides the Floodline
0845 988 1188 service. You can listen to recorded flood warning information
or speak to an operator for general information and advice 24 hours a day.
Using a quick-dial number (call Floodline 0845 988 1188 to find out the
relevant number for your area) gives you faster access to information in your
area.
The
Agency's
Where to Find
Out More
Information
on how flood warnings are issued in your area can be found in local Flood
Directories available from Floodline
0845 988 1188. Or you can view the Local Flood Warning Plan for your area
at your nearest Environment Agency or local authority office.
3. How to prepare for a
flood
In a flood, you may find you're without lighting, heating or a telephone line. The following simple actions will help you to be prepared:
·
Make sure you have adequate insurance. Flood damage is included in most
buildings insurance policies but do check your home and contents are covered.
·
Make up a flood kit ‑ including key personal documents, torch, battery
or wind‑up radio, mobile phone, rubber gloves,
·
Keep details of your insurance policy and the emergency contact number
somewhere safe ‑preferably as part of your flood kit.
·
Make a list of other useful numbers you may need ‑ your local
council, the emergency services and your Floodline quick dial number.
·
Get into the habit of storing valuable or sentimental items and
important documents upstairs or in a high place.
·
Buy some sandbags or flood boards to block doorways and airbricks. In
an emergency, make sandbags using old pillow cases, carrier bags or even tights
filled with sand or earth. Tips on how to how to lay sandbags effectively are
included in the Agency's new flood guide "Damage Limitation", which
is available on our
·
Make sure you know where to turn off your gas, electricity and water. If
you're not sure, ask the person who checks your meter when they next visit.
Mark the tap or switch with a sticker to help you remember.
·
Make a Family Flood Plan ‑ see factsheet 4.
4. How to make a Family
Flood Plan:
·
A list of Useful Numbers e.g.
your local council, the emergency
services,
your insurance company and the
Environment Agency's Floodline 0845 988 1188.
Useful
Contacts can be also found in your
area's
Flood Directory.
·
Flood Kit Make
up your flood kit and make sure everyone
knows
where to find it (see Factsheet 3).
·
Children's Essentials Make
a list of the vital items you will need. For
example
‑ milk, baby food, sterilized bottles and
spoons,
nappies and wipes, nappy bags, spare
clothing,
comforter, favourite toy or best teddy
·
Medication Would
you need to take any family medication?
·
Valuable and Sentimental Get
into the habit of storing them upstairs or in a
Belongings high
place downstairs.
·
Flood Boards & Sandbags Have
a few flood boards or sandbags prepared to
block
doorways and airbricks.
·
Gas and Electricity Do
you know where to turn them off, even in the
dark?
·
Car Where
would you move it to?
·
Evacuation If
the flooding is severe, you may be evacuated.
What
would you need to take with you and what
provision
can you make for family pets?
If
you choose to leave the house, do you know
where
you would go and how you would you get
there?
If you decide to stay in the house but
decamp
upstairs, make a list of all the things
you
will need.
Don't wait for a flood to
find out whether your plan works. Try it now!
5. What to do
if a flood happens
What to Do
When You Hear a Flood Warning
Listen out for warnings on radio and TV and phone Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for more information.
Move pets, vehicles, valuables and other items to safety.
Alert your neighbours, particularly the elderly.
Put sandbags or flood boards in place ‑ but make sure your property is ventilated.
Plug sinks/baths and put a sandbag in the toilet bowl to prevent backflow.
Be ready to turn off gas and electricity (get help if needed). Unplug electrical items and move them upstairs if possible.
Co‑operate with emergency services and local authorities ‑ you may be evacuated to a rest centre.
Do as much as you can in daylight. Doing anything in the dark will be a lot harder, especially if the electricity fails.
Stay Safe in a
Flood
·
Floods can kill. Don't try to walk or drive through floodwater ‑
six inches of fast flowing water can knock you over and two feet of water will
float your car. Manhole covers may have come off and there may be other hazards
you can't see.
·
Never try to swim through fast flowing water ‑ you may get s
·
Don't walk on sea defences, riverbanks or cross river bridges if
possible ‑ they may collapse in extreme situations or you may be s
·
Avoid contact with floodwater ‑ it may be contaminated with
sewage.
6. Cleaning up
after a flood
Cleaning Up
·
Find out where you can get help to clean up. Check with your local
authority or health authority in the first instance or look under ‘Flood Damage'
in Yellow Pages for suppliers of cleaning materials or equipment to dry out
your property. It takes a house brick about one month per inch to dry out.
·
Open doors and windows to ventilate the house, but take care to ensure
your house and valuables are secure.
·
Contact your gas, electricity and water company. Have your po
·
Don't attempt to dry out photos or papers ‑ place them in a
plastic bag, and if possible store them in the fridge.
·
Throw away food which may have been in contact with floodwater ‑
it could be contaminated. Contact your local authority Environmental Health
department for advice.
·
The Citizens Advice Bureau and other organisations may be able to help
if you feel under pressure, their numbers can be found in the phone book.
·
Don't think it can't happen again. Restock your supplies.
An advice guide to repairing and restoring flood damaged
property, "After A Flood” is available on the Agency's
Other useful
ABI
(Association of British Insurers) on www.abi.org.uk
CIRIA
(Construction Industries Research & Information Association) on
www.ciria.org.uk Citizens Advice Bureau on www.nacab.org.uk
English
Heritage on www.english‑heritage.org.uk
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ORG |
NAME |
TITLE |
TELEPHONE |
FAX |
E-MAIL |
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HPC |
Martin
Waldron |
Chairman |
01962-775309 |
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Clerk |
01962-775552 |
01962-775552 |
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Steve
Stevenson |
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Ken
Day |
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01962-775319 |
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EA |
General
Enquiries |
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0845-933-3111 |
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Flood
Line |
Option
1 + Quickdial 01226 |
0845-988-1188 |
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Emergency
Hot Line |
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0800-807060 |
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HCC |
General
Enquiries |
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01962-841841 |
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Emergency
Planning Office |
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01962-846846 |
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WCC |
General
Enquiries |
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01962-840222 |
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WATER |
General
Enquiries |
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Customer
Help Desk |
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0845-278-0845 |
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ELEC |
General
Enquiries |
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0845-744-4555 |
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GAS |
General
Enquiries |
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0845-758-5401 |
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