1 Preparing for flooding
Find out if your property is at risk from flooding by checking the Environment Agency flood map.
Flood warnings
If your home or business is at risk from flooding you can sign up to receive flood warnings from the Environment Agency. The service is free and you can get warnings by phone, email or text message.
You can also check for current Environment Agency flood warnings and Met Office weather warnings.
Flood guide
If you live in a flood risk area there are things you can do now to minimise the damage and disruption. Our Flood Guide has information on how to prepare, including:
- how to prepare a flood plan
- what you should put in an emergency kit
- the measures you can take to protect your home against flooding
- how your community can prepare by creating a Community Emergency Plan or forming a Flood Action Group.
Useful links
- Check if you are at risk from flooding and sign up for free flood warnings emails from WSCC.
- Environment Agency flood warning service.
- Flooding: health guidance and advice - GOV.UK
- Protect your business - How to prepare a business continuity plan to help in the event of extreme weather.
- Blue Pages - Independent directory of flood property products and services.
- National Flood Forum - A charity to help, support and represent people at risk of flooding.
- Tide Times - Met Office site providing tide timetable information.
- RSPCA - Advise from the RSPCA on keeping your animals safe.
Sandbags
We do not supply sandbags to residents or businesses. As a householder you can purchase sandbags from builders' merchants.
Reservoir flooding off-site emergency plan
We are responsible, together with our Sussex Resilience Forum partners, for co-coordinating and preparing reservoir off-site emergency plans. These include warning and informing communities about reservoir failure and flooding.
2 During flooding
If floods are forecast, you can find the latest information by:
- listening to BBC Sussex, Heart Sussex FM, for the latest travel information and to find out which council services may be disrupted
- following WSCC news on Twitter using the hashtags #floodaware and #westsussex for updates.
Our essential flood guide has additional information on what to do if floods are imminent, if you need to evacuate or stay in.
Travel information
Advise on driving in adverse weather
- Avoid driving in adverse weather conditions where possible.
- If you have to drive in adverse weather, tell someone where you are going, check the route before you set off and take a fully charged mobile phone with you.
- If you come across floodwater and have to stop, do not take a chance by trying to drive through it. Find an alternative route.
- If you become stranded in floodwater, stay in your vehicle unless there is a danger to life. In an emergency, call 999.
- Ensure you have your car insurance details in your glovebox and saved on your mobile phone.
- Be aware of hidden dangers in floodwater, such as ditches and open manhole covers.
3 Recovering from flooding
Read your essential flood guide for advice on recovering from flooding.
- How to recover from flooding - Guidance from UK Health Security Agency on recovering from flooding.
4 Disposing of waste
Most water damaged waste can be disposed of at your local Recycling Centre.
This includes bulky household items, carpets, electrical items and hazardous waste, such as fluorescent tubes, gas bottles, car batteries, household and garden chemicals.
More information on recycling can be found on the West Sussex recycles website.
5 Public health advice following flooding
- Food safety advice after a flood - Advice from the Food Standards Agency.
- Flooding and health: advice for the public - Advise from UK Health Security Agency for the public on flooding and health.