Flooding advice: Before, during and after

Using sandbags and other flood defences

 Before using sandbags and other flood defence equipment:

• read GOV.UK's advice on improving your property's flood protection
• don't just rely on sandbags, get advice from a flood specialist and be ready with a supply of temporary flood barriers, check the National flood Forums advice on flood prevention equipment and surveyors
• read how to how to use sandbags and other flood prevention equipment from GOV.UK, sandbags are heavy and need to be used correctly to make a proper seal against the flood water
• move valuables upstairs or to another safe place above the flood line as sandbags will not totally prevent flood water from getting into your home 

Who we supply with sandbags

In an emergency, we'll give sandbags to vulnerable residents whose properties are in imminent danger of flooding (subject to available resources). We don't have a statutory duty to supply sandbags and flood defence equipment but we want to help those who are most at need.

Vulnerable residents are those with:

• mobility difficulties, or
• physical or mental health disabilities, or
• medical conditions

We have identified these residents with help from our social care teams, housing officers, GP's and the mental health trust. 

If there is a flood, the property owner is responsible for the protection of private property. We are not responsible but have provided advice and guidance to help you protect your property.

Disposing of sandbags

We don't collect used sandbags even if we supplied them. Please don't put sandbags out with your rubbish, instead you need to:

• wear gloves when handling used sandbags
• open the bag and spread the sand over a patch of your garden, put the sack in the household rubbish bin
• or take the sandbag to your local household waste and recycling centre
• save dry and unused sandbags for the future

Never let children play with the sand, or use it in sandpits - it could be contaminated from sewage in the flood water.