Significant rainfall fell across the Wessex area overnight on Monday 26th January, with some locations recording over 50mm. This follows two weeks of prolonged heavy rainfall and a succession of three named Storms: Goretti, Ingrid and Chandra. River levels are high, and the impacts are being felt widely. Several main roads have been flooded and are closed, and we have had some reports of properties flooding.
Our staff are working closely with emergency services and councils to respond. You can stay up to date on the latest flood warnings here: https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/.
If your property is affected by flooding, click here to read a guide to recovery actions. This includes information on insurance and cleaning up.
Reporting Flooding
It is important to report flooding to us as soon as you can if your home or business has flooded. We understand it is a difficult time when people are affected by flooding. However, we would encourage those affected to report property flooding as close to the event as possible. You can do this online via this link: https://www.gov.uk/report-flood-cause or call the Environment Agency Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Reporting flooding helps us to understand the impacts on properties or communities and prioritise our response. By gathering information, specific issues affecting residents and communities are identified and recurring issues highlighted. The evidence from flood reporting is crucial in planning effective maintenance and justifying cases for potential long-term solutions.
If you are an affected resident we ask that, once you are able, you submit a full report to floodreport.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/. This tool is available for residents across Wessex (the service is hosted by Dorset Council but is available for other local authority areas). The information provided is then shared with the risk management authorities to ensure it goes to the correct organisation, depending on the source and impact of flooding. If the portal opens on the wrong region of Wessex, don’t worry, you will be redirected to your own region when you identify a property affected.
Businesses
Many businesses have also been affected by flooding, which impacts not only on property but on livelihoods and the wider community. Flood Mary [a flood consultancy business run by Mary Long-Dhonau] has produced a Business Flood Handbook, and The Flood Hub [based in the North West of England] also has useful resources about business resilience and recovery.
Please direct any email enquiries to our local customers and engagement team at wessexenquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.
For enquiries related to Flood Warnings, preparedness, and resilience, you can email the Flood Resilience team at floodwessex@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Flood Resilience Wessex, Flood & Coastal Risk Management
Environment Agency
Wootton Courtenay 