Community flood plan
If you live in a flood risk area it is good to have a community flood plan. This can help the whole community respond quickly, protect vulnerable neighbours and provide the emergency services with important information.
Join a community flood group
Contact us at befloodready@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk to find out if there is a community flood group in your area. Tell us your name, postcode and let us know if we have permission to pass on your details. If there is a group near you we will ask them to contact you.
Volunteering opportunities are advertised on Volunteering-Wales.
Write a community flood plan
Use our template, or write your own. It should include:
- details about the flood risk in your area
- a list of contacts, including the community flood lead and flood volunteers
- how to report an incident
- actions to take before, during and after a flood, for example, contacting neighbours and moving vehicles
- when you should take action
- how to share information within the community, for example online community group
- how often the plan will be tested and reviewed
Your plan might have personal information about people in your community. You must have their permission to store this securely, and it should only be shared with the Emergency Services during a flood. It must not be passed on to any other people or organisations.
Being part of a community flood group is not an Emergency Service role. You should not undertake any activities which could put your life or others in danger.
Advice and guidance about preparing for a flood.
Support for flood groups
- National Flood Forum have a guide for flood groups
- Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) offer courses and help with funding
- Future Learn offer free courses, fundraising, and mentoring
- Your local County Voluntary Council can help with training, guidance about funding and how to formalise groups
- Find out about funding available in Wales for community groups
- TempoTime Credits offer opportunities to earn time credits for voluntary work
- Your local resilience forum can tell you about the local arrangements for flooding, as well as other emergencies
- Sign up to our Flooding Matters newsletter for community flood volunteers
- Follow our Facebook page for advice and an opportunity for groups to talk to each and share experiences
Promote your flood plan
Let people know that the flood plan exists. Consider promoting the plan at local meetings, through newsletters, leaflets and local press.
Encourage people in the community to sign up for flood warnings and write their own personal flood plan.
Test your flood plan
Test your flood plan to see if it works. Email befloodready@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk to ask about doing a simulated flooding event to test your flood plan.
Keep your plan up to date
Your plan has been designed and developed by you and your community. You will need to make sure that it is checked and updated regularly so that all details and contact numbers are up to date. Your plan belongs to you and not Natural Resources Wales.
How to stay safe
Whatever your role is in the community flood plan, it's important to stay safe. Make sure people know where you are and what you are doing at all times, and always work in pairs or small groups.
Prepare for the conditions
- avoid working in the dark
- wear high visibility clothing and carry a torch
- always wear sturdy, appropriate footwear
Hazards
- be aware of falling objects like roof tiles, trees and branches
- stay away from piers, promenades, cliff paths and riverbanks in bad weather or dangerous conditions
- after a flood, avoid standing on or near anything that might be damaged, like, bridges and riverbanks
Communicating with others
- if someone needs emergency assistance, contact the emergency services
- when speaking to others, clearly explain your role and how you can help
- if someone becomes aggressive in any way, leave them alone
- do not rely on your mobile phone as your only source of communication