Flood warnings
Flood warning information (new
window) and updates on the current flooding
situation can be found on the Environment Agency
website. Basic flood warnings are also displayed on ITV Teletext
page 159, BBC Ceefax page 419 and Digital Ceefax page 405.
If you are in a flood risk area you can sign up for
Floodline Warnings Direct, a free service provided
by the Environment Agency that provides flood warnings direct to
you by telephone, mobile, email, SMS text message and fax. You can
sign up to Floodline Warnings Direct online (new
window) or by calling the Environment Agency's Floodline on
0845 988 1188.
Simple advice on what to do, before, during and after a flood is
also available from Floodline on 0845 988
1188.
Weather and tide information
Predicted tide levels for our coast are available
from the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL) website
(new window). Data is given
for Felixstowe (new window) or
Lowestoft (new window). Please note that these
are only predicted levels and that the actual height of tides will
be affected by the weather conditions on the day - for example
which way the wind is blowing.
Follow this link for weather and tide information from BBC
Weather.
Preparing for flooding and what to do during a flood
If you know that you live in an area that is liable to flood,
Don't wait until it happens. Prepare, make plans
and discuss with your family what you will do and where to go,
before a flood happens. Follow these links for more information
about preparing for flooding and
what to do during a flood.
Sandbags
Local authorities are not required to provide materials for
flood protection and, because of this, Suffolk Coastal holds only a
very small stock of filled sandbags. Use of these during an
officially declared flood emergency will be restricted to the
protection of communities (not individuals) or public utilities
where their limited availability is likely to have the greatest
effect for public benefit.
Sandbags are not waterproof and are best used for large,
temporary, professionally constructed, flood defences where a
torrent can be reduced to a trickle before it gets to nearby
buildings. They will not keep floods out of individual buildings
where the water level outside is higher than the doorstep or any
airbricks. Removable flood boards and airbrick covers are a much
more effective and convenient means of preventing water entry and
can be supplied by any reputable local builder. Details of other
suppliers of flood prevention products are available on the
Environment Agency website (new window).
However, where required, filled sandbags are available via local
builders merchants and empty sandbags can also be purchased from
Suffolk Coastal's Tourist Information Centres at Aldeburgh,
Felixstowe and Woodbridge and at the Suffolk Coastal Services depot
in Yarmouth Road, Ufford IP13 6ET. These bags are light, and easy
to store for future use. Sand to fill them can also be obtained
from builders merchants, or garden soil can be used in an
emergency. If stored for future use, empty bags will last longer as
they do not suffer from rot caused by damp sand.
Food safety advice
If you have been affected by flooding, either because your home
has been flooded, or your water supply has been cut off,
read our tips on how to prepare food safely and
what to do with garden produce.
If you run a food business there are some
safety precautions you need to take if your
business has been affected by
flooding.