Cumberland Council shares advice on preparing for potential flooding

Cumberland Council is encouraging people to stay informed and prepared for potential flooding by sharing practical advice and explaining how it collaborates with various partners during severe weather events.

Flood warnings and alerts for main rivers and coastal areas are issued by the Environment Agency, while the council works alongside emergency responders and other organisations to help communities understand flood risks, improve resilience, and take actionable steps to mitigate impacts.

Cllr Justin McDermott, Cumberland’s Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Communities, said: "When flooding happens, it’s really important that communities are ready, and we are here to support that readiness.

"We can help ensure support is targeted where it’s needed most, by working with partners to assess the causes of flooding, and suggesting remedies to the agencies involved.

"We also support community groups and town and parish councils to access grants for measures like flood resistant doors and gates, and emergency flood sacks, which the council itself doesn’t supply."

How to prepare for flooding

The council outlined key tips to help individuals and businesses protect themselves and their properties from localised flooding:

• Sign up for flood alerts and warnings from the Environment Agency at the GOV.UK website. These notifications will provide advance warning when flooding is possible or expected in your area.
• Visit the Cumbria Local Resilience Forum website (Cumbria Prepared) for advice on preparing for emergencies.
• If your property is at risk, consider installing flood barriers, elevating electrical systems, or purchasing flood sacks (modern alternatives to traditional sandbags). Note that the council does not supply sandbags.
• Prepare an emergency grab bag containing essential supplies and important documents.
• Report any flooded property. This helps the council assess flood risks and plan mitigation strategies.
• Check the long-term flood risk in your area on the GOV.UK website.
• Cumberland Council’s flood management team investigates the causes of property flooding, often coordinating with other risk management authorities to address issues.

Collaborative efforts to address flooding

Cllr McDermott emphasised the council’s partnership with organisations such as the Environment Agency and United Utilities to identify and resolve the causes of localised flooding.

"For streets that are prone to flooding, we find the root cause - whether a blocked drain, a sewer, surface run-off or something else," Cllr McDermott said.

"If the work to fix that is our responsibility, we plan and do the work - and if it requires another agency to get involved, we contact that agency and help them plan a solution.

"Importantly, we can also advise residents about sustainable ways to protect themselves from flooding. We don’t distribute sandbags as, in many cases, they are not very effective, can worsen damage to property, and can be difficult to dispose of. Our focus is very much on supporting residents and businesses to be prepared for flooding in advance."