Wiltshire Council 'prepared' for flooding across county
The authority's reassuring 'at risk' households that they're ready to help
With the continued heavy rain forecast for Wiltshire, there's reassurance from the Council that they're 'prepared' for flooding risks.
There's a number of flood warnings and less serious alerts in place from the Environment Agency |newtab) at the moment - mostly for groundwater flooding in area like Cranborne Chase and the Ebble Valley.
Wiltshire Council say they 'unlike river flooding, this doesn't usually pose a risk to life, but it can damage property and make access to properties challenging for a prolonged period'.
The authority say they're 'working closely' with the Environment Agency, water suppliers, town and parish council to help prepare effectively for possible issues.
Local flood wardens are also in place in many areas to 'create and maintain flood plans, listing areas of high risk, and to access flood prevention equipment such as sandbags and pumps' to support their local community.
Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, Street Scene and Flooding, said:
“We have had a significant rainfall already this winter, and further prolonged periods of heavy rainfall may see the Environment Agency issue river or groundwater flood alerts across the county.
“So it is vitally important that people are prepared and that they know what to do in the event of a flood. People should ensure they are signed up for Environment Agency flood alerts, and they can report any flooding incidents or weather emergencies to us through our MyWilts app or website.
“We are committed to creating more resilient communities, as set out in our Business Plan, and we recently held training sessions with our volunteer flood wardens and work closely with parish councils to ensure they are ready to act with access to emergency equipment.”