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New flood action and recovery guides

Front page of leaflet: Your home in Somerset could be at risk of flooding. Would you know what do do? Flooding is dangerous and can happen quickly. The effects can be devastating. If it happens you can be prepared. Look inside to find out how.
Front page of leaflet: Recent flooding in Somerset. What can you do now? Read this leaflet for advice on what you can do after a flood.
(Click on the image to download the leaflet)

Flood Wessex (part of the Environment Agency) have written to us:

“It has been an exceptionally wet autumn and winter in Somerset. Between October and February, catchments such as the Axe and the Brue have seen their wettest period on record, and the whole county has been affected by extreme rainfall events. Hundreds of properties have been flooded in dozens of communities, either from surface water, groundwater or fluvial flooding.

“Together with our partners, Somerset Council and the Environment Agency have been working closely together to respond to flooding when it occurs, and to support communities to recover. As climate change makes wetter winters and extreme weather events more likely, community resilience is more important than ever, and we will continue to support communities to be as prepared as they can be for flooding.”

They have produced two new guides: a flood action guide with preparedness information, and a recovery guide for those recently affected by flooding.

Reporting flooding

We have added some links to the home page of our website, and further information can be found on our Reporting Flooding page.

Funding and Grants

  • The Government’s Flood Recovery Framework is used in exceptional circumstances to support councils and communities following severe flooding. This has been activated for the areas most affected by Storm Henk. Somerset Council have opened applications from residents or businesses who have been affected by flooding between 2 – 12 January. The closing date for applications is 29th March for Community Recovery Grants, or 31st March for Council Tax Discounts, Business Rates Discounts and Business Recovery Grants. Flood Recovery from Storm Henk (somerset.gov.uk)
  • Households that were flooded between 2-12 January may also be able to apply for up to £5,000 to install Property Flood Resilience measures as part of flood repairs, and farms that have suffered uninsurable damage from Storm Henk may be able to apply for grants up to £25,000. Applications are not yet open for these schemes.
  • Somerset Prepared provide grants of up to £5,000 for communities to purchase equipment that will help them to better respond to emergencies. For more information, please visit https://www.somersetprepared.org.uk/get-support/funding-support
  • There are also grants available through a Wessex Water scheme: https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/visit-and-learn/funding

(Information supplied by the Environment Agency)

  • 29th March 2024 in News
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