8 Maidstone Borough Council Flooding – Are You Prepared?


More than 5 million people in England and Wales live and work in properties that are at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. Flooding is very distressing but there are simple steps that you can take to prepare yourself and limit any damage to your property.


Prepare


Visit environment-agency.gov.uk to check whether you’re in a flood risk area and to sign up for flood warnings. You can also sign up for warnings by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188.


If you are in a flood risk area, prepare a flood “grab bag”. It should be small enough for anyone in the household to carry, and kept in an easily accessible safe place that anybody can find.


Have enough supplies in your home for three days in case you are unable to evacuate.


Responding during a flood


Tune in to your local radio station or call Floodline to get the latest information.


If safe to do so, turn off gas, electricity and water supplies before a flood.


Move your family and pets upstairs, or to a high place with a means of escape – remember to take your emergency grab bag with you.


Emergency Grab Bag


• Warm clothes • Torch (check batteries), radio (wind up or battery powered) and spare batteries


• Food and water • Toiletries • Mobile phone and charger • Contact list


• Prescription medicines/details of any medicines you take


• Identity documents, insurance details • First aid kit • Remember, this bag should be waterproof!


Information


For flood information & to sign up for flood warnings, call Floodline on 0845 988 1188


For more information on preparing for emergencies, visit kentprepared.org.uk.


For more information on flooding, please visit environment-agency.gov.uk/flood


Never drive through flood water – 80% of flood deaths occur in vehicles. In the event of an evacuation, police or other uniformed officials will try to visit all affected properties to let them know. You will hear about your evacuation point and location of transport to a reception centre through local radio, television, verbally or by leaflet.


Recovering from a flood


Find out if it is safe to return to your property by monitoring the media and maidstone.gov.uk.


Contact your insurance company as soon as possible and follow their advice.


To protect against contamination, always wear waterproof outerwear, Wellingtons and gloves.


Get your local electricity supply and gas or oil central heating checked by a qualified person before switching back on.


Win money to clean up your school


If you are proud of your school and ‘Love Where you Learn’ you can make a real difference by winning funding of up to £2,000 for your secondary school.


Littering, flytipping and graffiti are key manifestations of anti social behaviour but your school can help stamp out these issues by entering Maidstone Borough Council’s 2013 Love Where You Learn competition.


The council is offering grants of up to £2,000 to local secondary schools that want to make a difference by launching their own anti littering initiatives. Schools


are being invited to submit proposals for anti littering projects: we want to see a creative, innovative approach to cleaning up your school and instilling pride in your environment. Several winners, chosen by a panel of expert judges, will be awarded a grant to turn the proposal into a reality.


The deadline for applications is 22 November with funding awarded in December. Multiple applications are welcomed from each school. The project links to the curriculum in a number of ways and encourages sustained cultural and behavioural change, teamwork and problem solving as well as recognition for students.


For further details including application criteria and an information pack, please call 01622 602115 or email lovewhereyoulearn@maidstone.gov.uk


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