Flooding updates

What to do after flooding

Key contacts:

  • Vulnerable residents who need assistance - CBC Flood Helpline 0300 300 8500
  • Urgent Adult Social Care – call 0300 300 8123 or 0300 300 8303 (in hours)
  • Practical help cleaning up from volunteers - CBC Flood Helpline 0300 300 8500
  • Homelessness - 0300 300 4370 – call if you have been made homeless or need housing advice
  • Housing Repairs - call 0800 047 0263 if you are a Council house tenant and have damage to your property
  • Highways - 0300 300 8049 – call to report an urgent problem with the road, gully, drain, or fallen trees. Please note this line may be extremely busy at times. If there is a danger to life or injury, contact The Fire and Rescue Service on 999.
  • If your road has significant mud, silt or debris that requires removal – 0300 300 8500
  • For sewerage-related issues, contact your Water Provider. In Central Bedfordshire, this will usually be Anglian Water - call 03457 145 145.

Let us know you’ve been flooded

So that we have all the information about residents who experienced flooding, please let us know if you, or someone you know, have been flooded. Email us as much detail as you can at floodrisk@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk. If you cannot email, call 0300 300 8500.

The Environment Agency is also collecting information to assist in planning future flood management. Please complete the Environment Agency Survey.

Practical steps after flooding

Experiencing a flood can be overwhelming, but following these steps will help you navigate the recovery process and protect your safety.

  1. Ensure safety before returning to your property - Before entering your property, confirm with emergency services that it is safe to return. Floodwaters can hide dangers like contaminated water, structural issues, or electrical hazards. Contact a qualified electrician or gas engineer to check the safety of electricity and gas before use. You should also contact your water provider if you experience sewage flooding in your property. If you're unsure who your water provider is, check the Water UK website.
  2. Contact your insurance company - Get in touch with your insurer as soon as possible to report the flood and follow their advice. Most insurers have a 24-hour helpline. Do not throw away damaged goods until your insurer has authorised you to do so. If you're renting, inform your landlord immediately and contact your contents insurance provider to discuss the next steps.
  3. Handle property clean-up safely - When cleaning your property, always wear protective gloves and clothing, especially when handling any remaining floodwater or items that have come into contact with floodwater. Use masks as necessary and follow guidelines from local authorities and waste management services when disposing of damaged items. AMYA UK, one of the charities supporting our communities during emergencies, is happy to assist with any tasks required. Whether it is assistance in cleaning up, moving heavy items, or general support, they are happy to help. AMYA UK is one of the UK’s largest Muslim youth organisations with volunteers spread across the UK dedicated to supporting relief efforts. They are one of the many fantastic groups who work as part of our BLEVEC Emergency Response Teams. To get help, call the CBC Flood Helpline on 0300 300 8500 and we will work with AMYA UK to pass on your request.
  4. Record and manage damage - Take detailed photographs or videos of all damage and create an inventory of affected belongings. Keep documentation of all communications with your insurance company, repair professionals, and disposal actions.
  5. Dispose of contaminated food - Dispose of any food that has been in contact with floodwater, including tinned, defrosted, and packaged goods.
  6. Ventilate your property - After ensuring it is safe to enter, ventilate your property to help dry it out, but keep security in mind during this process.
  7. Watch for fraudulent contractors - During challenging times, unscrupulous builders and traders may offer their services. Ensure that any contractor provides a written quotation on letter-headed paper with a landline contact number and address. Make sure you get a written quotation that is on letterheaded paper with a landline contact number and address. You can find a tradesperson endorsed through the UK government’s quality scheme at TrustMark, or Buy with Confidence, which is operated by local authority Trading Standards services. Gas engineers must be registered with Gas Safe to complete the work you require. You can find and check whether an engineer is registered for the works you need at Gas Safe Register.

We are not able to offer grants for properties damaged by flooding or for uptake of property level resilience measures, however advice on property level resilience is available on our website and from agencies such as the National Flood Forum.

The National Flood Forum also offers more in-depth information on flood recovery, including safety, waste disposal, and dealing with insurers.

Emotional support

Experiencing flooding can be highly stressful and upsetting, and it's important to look after your wellbeing as well as your physical health. If you need emotional support or someone to talk to, there are various agencies you can call:

  • Samaritans: Whatever you’re going through, they are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Telephone: 116 123.
  • MIND BLMK: A local mental health charity with a holistic approach to promoting mental wellbeing. Telephone: 0300 330 0648. Email: hq@mind-blmk.org.uk
  • Shout: A free, confidential, text support service for anyone in the UK struggling to cope. It’s open 24/7. Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 (24/7).

Be prepared

If your property has flooded at least once, it could happen again in severe weather. Take action to help protect your property for the future. You can prepare for flooding by reading advice on the GOV.UK website - prepare for flooding.

Support with home insurance from FloodRe

FloodRe was established to address the challenges faced by homeowners in high-risk flood areas, where obtaining affordable insurance can be difficult. The programme works with insurers to help them offer more competitive rates for flood cover, ensuring homeowners can protect their properties from flood risks without facing high premiums. Visit the FloodRe website for more information.