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Until today, flood warning areas have covered long stretches of rivers. These areas covered several communities at risk from flooding, so a flood warning may have been issued for the entire stretch of river concerned, even though not every location would have been at risk from the river flooding. 

The new flood warning areas are smaller and more specific to communities, increasing the relevance of each warning and increasing the number of flood warning areas along some rivers. The addition of these new flood warning areas sees the successful finish to a longer term program to roll out more targeted flood warnings, with rivers such as the Thames, Mole and Loddon already benefiting from the service.

The communities benefiting from the new service include those along the River Hogsmill, the Beverley Brook, the River Wandle and the River Ravensbourne. This means Floodline Quickdial numbers, which members of the public can use to access local river level information, have also changed.
   
Louise Guy, Environment Agency flood incident management team leader said: “The introduction of these new flood warning areas will help us to provide a more targeted service for those at risk. It is important that people make a note of the new Floodline Quickdial number for their local river so they are able to quickly access the correct information when using the Floodline service.

“You can find out if you are at risk of flooding and get advice on how to prepare for a flood at www.environment-agency.gov.uk, or Floodline on 0845 988 1188. If you know you’re at risk of flooding a few moments preparation in advance will make a big difference”

Those registered for the Environment Agency’s free flood warning service should receive letters informing them of their new codes and areas affected over the next week. Residents calling Floodline can also sign up to the Floodline Warnings Direct service to receive flood warning messages directly by telephone, SMS text, email or pager message.

Notes to editors:

The following communities will benefit from more bespoke flood warnings. Quickdial codes for the areas are also listed:

Quickdial Code: 173601 River Hogsmill at Kingston, London Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Quickdial Code: 173602 River Hogsmill at Ewell Court, Ruxley and Old Malden, London Borough of Kingston upon Thames and Epsom and Ewell
Quickdial Code: 173701 Beverley Brook at Worcester Park, including Motspur Park, London Boroughs of Kingston upon Thames and Sutton
Quickdial Code: 173702 Beverley Brook at Barnes,  London Boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Wandsworth
Quickdial Code: 173703 Beverley Brook at Raynes Park Including Beverley Way and Malden Golf Course,  London Boroughs of Kingston upon Thames and Merton
Quickdial Code: 173704 Pyl Brook at North Cheam including Kimpton Industrial Estate,  London Boroughs of Merton and Sutton
Quickdial Code: 173705 East Pyl Brook at Morden Park from the A24 to West Barnes, London Borough of Merton
Quickdial Code: 173706 Beverley Brook at West Barnes, London Boroughs of Kingston upon Thames and Merton
Quickdial Code: 173707 Pyl Brook at West Barnes, London Borough of Merton
Quickdial Code: 173708 Beverley Brook at Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park including Kingston Vale and Robin Hood Gate and Roehampton, London Boroughs of Kingston upon Thames and Merton
Quickdial Code: 173801 Norbury Brook at Thornton Heath and Streatham Vale, including Norbury and Norbury Park, London Boroughs of Croydon and Lambeth
Quickdial Code: 173802 River Wandle at Beddington Park including Hackbridge and Waddon, London Boroughs of Sutton and Croydon
Quickdial Code: 173803 River Wandle at Carshalton from Carshalton Ponds to Wilderness Island and River Gardens, London Borough of Sutton
Quickdial Code: 173804 River Graveney at Tooting and Colliers Wood, London Boroughs of Wandsworth and Merton
Quickdial Code: 173805 River Wandle at Wimbledon including Colliers Wood, Merton Abbey, Conollys Mill, Summerstown and Wimbledon Stadium, London Borough of Merton
Quickdial Code: 173806 River Wandle at Morden, including Morden Hall Park, London Borough of Merton
Quickdial Code: 173807 River Wandle at Wandsworth including King Georges Park and Earlsfield, London Boroughs of Wandsworth and Merton
Quickdial Code: 173901 Ravensbourne at Bromley Including Ravensbourne East Branch at Southborough, London Borough of Bromley
Quickdial Code: 173902 Ravensbourne at Deptford, London Boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich
Quickdial Code: 173903 Kyd Brook at Petts Wood, London Borough of Bromley
Quickdial Code: 173904 Kyd Brook at Sundridge Park, Including Chiselhurst, London Borough of Bromley
Quickdial Code: 173905 River Quaggy at Chinbrook, Mottingham and Eltham, London Boroughs of Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich
Quickdial Code: 173906 River Quaggy Flood Alleviation Scheme at Kidbrooke, Lee and Hither Green Including Sutcliffe Park, London Boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich
Quickdial Code: 173907 Ravensbourne at Lewisham, Including Ladywell, London Borough of Lewisham
Quickdial Code: 173908 Ravensbourne from Bellingham to Catford, Including Beckingham Place Park, London Borough of Lewisham
Quickdial Code: 173909 Pool River at Bell Green and New Beckenham, London Boroughs of Lewisham and Bromley
Quickdial Code: 173910 Beck at Beckenham, London Borough of Bromley
Quickdial Code: 173911 Chaffinch Brook and St James Stream at Elmers End and Upper Elmers End, including South Norwood Country Park, London Boroughs of Bromley and Croydon

Remember, you can call Floodline on 0845 988 1188 any time night or day for real-time flood warnings and advice.

Gas, electricity and water

•         Put plugs into sinks and weigh them down with something heavy

•         Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies at the mains. Find out where these are well in advance of any flood

•         Unplug all electrical items and store upstairs or as high up as possible.

Reduce flood water getting into your home

•         Silicone sealant - open doors and windows, smear a layer of this around the frame, then shut and lock the door/window.

•         Ideally, cover doors, windows and airbricks with plywood, sandbags or metal sheeting. Download our guide, below, for detailed instructions.

Furniture and appliances

•         Move as much furniture and electrical items as you can upstairs. Alternatively raise them up on bricks or blocks - this may be very helpful for large appliances such as fridge/freezers

•         Move furniture away from walls, as this helps when drying your property later

•         If you can, roll up carpets and rugs and put them upstairs

•         If there is no time to remove curtains, hang them up over the rail so they are kept above flood water

•         Leave internal doors open, or ideally, remove them and store them upstairs.

Personal Items

•         You cannot replace sentimental items. Think about permanently moving these upstairs, so you do not forget to move them in the case of a flood

•         Keep important personal documents in a sealed bag, and in a location safe from floodwater.

Outside the house

•         Move anything not fixed down into a safer location, e.g. dustbins, garden chemicals, car oil and similar