Sandbags
The Council does not have a duty to provide
sandbags and if you are concerned about flooding you should make
your own arrangements as soon as you hear that flooding is
possible.
The Council has a very small number of staff to
deploy at times of flooding emergency and these will be
endeavouring to protect the public at large. We will not be able to
assist a large number of individual homeowners who may find their
properties threatened by flooding.
Sandbags can be obtained from any Builders
Merchant or
DIY
Store. But
there is nothing special about sandbags - they are simply
cloth bags that hold sand or soil so that a low wall can be built
to dam the flow of water. If your house is under threat and you
have no sandbags you will need to improvise; it is very unlikely
that the council or anyone else will be able to provide sandbags
quickly enough in a real emergency. Bin liners, pillow cases, seat
cushions or plastic carrier bags filled with soil dug from
your garden will serve, and so will soil wrapped up in a bath towel
made into a roll across the bottom of a door. 'Grow Bags'® are the
right shape and light enough to be carried around easily.
Over the recent past a number of approved systems which
manufacturers have been designed to alleviate the effects of
flooding. These systems have been approved by the British Standards
Institution (BSI) and are kitemarked to show their status in a
process which has involved the Environment Agency and HR
Wallingford, the country's leading water research facility.
Flood protection products such as these, alone will not make a
home flood proof - this is impossible. However their use may slow
the flow of flood water into a property giving residents more time
to move themselves and their belongings to safety. The Environment
Agency has a booklet - "Flood Product
Advice Guide" - which gives practical advice on
making your home more flood resistant. You can phone for a copy on
the Floodline number, 0845 988 1188.
Products:
Please note that the inclusion of these products does not
represent an endorsement of their use by Havant Borough
Cuncil.