Floods

Guidance on floods and how to deal with them.

There are 1.3 million properties at risk of flooding in England and Wales. One of them could be yours.

The better prepared you are, the better you'll cope with the effects of flooding. Do what you can now to prepare for a flood. Don't leave it until the flood has started. You may not have enough time.

Get help during a flood

During a flooding event, if you are vulnerable or feel that lives are at risk, contact the emergency services on 999 for immediate assistance and rescue.

If the issue is urgent but not life-threatening contact the appropriate authority.

Surface water flooding or flash flooding

Call us on 020 8748 3020 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, or 020 8748 8588 at all other times.

Sewer flooding

Call Thames Water on 0800 316 9800.

River flooding

Call the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.

Floodline Alert

For more information on how to stay safe during a flood, call Floodline Alert on 0345 988 1188. This is a 24-hour service. Calls to this number may incur a charge - check with your phone provider for call charges to 0345 numbers.

What to do before, during and after a flood

The Environment Agency has produced helpful guidelines to help you prepare for and respond to flooding. What to do before, during and after a flood (GOV.UK).

Sandbags are relatively ineffective compared to purpose-designed flood protection products. This is because of the time it takes to fill and lay them and because they don't last as long.

We don't provide sandbags to protect properties from flooding and strongly encourage you to use purpose-made flood protection products such as:

  • flood sacks
  • flood boards
  • non-return valves for plumbing
  • air-brick covers.

Living with rainwater in H&F - a guide to working with nature to make the borough more flood proof

Find out how to create resilience to extreme weather in our guide: Living with rainwater.

Protecting your property from flooding is a landlord or homeowner responsibility, and we strongly encourage all residents and businesses to take out the necessary property and contents insurance that covers flood risk.

Finding somewhere to stay after a flood

If your home is flooded contact your landlord and insurance company. Your landlord or insurance company should help you to find somewhere else to stay if your home is uninhabitable.

If your home is flooded by sewage you must evacuate that area, move upstairs or stay with friends and relatives, and notify Thames Water on 0800 316 9800.

If you are a council tenant and have nowhere else to stay and need emergency housing, contact us on 0800 023 4499.

If you are a housing association tenant please contact your housing association.

If you are not a council tenant and require immediate assistance due to flooding, please see emergency housing information and contact details.

After a flood

  1. Please report flooding to us by filling out our flooding questionnaire
  2. Fill in Thames Water's sewer flood questionnaire to help them assess where improvements are needed in our flood defences.

Types of flooding

Residents in Hammersmith & Fulham are at risk from 4 types of flooding.

Surface water flooding

Surface water flooding or flash flooding occurs when heavy rainfall overwhelms the ground and piped drainage network. It can lead to water flowing overground and pooling in low-lying areas. It is typically caused by thunderstorms.

Where significant surface water flooding has resulted in water flowing overland into a property please contact the local authority, call 020 8748 3020 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, or 020 8748 8588 at all other times.

Read the GLA's guide on Flash Flooding - Here's how you can prepare for flash floods.

Sewer flooding

High levels of rainfall can cause sewers to overflow. You are more likely to be affected if you live in a basement flat, with flooding coming from:

  • drains and manholes within the property or property boundary
  • toilets
  • sinks
  • showers
  • baths.

Contact Thames Water on 0800 316 9800 if your property is affected by sewer floods and complete their sewer flooding questionnaire.

More information on sewer flooding can be found on the Thames Water flooding page.

If you think there is a blockage in the sewer, you can report a blockage to Thames Water.

Flooding from the River Thames

There are only a few properties likely to flood from the Thames since the Thames Barrier was built.

Contact us or The Environment Agency if your property is affected by flooding from the Thames.

You can call The Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60, or call us on 020 8748 3020 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, or 020 8748 8588 at all other times.

Flooding from burst water mains

This can happen anywhere at any time with no prior warning. This makes it difficult to prepare for.

Contact Thames Water on 0800 316 9800 if your property is affected by burst water mains.

For leaking water supply pipes contact Thames Water on 0800 316 9800 or use their report a leak tool.

Questions about flooding

For any further information or questions about flooding that are not emergencies email us at highwaydrainage@lbhf.gov.uk - This email address is only monitored between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

What is the likelihood of flooding from rivers and the sea in your area?

Use the flood map from the Environment Agency to find out.

Flood warnings

Flood warnings let you know when a flood is about to happen. They are not meant to cause a panic, and will, wherever possible, be given in enough time before a flood to help you prepare for it. Listen out on TV and radio or phone the floodline on 0345 988 1188.

River flood warnings Flood alerts and warnings (check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk)

Flash flood warnings are issued from the Met Office.

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)

The Strategic flood risk assessment main - report (pdf 2.57MB) and associated figures Strategic flood risk assessment - appendix B (pdf 15.2MB) outline details of present and future flood risk to the borough from all sources and assesses the impact that development will have on flood risk.

Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) (pdf 6.7MB) is an over-arching strategy document that helps understand and manage flood risk in the borough. It seeks to increase awareness of the flood risk in the borough and to encourage better cooperation and communication between organisations involved in flood risk management and the public.

Our surface water management plan

The surface water management plan outlines the preferred surface-water management strategy for H&F. It covers flooding from sewers, drains, groundwater and runoff from land, small watercourses and ditches that occur as a result of heavy rainfall.

Other sources of advice

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