Emergency Plan - Fylde Borough Council

SECTION 5 –TIDAL FLOODING WARNINGS - ACTIONS
Emergency Plan February 2007
5.1 Introduction
The Environment Agency (EA) receives forecast information from the Storm Tide Warning
Service and the Meteorological Office together with actual tide levels from tidal outstations at
Liverpool, Heysham, Fleetwood and Workington.
When conditions are such that coastal flooding is possible the EA will, in accordance with their
warning procedures, provide the Council with predictions of conditions. The procedure for the
dissemination of such warnings is detailed in paragraph 4.2 above and includes Flood Watches,
Flood Warnings, Severe Flood Warnings & an All Clear. The actions to be taken on receipt of
each of these are set out below.
5.2 Flood Watch
A FLOOD WATCH warning will be issued by the Environment Agency North West via their Flood
Warnings Direct system when long range surge predictions indicate that there is a high
probability that a future tide will reach warning levels. The warning will refer to a single high tide
only.
On receipt of a FLOOD WATCH warning the Tidal Flooding Officer should:-
• Liaise with the Head of Operations and the Flooding Co-ordinator and advise whether
emergency response staff need to be placed on standby.
• Inform Fylde Direct or the Council’s Out of Hours Service, if out of normal office hours, of
the situation including when high water is expected and advise them to direct calls for
information to the Environment Agency’s FLOODLINE telephone number or website
The quick-dial number for Floodline is 0224232 for The Coast at Lytham St Annes and
02242331for the Lancashire coast at Clifton Marsh
• Assess and monitor the conditions on site for at least four hours preceding high water.
• Establish contact with the EA Flood Warning Officer at the control room (01772 714225),
and maintain regular contact throughout the duration of the event.
• Monitor weather forecasts.
• Check available resources including personnel, plant, sandbags.
• Arrange for streetscene staff to monitor conditions if necessary.
• Request further assistance from Tidal Flooding Assistants if necessary.
• Be aware that flooding could occur in the specified area.
• Be aware that the situation could worsen.
• Maintain an operational log of all events (see Appendix 7 of Fylde B.C. Emergency Plan)
and ensure all assistants maintain a detailed personal log
The Head of Operations should:-
• Check available resources including personnel, plant, sandbags etc.
• Place emergency response staff on standby, if considered necessary.
The Flooding Co-ordinator should:-
• Liaise with the Head of Operations and the Tidal Flooding Officer.
Appendix 5
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Uncontrolled if Printed
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