Floods

Floods - Latest Advice and Information

This page will be updated with the latest information and advice relating to the flooding in York.

Our customer centre opening times can be found here. Alternatively for more information please contact tel: 01904 551550 or email: flood@york.gov.uk.

Floods: A year on

Last years floods caused devastation to many. Below is a look back at the clear up & what is being invested to improve defences in the future.

Floods poster Dec 2016

 

Flood timeline

Here is a timeline of the key events and the council's response during the 2015/16 floods. Also see an update from the Environment Agency about the Foss Barrier.

York flood exhibition

You can see the York Flood Plan whcih sets out the options for how the Environment Agency will spend £45 million across York city centre over the next five years here. These documents were on public display at Hotel 53 on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November 2016.

The Environment Agency shared its plans for upgrading the Foss Barrier; proposals for the £45M recovery money and a long term plan for York at a public exhibition held on 20 and 21 May. Following the public exhibition, a post-event feedback report has been published. Below are links to the detailed information that was displayed at the exhibition.

Key information

Important information for those affected by the floods:

Get useful information in our flood information leaflet and via our flood update newsletter.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the flood meeting held at the Barbican on Friday 15 January. The meeting was recorded. The recording can be viewed by clicking on the links below.

Environment Agency flood warnings are updated regularly - find out what each what each type of alert or warning means.

More information

See more details and use this menu to jump to different sections of this page:

Flood warnings

The Environment Agency (EA) gives warnings for flooding of rivers and coasts - see current Environment Agency flooding information.

If you live in a flood-risk area you can get warnings sent direct to you by phone, text message or email - contact the Environment Agency's Floodline on tel: 0345 9881188 for more information.

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Traffic and travel during floods

For the latest traffic and travel information, including details of road closures visit: http://www.itravelyork.info/.

Get advice from SmartDriving on driving through flood water.

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Offering help during floods and recovery operations

Thank you to everyone who has already helped or offered their support. We're continuing to co-ordinate what is needed and who can help out. Please read a thank you message from our Chief Executive, Council Leader and Deputy Leader to all those who have helped. 

The efforts of volunteers will be required and appreciated in the short, medium and long term. If you would like to offer any support in the recovery effort, please contact us with your details, email: flood@york.gov.uk or tel: 01904 551550.

If you've offered help you may not hear back from us straight away, but be reassured that we are working to co-ordinate teams and will be in touch with you.

Donate to The York Flood Appeal

One of the best ways you can now help is to donate funds to The York Flood Appeal - a new appeal to support people who have been affected by the flood in York in December 2015. Donate online to the York Flood Appeal.

We are anticipating the Government will match-fund York flood-related donations (up to a certain total).

Alternatively you can donate by cheque. Please make it payable to 'Two Ridings Community Foundation', write York Flood Appeal on the back and send it to:

Two Ridings Community Foundation
Suite 1.34, The Innovation Centre
York Science Park
York
YO10 5DG

The appeal is set up by The York Disaster Fund and is to benefit people living within the City of York Council boundary. The Fund was set up in 2000 to help the victims of floods in York that year, and has launched this appeal to help this year’s victims of flooding in York. 

 

Other donations

Thank you for your overwhelming generosity in donating clothes and other items, given to the many community donation points across the city.

At the present time they are now full to capacity and closed for further donations of items. However, please watch this space, Twitter and Facebook, as we may make a renewed call on behalf of communities in the coming days or weeks. 

Some community donation points are opening up for flood-affected households to collect goods. These include:

  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Acomb - contact Steff on tel: 07469 948393
  • Heworth Parish Church, contact Michaela on tel: 07808 150519
  • Macreas Newsagents, Kitchener Street, contact Helen on tel: 01904 733735

Thanks to all those who made kind offers of accommodation for flood-affected residents. We now have enough offers of help, although we may still approach those who have already given us their details in the future.

Donate furniture and household goods

The Community Furniture Store in York is accepting furniture and household goods for distribution. They are based at Unit 29, The Raylor Centre, James Street, York, YO10 3D, tel: 01904 426444. The Store will be open from Monday 4 January. Please see their website for opening hours and further information.

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Support for residents and businesses

Following work to limit the extent and effects of the floods, we are co-ordinating support for residents and businesses - get more information on:

  • Waste collections
  • Council tax
  • Reputable tradespeople
  • Benefits advice
  • York’s Disaster Fund
  • Disaster Recovery Fund

Financial support is available to help small and medium sized businesses affected by flooding. We are is also providing extra skips, cleaning crews and dehumidifiers for those households affected by flooding. 

For information on ways the Community Furniture Store are helping people who have been affected by flooding with free new and pre-used furniture please see this leaflet.

For detailed information on financial support available for those affected by the floods please see our leaflet, York Floods - Financial support package for residents and businesses (PDF).

Parking permits

The council waived parking permits for flood-affected residents for a three-month period until 31 March. As most repair work is now being carried out by builders, the cost of parking permits should now be covered by insurers or residents’ contractors. Any resident who was uninsured or is in financial difficulty, please contact the council’s parking team on 01904 551309 or parking@york.gov.uk and we will do our best to help.

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Flood damaged waste and temporary skips

Support for Residents’ clean up

Council skips have been available in over 60 locations for the immediate clean-up after the floods on 26 December. As the clean-up moves into the repair stage, the skips are being withdrawn. As of Wednesday 20 January all skips for flood damaged waste have been removed except in Rosemary Court. We have also added skips to King's Staith now river levels allow. 

Residents who have only just returned to their properties or have only just received clearance from their insurers to clear them should ring the council’s customer centre on 01904 551551 for help. The customer centre will ask what type of waste needs collecting. Flood-damaged items like furniture, carpets and white goods can be taken and collection will be arranged. Renovation materials like rubble, wood and plaster board can not be taken: the builder or insurer are responsible for their correct disposal.

Support for Businesses’ clean up

Builders and other businesses who wish to use Hazel Court or Towthorpe Household Waste Recycling Centre to dispose of flood-damaged waste will need to register with us 24 hours before visiting the site. Businesses must also ensure that they have a valid waste carriers licence from the Environment Agency and pay charges as usual. 

Full details of the types of waste accepted, charges and how to register are at:  https://www.york.gov.uk/info/20090/commercial_waste/558/commercial_waste_disposal_sites

All businesses that wish to dispose of flood damaged waste should use Hazel Court Household Waste Recycling Centre as you will be required to go over the weighbridge. There will be no charge for businesses wishing to use Hazel Court Waste Recycling Centre to dispose of flood damaged waste. Please note that this does not include building/renovation materials for which normal disposal charges will apply. 

Residents visiting Hazel Court Household Waste Recycling Centre in a van or with a trailer to dispose of flood damaged waste may not require a permit.  Please contact us before you visit the site to make arrangements.  Please note that this does not include building/renovation materials for which normal disposal charges will apply.

A skip will be delivered to Kings Staith once floodwater recedes.

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Flood safety and public health

Please avoid entering flood waters as there may be hidden dangers like sharp objects, raised manhole covers and pollution.

Protecting your home from floods

For practical advice on what to do to protect yourself and your property during and after a flood view the leaflet 'What to do before, during and after a flood' (PDF) or find out how to protect your home from floods on the Environment Agency flooding website.

How to clean your home safely

This leaflet provides important health advice and some basic precautions to keep you and your family safe while cleaning up your flooded home. Public Health England leaflet: How to clean up your home safely (PDF).

For advice on Public Health during the floods see their flooding questions and answers.

Public Health England

We have a public health responsibility and works closely with Public Health England, who have a variety of advice for those affected by flooding including:

Repairs to your home

Take care when deciding which traders can help you to repair your home, or which services to use following floods. For advice on how to spot rogue traders see the Citizens Advice Bureau website, or contact them on tel: 03454 04 05 06 for information. You can also see Age UK York's home services directory which offers a list of traders vetted by the police and City of York Trading Standards to protect householders from bogus traders.

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Insurance

The Association of British Insurers have some great advice for those recovering from floods.

If you have been affected please contact your insurer as they are open and waiting to receive your calls. Information is also available on the insurance process.

You can also find out about Flood Re, a joint Government and insurance industry initiative to enable you to find affordable insurance for qualifying properties that are at risk of flooding or have been flooded.

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Flooding advice for businesses

If your business has been affected by flooding please see the Health and Safety Executive's advice on recovering your business.

If your food business has been affected by flooding please see our Flooding advice for food businesses webpage.

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School transport

All scheduled home to school transport services are running as normal with our partners York Pullman and Streamline.

There are currently no planned changes to transport as a result of recent flooding, though services may be slightly delayed as having to re-route around roads closed due to flooding.

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Sandbags

It's very important we make sure we have enough sandbags to protect key buildings (eg. hospitals). However, we do try to prevent widespread flooding in all areas. For details of our sandbag policy and how to build a sandbag wall, download sandbag information.

Please note:

  • sandbags are not available for public collection from Hazel Court
  • we give out sandbags to private properties if we have enough, and people to distribute them
  • there is no charge for sandbags
  • we may restrict the number you can have.

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River flooding emergency plans

The River Ouse and River Foss rise and fall regularly in York. With our partners we have well-established emergency plans for flooding and for the protection of the city, its people and premises when this happens. The actions and temporary works detailed within plans are incremental and are triggered by Environment Agency warnings and forecasts.

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Also see

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