When there's flooding in York, we'll provide assistance, practical support and information as soon as it's safe and appropriate to do so.
Additional information is available if you:
- follow us on Twitter or Facebook
- listen to BBC Radio York or Minster FM
You can also follow @EnvAgencyYNE and #floodaware on Twitter, or contact Floodline by telephone: 0345 988 1188.
Helpful information about floods
- Flood warnings
- Travel and parking during floods
- Support for residents and businesses
- Support for vulnerable people
- Flood safety and public health
- Flooding insurance advice
- Sandbags
- Volunteering to help
Flood warnings
The Environment Agency's flood information service is updated regularly. Their current flood warning is refreshed every 10 minutes:
Find out what flood warning symbols mean.
Sign up for flood warnings by phone, email or text message from the Environment Agency if you live, work or have a business in a flood-risk area.
Flood levels for the next 36 hours are published on the EA website.
Travel and parking during flood recovery
Traffic Management Plans and necessary diversions will be put in place as required; iTravel York will host the latest traffic and travel information, including details of any road closures.
Where water affect roads you should:
- not enter or travel through the water
- leave extra space for all vehicles
- report surface water and drainage problems
- be aware of more cyclists and pedestrians using roads (while riverside cycle routes and footpaths are affected)
Get advice on driving through flood water from SmartDriving.co.uk.
Support for residents and businesses
You should avoid entering flood waters, as there may be hidden dangers like sharp objects, raised manhole covers and pollution.
View 'What to do before, during and after a flood' (Environment Agency) for practical advice on protecting yourself and your property.
Choosing trustworthy traders
Read the following advice before choosing a trader to carry out repairs after flooding:
- Finding a trustworthy trader (Citizens Advice)
- Age UK York's home services directory lists traders vetted by the police and Trading Standards
Businesses affected by flooding
Read advice on recovering your business safely after flooding if your business has been affected by flooding.
There's also specific advice from our Food Safety team for food businesses affected by flooding.
Support for vulnerable people
If you're know of someone who may be in need of social care and support contact our Adult Social Care Team, email: adult.socialsupport@york.gov.uk or telephone: 01904 555111 (or textphone: 07534 437804, for sensory impaired callers), between 8.30am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Outside of these times please contact the Emergency Duty Team for assistance.
Flood safety and public health
We have a responsibility for public health and work closely with Public Health England.
Their range of advice for those affected by flooding includes:
- planning, managing and recovering from a flood
- how to clean up your home safely
- questions and answers about health
- mental health advice following floods
Flooding insurance advice
Contact your insurer if you've been affected by flooding.
Read advice for those recovering from floods from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
Flood Re is a joint Government and insurance industry initiative which aims to help insurers help householders at risk of flooding.
Sandbags
We'll provide sandbags to communities* at immediate risk of flooding - you don't need to contact us.
When river levels are expected to be high, we’re unlikely to be able to provide sandbags or other defences to other communities; our sandbag policy details how we prioritise use of our sandbag stock:
- repairing existing flood defences
- preventing flooding to large areas of residential* and commercial property
- protecting utilities, hospitals, schools, residential homes and emergency services buildings
- critical transport routes and essential roads
- individual residential or commercial properties
Sandbags from our stock will only be made available to individual residential or commercial properties if:
- there's an immediate threat of flood
- we'll have enough stock remaining to continue protecting priority areas
- flood waters aren't expected to rise above existing defences in priority areas
We may charge you for providing sandbags, or any help to build flood defences, at your residential or commercial property.
You should be able to buy sand and bags from the following places:
- Travis Perkins - Foss Islands Road or Clifton Moo
- Jewsons - Foss Islands Road or Green Lane Trading Estate
- James Burrel - Clifton Moor
- B&Q - Hull Road or Clifton Moor
- Wickes - Clifton Moor
- Buildbase - James Street
- Keyline - Osbaldwick
Sandbags aren't available for collection from our Hazel Court depot.
Find out how to use sandbags for flood protection from the Environment Agency.
When flood defences are removed any plastic sandbags will be recycled; where possible we’ll reuse sand at our depot. Contaminated sandbags will be disposed of through our contaminated waste removal.
Volunteering to help
We’re very grateful to have a network of 350 registered volunteers working alongside the Major Incident Response Team in times of flood.
York CVS coordinate volunteer help across the city; if you want to volunteer register with 'Ready for Everything' online.
Once registered, if you’re needed to provide voluntary support, you’ll get a text message from us (or from the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum), with all the details. Please don’t 'turn up' to a flood area, or where you see defences. You could be putting yourself at risk, and could distract the teams at work.