Flooding Update sent to all Surrey County Councillors

While this update does not affect Haslemere, there are flood alerts across the county which may affect your travel plans for half term.

This is the first of the regular updates we will provide you with, outlining the response to flooding in Surrey. As this is the first update it contains all the detail to date. We will make these updates more focused on the changing situation as we progress.

The information comes from all the partners working together to manage the flooding in Surrey. This includes: Surrey Police; Surrey Fire and Rescue; Surrey County Council; District and Borough Councils; the Environment Agency; the military; volunteers and other organisations working with us.

You will have seen from the news that there is a huge impact on the communities in Runnymede, Spelthorne and Elmbridge. It is estimated that around 2,500 properties have either been flooded or are at risk of flooding in Surrey. Partners are continuing to work together to support residents who are or could be affected by flooding. The military are continuing to provide support as are a number of voluntary agencies.

Other areas of the county are also experiencing flooding due to the high level of rainfall. In Tandridge the Caterham Bourne is continuing to cause flooding problems along the A22 in Whyteleafe.

There is not expected to be any improvement in the weather in the coming days. Further heavy rain and strong winds are expected, this will mean that Flood Forecast for Surrey remains RED through the weekend.

Number of Homes Affected

• Approximately 1,000 properties flooded.
• Approximately 2000-2500 affected by flooding.
• Approximately 3,000 homes visited by police house to house teams since Sunday 9/2/14.
• Crime plan in place to provide crime prevention and identification of crime within affected areas. Dedicated officers on prevention and reassurance patrols.

People Evacuated

• Over 135 homes evacuated by Surrey Fire & Rescue.
• Total estimated 650 people evacuated at 1430 hrs on 12/2/14.
• Approximately 620 people from Egham area evacuated.
• In response to demand, Rest Centres are currently open. Others are on standby.
  

Supporting Vulnerable People

Adult Social Care and Children’s Social Care are continuing to work to ensure that vulnerable people are identified and supported. Adult Social Care Teams are working with borough councils to support residents who have been evacuated to the Rest Centres. The flood water is making normal business in the areas more difficult and Adult Social Care are working with the emergency services and military to ensure that vulnerable residents continue to receive their care.

Highways

The Highways Team and our contractors are working to put road closures in place when roads become flooded. Sandbags are being distributed to borough councils and residents on a priority basis.

Sand Bags

• 12,000 extra sandbags sourced for use plus 70000 tonnes of sand.
•  Military have deployed approximately 6,000 to 8,000 sandbags.
•  Local Authority has made approximately 15,000 to 20,000 sandbags available to the public.
•  Surrey Highways have deployed 15,000 sandbags since 5/2/14.
•  Total about 40-45,000 bags overall.
•  Additional 10,000 sandbags expected within next 12-24 hours.

Road Closures

•  44 physical roads closures are in place predominantly in the Staines and Egham areas.
•  Approximately 60 roads in total flooded.

Customer Services

The Flooding Advice page on the Surrey County Council website is being updated regularly and is receiving a high number of visits.  The Contact Centre and partner agencies are currently taking a high number of severe weather related calls and are providing flooding advice.  A team at the County’s Contact Centre will be in place on Saturday to take highway/flooding calls from 9am – 5pm.

Social media and local and national media is being used extensively to keep people up to date. See @SurreyCouncil and @SurreyTravel and @Surrey_News.

The Current Weather Report

There is no significant improvement in the weather forecast.

Friday will again be cloudy with further heavy rain moving north east during the morning, clearing during the afternoon, but further rain or showers following from the west during the evening and night.  This could give a further 10-25mm of rain.  The Met. Office has issued a Yellow RAIN Alert (Low Likelihood of Medium Impacts) on Friday and Saturday.  This wind will also be accompanied by strong to gale force winds again with gusts of 50-60 mph isolated 70 mph during Friday afternoon and overnight.

As the low pressure moves away on Saturday there will be further showers but the wind will gradually ease. Currently next week looks like remaining unsettled but low pressure systems should be less intense with a lower risk of very heavy rain and gale force winds, however, this will need watching and updating as confidence increases.

Any warnings updated or issued later can be viewed at http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings/#?tab=map.

Please find a link to the latest Surrey Police Press Release:

http://www.surrey.police.uk/news/news-stories/full-news-story/article/8598/flooding-update-county-continues-to-come-together-to-tackle-floods