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Important: Updates to North East Lincolnshire Council’s website

Flooding

What is my flood risk?

The types of flooding which present a risk to North East Lincolnshire are:

The types of flooding which present a risk to North East Lincolnshire are:

  1. Flooding from watercourses (fluvial) –this occurs when water comes out of a river or stream, either through a breach or overtopping.
  2. Surface water flooding (pluvial) – this occurs when, usually intense, rain falls onto the ground, flows over or collects on the surface and does not enter a watercourse or drainage system.
  3. Groundwater flooding – caused by water levels in rocks and soil rising until it appears above the ground surface. See the active springs (PDF) in the borough.
  4. Sewer flooding – from the public sewer system. Can be caused by too much water entering the system or by a blockage.
  5. Coastal flooding and erosion – high tides and storm surges can overtop or breach defences causing flooding inland. Erosion occurs when the action of the waves removes material causing the permanent loss of land.
  6. Reservoir flooding – failure of a reservoir dam that could release large volumes of water very quickly, and with little warning.

You can check your flood risk by entering your postcode on the Environment Agency’s website https://check-long-term-flood-risk.service.gov.uk/

If you have any questions about the risk of flooding to your property please contact us on 01472 324351.

Flood warnings and river levels

If you find you are at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea you can register to receive free flood warnings from the Environment Agency by calling their Floodline number on 0345 988 1188 or visiting Get flood warnings by text, phone or email – GOV.UK

Live warnings are displayed on the following map or you can view river and sea levels by visiting the GaugeMap website.  Simply enter the location you want the information for and it will be displayed on the map.

Flood warning categories

  • Flood Alert – Flooding is possible. Be prepared.
  • Flood Warning – Flooding is expected. Immediate action required.
  • Severe Flood Warning – Severe flooding. Danger to life.

Preparing for flooding

If your property is at risk of flooding it is recommended that you have a plan for how you would deal with it. This can help to reduce the damage and destruction caused to your property and the stress of dealing with the aftermath. The council has produced a ‘Plan ahead and protect your home‘ (PDF) leaflet which outlines how you can be more prepared.

Flooding can damage your home, your belongings and can disrupt your life. Simple actions like packing a bag with essentials, turning off your utilities and moving things to safety can help protect your home, your family and your health. To find out more and make your flood plan today go to How to plan ahead for flooding.

The Environment Agency have also produced a leaflet to help you plan for what to do before, during and after a flood:

If you receive a flood warning from the Environment Agency or are alerted to the potential risk of flooding from another organisation or a weather forecast you should take the following action:

  • Install any property level protection measures that you have (e.g. flood boards, sandbags etc.).
  • Move valuable possessions to a higher floor or elevated surface.
  • Prepare belongings in case you will need to leave your house.
  • If you have time, turn off gas, electricity and water supplies.
  • Keep tuned to local radio – BBC Radio Humberside 95.9FM.
  • If you think you may need to stay in your house take some basic supplies upstairs including water and food.
  • If at any point you or your neighbours are in danger call 999.

Make sure that you follow the instructions of the emergency services if they ask you to evacuate your property.

Protecting your property will help reduce the damage and disruption flooding can cause. Repairs should be cheaper and you won’t need to spend as much time away from your home.

You are advised to seek professional guidance from a building surveyor before making changes to your home.  Preventing excessive depths of water from entering could cause structural damage.

When flood waters rise, they are able to enter your home through the following ways:

  • Doors and windows
  • Floors and air bricks
  • Walls
  • Drains including toilets, showers and sinks
  • Service entry points (e.g. gas, electricity)

Flood resistance measures will help to prevent water from entering your home, for example, door barriers and air brick covers.  Flood resilience measures will help when you are unable to prevent water from entering your property by making it easier and cheaper to recover after a flood.

The National Flood Forum has created the Blue Pages website to provide more information on the different products available, such as door barriers and air brick covers, and where you can buy them.  Some are also available in local DIY stores.  Look for  the BSI Kitemark – it shows that the products have been subject to strict independent testing.

During a flood event the resources of the Council and other authorities are likely to be stretched and may not be able respond in person to every call received. Some types of flooding also occur with little warning and so often the best response comes from the owners of the property affected.

During a flood the Council will mobilise the staff and equipment that it has to ensure that gullies and drains are not blocked and are able to drain water away.

For more widespread or larger flooding events (e.g. tidal flooding) the Council will also open and operate rest centres if people are evacuated from their homes.

People who live in flood risk areas or who have experienced flooding in the past can find it difficult to obtain affordable flood insurance for their property.  Without insurance you will be vulnerable to the impacts of a flood.

If you are having difficulty going through your existing provider you may need to shop around and go through a specialist insurance broker.  The British Insurance Brokers’ Association website can help with this.

More information on how to get flood insurance is also provided on the National Flood Forum website.

During a flood the Council and the emergency services are likely to experience high demand for help and may not be able to attend areas where life is not in immediate danger.  This is where the response of a local community will be able to make a difference.

The council does not provide sandbags to members of the public. If you wish to use them they can be purchased from local DIY stores or builders merchants.

However, the effectiveness of sandbags is limited.  Unless laid correctly they are not good at keeping water out of property and if the water is contaminated with sewerage they have to be disposed of after only one use.

We would recommend that purpose-made property level protection products are more suitable to keep water from entering property.  These can be quickly deployed, form a watertight seal and can be cleaned and re-used.  More information on these products can be found on the Blue Pages website from the National Flood Forum.

Read our Sandbag Policy (PDF) for more information.

Here are some practical steps on placing sandbags.

The Council wants to ensure that people are able to contribute to decisions that are made to reduce the risk of flooding.  If you have formed a specific flood group or are an existing group that is concerned about the risk of flooding please get in touch on 01472 313131.

Flooding can have a serious impact on a business, disrupting supply chains, staff and customers.  In order to keep your business running and minimise the impacts as far as possible you should have a plan for how you will respond to a flood.

The Environment Agency have produced a guide for businesses that is specifically focussed what needs to be considered to prepare for flooding:

What should I do after a flood?

Depending on the source of the flooding you will need to report it to the following organisations:

  • If the water is coming out of a drain or manhole you should contact Anglian Water on 03457 145 145. If the water is contaminated with sewage they will clear it up.
  • If the flooding is coming from a main river or the sea the Environment Agency should be informed by calling their Floodline number 0345 988 1188.
  • If the flooding is coming from a watercourse and you are in a drainage board area call either of the following numbers;
  • For any other sources of flooding or if you are unsure please call North East Lincolnshire Council on 01472 313131.

Please be aware that these organisations will share this information with the council so that we can carry out our statutory duty to investigate the flooding.

If your house has been flooded, please complete the Household Flooding – Recovery Questionnaire and send it to us.

If the flooding came from the sewers and has contaminated your property you will need to call Anglian Water on 03457 145 145 as they will be able to help clear up and disinfect.

To begin the process of recovery you are likely to have to contact your insurance company.  The Association of British Insurers (ABI) have produced the following guidance on what you can expect from your insurance company and ways of repairing your property to aid recovery and prevent damage if a flood were to occur again: A guide to resistant and resilient repair after a flood.

Who has responsibilities for flooding?

The responsibility for managing the risk of flooding is split between different organisations in the borough, these are known as Risk Management Authorities (RMAs). Many of these authorities carry out their work using ‘permissive powers’ given to them by different flooding legislation. This means that although they have the power to carry out works there is not always a legal duty for them to do so. Work is prioritised according to need and is dependent on funding being available. The council meets regularly with these organisations to discuss flooding issues and proposed works.

The legal responsibility for protecting a property from flooding rests with the owner. It is therefore important that property owners are aware of their risk and how they can help contribute to reducing it. You can find out more information on the works undertaken by the different risk management authorities below.

As the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) we are responsible for coordinating the management of local flood risks – surface water, ordinary watercourses and groundwater. We also investigate instances of flooding of publish the results.

The council manages and maintains the highway drainage systems through gulley cleaning, repairing broken pipework and ensuring improvements are included in highway schemes.

We also inspect watercourses where there is a high risk of flooding to see if any maintenance work needs to be carried out. We carry out maintenance on watercourses where we have a specific responsibility including Buck Beck in Waltham, Ferriby Lane, Goosemans Drain and Saltings allotment.

As part of our coastal responsibilities we manage and maintain the North and Central Promenades, Kingsway and the frontage at Humberston Fitties. We manage the beach levels on Cleethorpes and Humberston beaches.

Where necessary we seek funding from various sources to carry work where flood defence renovations or replacement are required.

What do the council and others do to prepare for flooding?

The council works with the other risk management authorities (the Environment Agency, Anglian Water and the Drainage Boards) to manage the risk of flooding from all sources in the borough.

Will the council close flooded roads?

The council has produced an Emergency Road Closures Position (PDF, 254KB) detailing who has the powers to close roads.

The Police and the council are the only organisations who have the legal power to close a road. The Police will only do so if there is a risk that a vehicle will break down which could then prevent access for emergency vehicles. Whilst the Council has the power, the resources to close roads are likely to be stretched and we may not be able to react to all requests or areas of need.

If residents wish to prevent vehicles driving on flooded roads this is done without any specific delegated authority given to them by the Police or the Council and no equipment can be provided to do this.

The Environment Agency has operational responsibility for managing the risk of flooding from main rivers, reservoirs and the sea. They monitor water levels and rainfall to allow them to forecast floods, and provide warnings to the public as well as other organisations to help prepare for flooding. They also provide the national strategic overview for flood risk management.

Information on the maintenance that the Environment Agency undertakes on Main rivers and sea defences can be found on the Environment Agency website where you can enter your postcode to see what activities are carried out near you.

The two drainage boards with responsibilities in our borough North East Lindsey Drainage Board Witham & Humber Drainage Boards and Water Management Consortium. They maintain watercourses, pumping stations and other drainage infrastructure within their areas. North East Lindsey Drainage Board and Water Management Consortium provide information on maintenance activities on their websites. Further information on this should be sought from the drainage board directly.

Anglian Water are responsible for managing the risk of flooding from foul, combined and surface water sewers as well as from burst water mains. Anglian Water have a planned, proactive maintenance programme which covers 113 separate sections of sewer, totalling 33km. The frequency of cleaning ranges from every month to every 5 years. Check on or report an issue

Carrying out works on a watercourse

If you live by a watercourse you should be aware of what your rights are. The Environment Agency have produced a webpage which provides further information:

If you wish to carry out works alongside a watercourse or within the channel which would affect the flow of water it is likely that you will need to apply for a specific consent to carry out these works. This is separate to any other permission such as planning permission.

The power to issue consents is divided between the following authorities:

  • North East Lincolnshire Council – for works on ordinary watercourses please call 01472 313131. Guidance notes and an Ordinary watercourse consent form are available on this page.
  • Witham & Humber Drainage Boards – for works on an ordinary watercourse within North East Lindsey Drainage Board’s district please call 01469 588991 or visit their website.
  • Water Management Consortium – for works on an ordinary watercourse within their district please call 01507 328095 or visit their website.
  • The Environment Agency – for works on or adjacent to a Main River or sea defences please call 03708 506 506 or use the application forms on their website.

Anglian Water ‘Keep it Clear’ campaign

Many sewer pipe blockages are caused by inappropriate objects being put down sinks and flushed down toilets. These blockages can lead to flooding but also other problems such as unpleasant smells and environmental damage.

Anglian Water have a campaign called ‘Keep it Clear’ which is aimed at educating people about the problems this causes and how it can be avoided.

The Keep it Clear website contains more information on how you can prevent blockages occurring.

Flood strategies and investigations

There are a number of documents produced by the council and others which provide further information on flood risk management in the borough.

Plans and strategies

Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (PDF) sets out how we and others will work together to manage the risk of flooding. It has an Action Plan which sets out the work that the council and others plan to undertake in the short, medium and long term.

Under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010), it is the duty of a Lead Local Flood Authority to prepare and maintain a Strategy for local flood risk management in their area. A Local Flood Risk Management Strategy must be consistent with the national flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) strategy, taking account of the current policy and reflect the aspirations and priorities of other partners with responsibilities for FCERM along with wider local interests in linked environmental or social outcomes.

A summary of the Draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for North East Lincolnshire is available here:

The full Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for North East Lincolnshire and accompanying environmental assessments are as below:

The Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy (HFRMS) was produced and updated by the Environment Agency in December 2022. It contains measures for managing the risk of flooding from main rivers, the sea and reservoirs for 2021 to 2027 and beyond for the whole of the Humber river basin district. Local flood risk issues are included through reference to our Local Flood Risk Management Strategy to avoid duplication.

North East Lincolnshire is included within the Louth Grimsby and Ancholme catchment.

An aspirational broad scale plan for managing flood and erosion risk for our coastline, looking at the short, medium and long term. The main aim is to develop a sustainable management approach for the coastline. The Shoreline Management Plan can be accessed via the recently created SMP Explorer webpage Flamborough Head to Gibraltar Point SMP3 | Shoreline Management Plans.

The council will carry out an investigation into flooding when:

  • Property is flooded internally (particularly for residential property).
  • Critical infrastructure is affected.
  • The public highway network is disrupted.

The investigating officer is not responsible for resolving the flooding although solutions may be identified as part of the investigation. The council will work with partners to investigate and establish the cause and notify the relevant authority of the results.

After the surface water flooding in summer 2014 the Cabinet Working Group on Flooding was set up to review what happened and make recommendations on how the council and other authorities should respond in the future.

Investigation reports:

Contact details

Related pages

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