Always keep an eye on weather forecasts and be sure to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your property from extreme weather. For example, when strong winds are forecast, reposition or secure any garden furniture and other moveable objects in your garden, such as trampolines, bins, and plant pots.

Chelmsford City Council often share weather warnings on social media and in our bi-weekly City Life email newsletter, but you can always find the latest information on the Met Office website and you can sign up to its weather alerts, too.

If you live in an area prone to flooding, we recommend purchasing sandbags as a precaution. In the event of a flood, we can only provide sandbags to those on our vulnerable residents register (more on that later). You can find information about how to improve the flood resilience of your home on the Essex County Council website.

Other types of flooding

Flooding can occur as a result of severe weather or from blocked drains or sewers. In most cases, blocked drains are the homeowner’s responsibility and the onus is on residents to protect their property against flooding of this manner where possible.

A proportion of drains are connected to the public network and will therefore be maintained by the local water company. If you suspect an issue with drainage on your property, you can contact the local water company (Anglian Water) to identify ownership.

Planning for emergencies

Chelmsford City Council works closely with the emergency services to assess potential emergencies and plan our response. An emergency could include severe weather conditions, major traffic incidents, a national power outage, terror attacks, or major fires.

If an emergency is declared, you will find information on the latest emergency information page on our website.

There are things you can do to prepare for an emergency.

We recommend making an emergency grab bag, containing your most essential belongings. With an emergency grab bag at the ready, you and your family will be prepared if you need to leave your home quickly.

Grab bags should be kept somewhere they can be easily found by all family members and should be checked every six months. Suggested items to include are:

• First aid kit
• Copies of documentation you may need, such as insurances
• A list of prescription medication requirements
• Toiletries and sanitary supplies
• Mobile phone and charger
• Spare clothes
• Children’s toys
• A battery torch with spare batteries
• Bottled water and emergency food
• Extra set of house and car keys
• Cash / credit cards

The council’s main role in an emergency is to provide and run rest centres in the event of an evacuation, which would usually be set up in schools, village halls and leisure centres.

If you would need extra help in an emergency evacuation, you can register as a vulnerable resident. Add yourself (or someone else, with their permission) to the register here.

You may also want to register for the UK Power Networks’ Priority Service Register, should you require extra assistance in the event of a power cut. You can do this on the UK Power Networks website, where you’ll also find information on how to prepare for possible power cuts.

Remember, emergencies of this scale are rare and it’s likely you’ll never need to act on any of this information – but it is important to be informed and prepared, just in case.

If you have any concerns, please visit the Chelmsford City Council website, where you’ll find more information, or get in touch with our Community Safety team.