Wednesday, 1 November 2023

Storm Ciaran: Prepare for potential disruption

We’re warning residents to be prepared for
possible disruption from high winds and flash flooding overnight
tonight and into tomorrow (Thursday), as Storm Ciaran pushes across
the South West.

Winds of up to 70mph are forecast for much of
the county, particularly coastal areas, through much of tomorrow,
bringing the risk of flying debris, falling trees and power cuts.

We’re preparing for the storm with 20 crews
of tree surgeons on standby tonight and tomorrow and planned
roadworks are being put on hold to allow more staff to respond to
emergencies.

Council teams are also on standby for any
clear-up duties and to help vulnerable people across Somerset and
anyone affected by flooding.

Residents are encouraged to monitor Met Office
forecasts and flood warnings, and homeowners in flood risk areas
are advised to consider taking suitable precautions.

The timing of rainfall, high tides and
already-saturated farmland, means there is a risk of localised
flooding which could affect roads and potentially homes.

Travel advice

Please check @TravelSomerset on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) for
the latest updates on roads and wider travel.

School closures

Parents are encouraged to check school
websites or our School
closures webpage and look out for text
messages in the morning in case any schools have had to close.

Waste collections

Recycling and refuse collections are
scheduled to take place as usual. Any collections disrupted by
severe weather will be returned for as soon as possible.

The 9 recycling sites due to open tomorrow
are planning to open as usual, though local managers will close
them if there are any safety concerns for staff or public. Please
check @SomersetWaste
on Facebook and X for
the latest updates.

What to do

Anyone whose property floods can report it
via the South West Information
Management (SWIM) website or
email flooding@somerset.gov.uk.
Anyone who needs support can call 0300 123 2224 and
choose option 1 during office hours.

Preparing for potential flooding

Thinking ahead and preparing for what the
weather may bring can make a real difference to homes, businesses
and communities. One of the first things is to check whether a
property is at risk of
flooding.

We recommend taking precautions and using
sandbags in case of emergencies. If sandbags are not available, the
following can be used:

• Rolled-up mats or carpets
• Bags
  of garden compost
• Pillowcases
  filled with soil (don’t overfill them)
• Timber
  boards (possibly screwed to door frames, sealed with mastic)

Flooding and roads – key information

Heavy rain and flooding present a danger to
drivers – road users are urged NOT to attempt to drive
across flooded roads as it’s impossible to estimate the depth
of the water reliably.

It’s vital to prepare for wet conditions.
Motorists are urged to drive with extreme caution. If caught in
floods, information and advice is available on the Somerset Road
Safety’s Adverse
weather conditions webpage.

For drain and gully problems or any issue on
the highway, report it easily and quickly via our Road problems webpage.

For more information on what to do during and
after a flood: