Suffolk Resilience Forum news release
The Suffolk Resilience Forum is warning residents and businesses in coastal areas to be prepared as severe flood warnings are issued along the east coast.
Specific areas have been identified as being at high risk of flooding, which includes around 1,100 properties, and plans are in place for the evacuation of homes, businesses and other properties in those areas.
There are two times on Friday 13 January when specific locations are at greatest risk of flooding.
Around midday on Friday the Environment Agency is anticipating severe flooding in the following areas:
- Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey Quay
- Felixstowe Ferry Hamlet and the Deben Marshes
- Isolated riverside properties on the Deben Estuary
- Tidal Orwell at Ipswich Quay
Where possible, people living in those areas should make arrangements to stay with friends or family outside the affected areas. Alternatively, the Suffolk Resilience Forum has identified rest centres for people who are likely to need to relocate.
A rest centre is being established at Brackenbury Sports Centre High Road East, Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 9JF and will be open from 8am on Friday 13 January
Around 9pm on Friday there is anticipated severe flooding in the following areas:
- Lowestoft seafront and docks
- North bank of Lake Lothing
- Oulton Broad near Mutford Lock
- Snape, Iken and surrounding marshland
- Southwold and surrounding marshes
Rest centres will be open in the following locations from 2pm Friday 13 January
- Leiston Leisure Centre Red House Lane, Leiston IP16 4LS
- Water Lane Leisure Centre, Water Lane, Lowestoft NR32 2NH
- Carlton Colville Community Centre, Hall Road, Carlton Colville Lowestoft NR33 8BT
If you need help with transport to a rest centres or have any other questions you can call Suffolk County Council’s helpline on 03456 032814, which is open from 8am Friday 13 January.
Police officers will be visiting homes in the affected areas between now and tomorrow morning with details of local rest centres and an information leaflet.
The following advice is offered for those preparing for evacuation:
- Stay calm and do not panic.
- Police officers and / or other officials will try to visit all properties at risk to advise on the requirement to evacuate.
- If road conditions permit, move vehicles to unaffected areas for example higher ground and ask friends / family if you can share their parking facilities.
- You will hear about your evacuation point for transport and the location of the reception centre either verbally or by a leaflet.
- Try to check that any elderly / vulnerable family members or neighbours know about the evacuation.
- Try to inform family members / friends as to where you are evacuating.
- Listen to the advice of the authorities and follow any instructions to leave the property.
- Take special foods and medicines.
- Switch off gas and electricity.
- If possible, move electrical equipment and furniture upstairs.
- Any furniture that you cannot move upstairs, try to raise well off the floor.
- Do not forget to lock all doors and windows.
- Block doorways and air bricks – sandbags are not available via local authorities
- Avoid walking and driving through floodwater, there could be hidden hazards.
Residents in the areas likely to be affected are advised to review advice from the Environment Agency on preparing your property for flooding:http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31644.aspx and take all necessary steps. People can also find out more information by calling the Agency’s Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
Superintendent Kerry Cutler, of Suffolk Constabulary said: “We are taking this matter extremely seriously and would urge people in the areas likely to be affected to do the same. Rest centres have been established in the county and people in those areas are encouraged to find alternative accommodation outside of the affected areas or make their way to the nearest rest centre well in advance if the high tide times.”
We continue to work with agencies both locally, regionally and nationally to make sure we are in the best possible position to safeguard Suffolk people.
“I would urge people to monitor the local media and the Environment Agency website to ensure they keep up to date with any developments.”
For updates follow Suffolk Police Twitter @SuffolkPolice
Agencies involved include:
- Police
- Fire and Rescue
- East of England Ambulance Service
- Environment Agency
- Suffolk County Council
- Waveney District Council
- Suffolk Coastal District Council