Hitchin floods update

Who is responsible for clearing contaminated flood water?

The water company that is responsible for sewage in the area are responsible for removing contaminated flood water in residential and business premises. In this instance that is Anglian Water.

North Herts Council are responsible for cleaning contaminated flood water on areas of land they own.

Hertfordshire County Council are responsible for removing contaminated flood water on the Highway (roads and pavements).

How do I know if the flood water in my house and garden is contaminated or not?

Flood water may be harmful and you should assume it is contaminated.

What about my drinking water?

If you are concerned about your drinking water, you should contact your water supplier to discuss – in this area of Hitchin the drinking water supplier is Affinity Water. If you notice a change in the smell or colour of your drinking water you should use bottled water to wash your hands and contact Affinity Water for further advice.

Should I be eating vegetables that have been grown in my garden?

If your garden or growing area has been flooded, you should assume it has been contaminated, any food should be treated as contaminated and should not be consumed.

I have sandbags at the front of my house/ in my back garden – what should I do with them?

While the flood warning for the River Purwell is still in place we would advise residents to leave sandbags where they are to help protect your property. Please do not handle them without gloves, and protective clothing and always wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Keep children and pets away from these sandbags.

When the flood warning is lifted for the River Purwell what will happen to the sandbags?

When the flood warning for the River Purwell is lifted, Hertfordshire County Council and North Herts Council will communicate with residents about options for sandbag removal.

Thanks for the advice but I still want to remove the sandbags as soon as possible – how do I do this?

We are advising residents to keep sandbags in place to protect their properties until the flood warning has been lifted and will communicate with residents about options for sandbag removal once the flood warning has been lifted.

If you have made the decision to remove the sandbags from your property, please make sure you follow the below safety advice:

• The wet sandbags will be heavy, and you should take care when moving them.
• Wear protective clothing such as gloves, overalls, eye protection and wellington boots when handling the bags.
• Clothes used for cleaning up should be washed on a separate cycle from other clothes.
• Contaminated sandbags are placed inside two refuse sacks (double bagged).
• The sandbags should be taken to your local Recycling Centre and the staff informed of their contamination
• If they split please spread sand in soil where this will eventually break down and dispose of the bags at your local waste recycling centre, informing staff that they may be contaminated. Ensure children and pets do not play in the sand, and it should not be recycled for use in sandpits.
• After handling or moving sandbags, you should remove protective clothing and thoroughly wash your hands.

I wish to keep my sandbags in case I need them again. What should I do?

Sandbags tend to retain contaminants from floodwater they come into contact with. If they are contaminated by flood water, they should be disposed of via your local Recycling Centre.

If the sandbag has not come into contact with floodwater and remains dry, they can be stored in a dry location for future use.

What should I do if the flooding is causing me health problems?

Flooding can cause a range of health problems. There may be direct effects such as physical injury, or an increased risk of developing skin or gut infections through contact with contaminated flood water. Longer-term effects can include mental health problems and breathing problems due to exposure to mould and damp.

If you are concerned about your health please contact your GP or NHS 111. If it is an emergency please dial 999.

I am feeling really anxious and worried about this happening again – what should I do?

Experiencing a flood can be frightening, and it can disrupt your daily life activities. It is normal to experience tiredness, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety in these circumstances even if your home was not flooded. It’s important not to underestimate the stress and strain of being flooded, having to move from your home, or cleaning up after a flood. Take the time to consider your and your loved ones’ mental health and wellbeing.

Here are some links to local Hertfordshire mental health support in Hertfordshire that can help:

• Togetherall
• Nightlight
• Hertfordshire Mind Network

Who should I speak to about damage to my home?

Always contact your insurance company in the first instance. If there is an emergency which means you cannot safely reside in your property please speak to North Herts Council’s housing team on 01462 474000 during working hours or Herts Careline on 0300 999 2 999 out of hours.

Will there be an investigation into how this happened?

Yes, as Lead Local Flood Authority in Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire County Council will be undertaking a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the flooding in Hitchin after the River Purwell burst its banks. This will include talking to residents impacted, the Environment Agency, the water companies Thames Water and Anglian Water, North Herts District Council, and other agencies and partners involved in the response phase of the flooding. Following the investigation, we will be writing and publishing a report that identifies the organisation that is responsible for the type of flooding and sets out the findings to help them shape their next actions.

Who is responsible for monitoring rivers in the county?

The Environment Agency are responsible for monitoring rivers in the county and issuing flood alerts.

Who is responsible for humanitarian aid in this situation?

North Herts Council.

Who is responsible for the safety of residents in this situation?

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service will respond to situations where there is a threat to life. In this situation, the fire service were on scene to support residents who needed to be evacuated from their homes.

Who is responsible for the protection of residential properties and businesses from flooding?

Home owners, landlords and business owners have the responsibility to protect their properties in the event of a flood.

Who is responsible for flood water on the road network or pavements?

Hertfordshire County Council’s Highways service.

Any other useful guidance for me about how to recover after a flood?

What should I do? – National Flood Forum

There is a yellow weather warning for Hertfordshire until 4pm today. The flood warning is still in place for the River Purwell.

Ringway have been on site at Woolgrove Road today with street cleaning operations. The road should now be reopened. A plan is being put in place for the removal of sandbags, but the current advice is to leave them in situ for now.

Useful links

• Report a flood to Hertfordshire County Council
• Find out more about flood risks and protecting your property (Hertfordshire County Council)
• Flooding and health: advice for the public (GOV.UK)
• What to do after a flood (GOV.UK)

Ringway and Herts Fire & Rescue have been on site this morning monitoring water levels, which are naturally lowering. They are leaving soon but will continue with periodic river inspections.

Woolgrove Road remains closed - this is due to a broken manhole cover that needs repairing before the road can be reopened. Residents still have access.

Now that the river level has dropped, plans are being put in place to clean the road.

With the flood warning remaining in place, we are continuing to work closely with our partners Hertfordshire County Council and Herts Fire & Rescue as the situation develops and will reopen the Reception Centre if it is needed.

Flood warning for Ash Brook, Ippollitts Brook and River Purwell at Hitchin, Ashbrook, Little Wymondley and Graveley - GOV.UK

We will continue to publish advice for those affected on our website, including emergency out of hours numbers.

North Herts Council, Hertfordshire County Council and partners are warning residents of the risk of further localised flooding as weather forecasts for Sunday evening and Monday morning predict more rain:

Flood warning for Ash Brook, Ippollitts Brook and River Purwell at Hitchin, Ashbrook, Little Wymondley and Graveley - GOV.UK

Safety tips for residents

Travelling

• Take extra care: check for road closures and delays before travelling, don’t walk or drive through floodwater and drive to the conditions.

Medical

• If your property is flooded and medication has been damaged, please speak to your GP practice during opening hours, or call 111 out of hours
• For anyone with a serious medical condition that is being made worse by flooding, please phone 111, or 999 in an emergency

Water

• Do not use tap water if you notice a change in the colour, taste or smell - contact your water company if this happens
• Wash your hands and anything else that comes into contact with flood water

Electricity and gas

• If electrical supplies have been in contact with water, they should not be used until an electrician has checked them
• Gas appliances that have been flooded should also be turned off

Useful links

• Report a flood to Hertfordshire County Council
• Find out more about flood risks and protecting your property (Hertfordshire County Council)
• Flooding and health: advice for the public (GOV.UK)
• What to do after a flood (GOV.UK)

The Reception Centre will be open 9am – 1pm on Sunday 29th for anyone who needs help.

More sand and sandbags have been delivered today in case of further rain. Sandbags have been distributed and put into place. Pre-filled sandbags are being distributed to residents who would like them, and additional sandbags are available if wanted.

Water advice

• Do not use tap water if you notice a change in the colour, taste or smell - contact your water company if this happens
• Wash your hands and anything else that comes into contact with flood water

Electricity and gas advice

• If electrical supplies have been in contact with water, they should not be used until an electrician has checked them.
• Gas appliances that have been flooded should also be turned off.

We are continuing to work closely with partners as the situation develops and we will continue to post updates as further information is made available.

Following the closure of Woolgrove Road in Hitchin and the evacuation of some residents, St Faith’s Church has kindly opened its doors for any affected residents to get advice and a warm drink.

St Faith's Church will remain open until 8pm this evening (Friday 27). It will open again tomorrow (Saturday 28) from 10.30am-12pm and 2-4pm. If you need to contact us outside of these hours you can call our Herts Careline number on 0300 999 2 999.

Our street cleaning team will support the clean up work once flood waters have receded.

Report flooding

If you, or anyone you know is affected by the recent flooding, please report it to Hertfordshire County Council.

Flood warning

A Flood Warning has been issued by the Environment Agency for Ash Brook, Ippollitts Brook and River Purwell at Hitchin, Ashbrook, Little Wymondley and Graveley.

Advice if you've been affected by flooding

If you or anyone you know has been affected by the recent flooding, here are some links to useful advice and guidance:

• What to do after a flood: advice on what your next steps should be
• Flooding and health: advice for the public - advice on how to keep you and your family safe while cleaning up your home affected by flooding
• Food safety after a flood - how to prepare your food safely in the event of a flood in the home
• National Flood Forum - advice on what to do if a flood is about to occur.
• Insurance: if you have buildings or contents insurance for your home, contact your insurer's emergency claims line.