The Environment Agency issues three levels of flood warnings: Flood Alert, Flood Warning and  Severe Flood Warning 

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You can check the current warning state of Exmoor's rivers here 

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To receive these warnings as they are issued, you can sign up for flood warnings

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Other ways to keep in touch with the latest situation include calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or follow @EnvAgency and #floodaware on Twitter. 

 

Government advice on how to prepare for flooding, and what to do before, during and after flooding can be found here

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Flood Alert

Flooding is Possible. Be Prepared

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The Flood Alert stage is used to warn of the possibility of flooding. It is issued earlier than a flood warning, to give advance notice of the possibility of flooding, but before the Environment Agency is fully confident that flooding in Flood Warning Areas is expected.

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A Flood Alert means you need to prepare as flooding is possible.

If you haven’t already done so, you should:​

• have a bag ready with vital items like insurance documents and medications in case you need to leave your home

• check you know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water mains supplies

• plan how you’ll move family and pets to safety

 

A Flood Alert would be issued for flooding to low lying land and floodplain areas, such as 

• Flooding of fields, recreation land and car parks;

• Flooding of minor road infrastructure 

• Farmland flooding (arable & pasture)

• Spray/wave overtopping on coast

• Overland flow from rivers and streams

• Localised flooding due to heavy storms.

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Flood Warning

Flooding is Expected. Immediate Action Required.

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Flood Warnings are used to warn that flooding is expected and individuals and organisations should take immediate action to protect themselves and/or their property.

 

A Flood Warning means you need to act: flooding is expected. You should do all the actions for a flood alert, but also:

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• move vehicles to higher ground if it’s safe to do so

• move family and pets to safety

• move important items upstairs or to a safe place in your property, starting with cherished items and valuables, then furniture and furnishings

• turn off gas, electricity and water supplies if it’s safe to do so; never touch an electrical switch if you’re standing in water

• if you have property protection products such as flood barriers, or air brick covers, use them now

• keep track of the latest flood risk situation

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A Flood Warning would be issued when flooding to homes and/or businesses where any of the following impacts are expected:

• Flooding of homes;

• Flooding of businesses;

• Flooding of cellars and basements;

• Flooding of underground rail stations and lines;

• Flooding to roads with Major impacts;

• Flooding to infrastructure;

• Wave/spray overtopping;

• Extensive flooding on floodplains (including caravan parks or campsites);

• Flooding of major tourist/recreational attractions.

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Severe Flood Warning

Severe Flooding, Danger to Life.

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The Severe Flood Warning stage is to warn people of a significant risk to life or significant disruption to communities and to encourage them to take action to protect themselves and follow the advice of the emergency services.

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A Severe Flood Warning means there is danger to life: you must act now.

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• call 999 if you’re in immediate danger

• follow advice from the emergency services and evacuate if you’re told to do so

• make sure you have an emergency kit including a torch, spare batteries, mobile phone and charger, warm clothes, important numbers like your home insurance, water, food, first aid kit and any medicines and babycare items you may need

• alert neighbours and offer help if it’s safe to do so

• avoid driving or walking through flood water: just 30cm (1 foot) of fast flowing water could move your car and even shallow moving water can knock you off your feet

• keep your family and pets away from floodwater – it may contain heavy debris, sharp objects, open manhole covers, sewage and chemicals

• wash your hands if you’ve been in contact with flood water which may contain toxic substances

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A Severe Flood Warning may be issued if any one of the following impacts were expected/required: 

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• Deep and fast flowing flood water;

• Debris in the water that could cause death or injury;

• Potential/observed collapse of buildings/structures;

• Large town/city isolated by flood waters with no obvious means of escape;

• Critical resources/infrastructure for communities disabled (no access to food, water, electricity);

• Large volumes of evacuees;

• Military intervention.

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