With more heavy rainfall expected during the next 24 hours, firefighters and officers from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) are preparing to respond to flooding situations.
Flash flooding and rising river levels can cause dangerous situations for those in vehicles and on foot. The majority of flooding related 999 calls to HWFRS are to motorists stuck in floodwater.
“We are especially urging drivers not to enter floodwater,” said an HWFRS spokesperson. “And you should never drive through more than six inches of standing water or more than four inches of moving water.
“Flood water can be deceptively fast moving and there may be dangers which are not visible.
“People should never walk into flood water. The dangers might include, for example, lifted manholes which could expose them to the risk to falling deep into drains from which they are unable to escape.
“They cannot see the edge of a path so might stray into deep water and neither can they see street furniture which they might fall over and get entangled in.
“People carrying out such acts not only put themselves in danger but also those who might be called upon to rescue them.”
Until the flood waters clear:
- do not take risks or ignore flood warning signs – you could be putting your car, yourself and others in danger by doing so
- driving through flood water can be extremely dangerous because it is impossible to see how deep the water is or whether there are hazards under the water which could damage your car and leave you stranded
- if your home begins to flood, turn off your electricity supply, and do not touch any sources of electricity such as switches or appliances when you are standing in flood water
- help any elderly family members or neighbours to do the same
- stay alert to local weather and news reports and take notice of any flood warnings and road closures you come across
When the road networks across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are affected by flooding, the situation can change rapidly. Therefore motorists are urged to check for road closures by either tuning in to local radio, visiting news and travel websites or checking on Worcestershire County Council’s website or Herefordshire Council’s website.