Mole Valley Storm & Flood Information

Last updated: November 2023

These notes summarise options for residents.

Warnings and Forecasts

Keep track of weather updates. The TV, Radio and other media only use wide area summaries. If you are able, go to these websites:

You can sign up for flood alert text to your phone based on your location. To inform the Environment Agency of a flooding incident please call 0800 807060

Remember that no service can accurately predict storm behaviour and damage. However, the likelihood increases as the alert levels progress to red.

Amber/Yellow mean:

Where flooding occurs, there is a slight chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services
Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
There is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses
There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings
There is a small chance that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads
There is a slight chance that damage to buildings and homes could occur, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down
There is a small chance that flying debris will result in a danger to life
There is a small chance that roads, bridges and railway lines could close, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights

Red alerts mean that floods and damage are probably going to occur in some parts of the areas at risk. Flood alerts give more detail on the places and times.

Remember that floods usually follow a several hours after severe rain. This is because it takes time for the water to drain from the hills into the rivers.

Mole Valley District Council (MVDC)

Messages from the Met Office and Environment Agency have been shared on MVDC’s social media platforms
MVDC’s website homepage www.molevalley.gov.uk updates with ‘adverse weather’ providing direct links to the relevant pages of the website, such as preparing for an emergency, flooding and emergency contact numbers.
Supplies of sandbags have been refreshed at Dorking and Leatherhead and these are accessible to members of the public 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Details of sandbag locations is available on the MVDC website.
Sandbags are not a very effective way of protecting property. However, for public use MVDC does maintain a limited stock of sandbags at the depot site on Curtis Road, Dorking and Randalls Road car park, Leatherhead. Alternatively, sandbags can be bought from most builders' merchants.
Please note that MVDC cannot guarantee the supply of sandbags during periods of high demand and residents living in those areas at risk of flooding should try to make their own flood protection arrangements in the first instance. MVDC does not deliver sandbags to individual households.
There is also a small supply of sandbags stored in Charlwood for its residents. This site is not promoted publicly, but the Parish Council ensure that those in the at-risk areas of Charlwood have access to the site.
The Parks and Environment Team reviewing its plans to respond to adverse weather, particularly in relation to high winds. They create a list of priority sites to check following the storm and react according the highest needs.
During periods of prolonged bad weather MVDC officers will visit areas of concern to monitor high risk areas with a history of flooding eg the River Mole at Fetcham.

If the worst happens

As always should you feel that there is a danger to life, these should always be reported to 999.
Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5pm, members of the public can contact Mole Valley’s Customer Service Unit (CSU) for assistance 01306 885001.
Outside of the CSU normal operational hours Mole Valley Life are set up to take emergency calls coming into the Council. They can be contacted on 0300 123 7718.
MVDC has an Emergency Duty Officer who is on call 24/7 to ensure that the Council can respond to emergencies accordingly. If the situation requires it, the Duty Officer will be able to contact other agencies or emergency services.
MVDC will share messages from the Met Officer and Environment Agency and other partners as needed throughout the incident.
Local Councillors will be updated as needed throughout the incident. Messages will go to all Members, or targeted at specific ward Councillors should there be a localised issue.
Where issues are reported to MVDC, such as a river breaching it bank, flooding or fallen trees on council land, if it is safe to do so, they will always try and send an officer to the site to report back and recommend the necessary action. Additionally, MVDC will be liaising with Surrey County Council and other authorities.
Should the impacts of the storm have a significant impact on Mole Valley, for example, should a number of properties lose power as a result of high winds, or properties experience flooding, we might be required to establish an Emergency Assistance Centre as a safe space. If needed this will operate 24 hours a day.

Other Emergency Numbers

To report a loss of power or if you are concerned about safety, please contact the UK Power Network on 0800 316 3105 or from a mobile on 0333 32 32105 or via Twitter @UKPowerNetworks. You can also visit the UK Power Network website to see if they are aware of a power cut in your area or for general help and advice due to a power cut.
National Grid can be contacted on 0800 111 999 or via Twitter @nationalgriduk
Thames Water can be contacted on 0800 316 9800
SES can be contacted on 01737 772000
Sutton and South East Water, call 01737 772000

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