Flooding

Advice on flooding and the provision of sandbags in an emergency

In South Oxfordshire we have large flood plains with few houses, so in recent times it has been flash flooding that has caused problems rather than overflow from the River Thames or the River Thame.

The council can no longer guarantee the supply of sandbags to any premises, so residents and property owners are strongly advised to make their own arrangements to protect their property, particularly if they live in within a flood plain or if they know their property is susceptible to flooding. They should take steps themselves to help prepare and protect against the risk of flooding and the pages on the left give prevention tips as well as advice on what to do if you are affected by a flood.

If you own land or property alongside a river or other watercourse, the Environment Agency's guide 'Living on the Edge' (143.0 KB) explains your rights and responsibilities as a riparian owner.

During extreme flooding events the council works closely with emergency services and partner authorities to ensure a co-ordinated response to the incident. The council will try to provide assistance to residents, wherever possible, in these circumstances. If you need help please contact the council on 01491 823000 or 01491 824033 if you are calling about an emergency out of office hours.

For more information see the Environment Agency website Environment Agency This link will take you to an external website... , where you can check whether your home is at risk of flooding, register for the EA's free floodline warnings service and check flood warnings currently in force.