Types of flooding in Dorset
The Environment Agency has responsibility for management of all sources of flooding and coastal erosion across the UK, this is called a strategic overview.
The Agency also has the day to day responsibility for managing the risk of flooding from
- main rivers
- reservoirs
- estuaries
- the sea
Read more about the responsibilities of water:
For more advice you can follow this link to the Gov.uk website, or for more local information read on down this page.
The Met Office and the Environment Agency work together to provide everyone in the UK with up to date forecasting and warnings when flooding might happen.
What can I do to be prepared during a flood?
If you live in an area that has a risk of flooding, be prepared in advance:
- Check whether your property is within a
- You may be able to register for the Environment Agency’s
- Listen to your local radio for updates
- Check your insurance policy for your property, or speak to your landlord
Wessex Flood Warden Network
Dorset is part of the Wessex Flood Wardens network, which covers Somerset, Wiltshire, Bath, Bristol and South Gloucestershire, with over 1,600 flood wardens actively involved in working with their communities, learn more:
For lots of helpful information in the BCP Council area, download their flood action guide:
For the Dorset Council area, follow this link:
If you would like to be part of the Network and set up a Personal Flood Plan for your community, contact the CRLO using the, Send us a mesage box, at the bottom of this page.
Use of Sandbags
The National Flood Forum offers advice on how to prepare for flooding. Locally, the Environment Agency, BCP Council and Dorset Council hold information for the public in respect of flooding and the use of sandbags.
For more information follow the links below:
Other resources
Be more prepared with these additional resources, and you can also speak to our Community Resilience Liaison Officer via the, Send us a message box, below.