Press release

Could you be a volunteer flood warden in Kent?

More than 70,000 properties at risk. Training takes only 2 hours to complete. Be a vital link for your community and emergency responders.

From:
Environment Agency
Published
1 December 2022
Two flood wardens in yellow high-visibility jackets with their back to the camera

Flood wardens are a vital link between communities and the emergency services

Many Kent communities are at risk of flooding and have experienced repeated flood incidents, both historically and recently. Flood wardens can help people prepare for flooding in areas most at risk.

As a flood warden, you would have a key role in helping to develop a local community flood plan. You would play a crucial part in putting that plan into action in the event of flooding.

During and after a flood, when emergency services and local authorities are helping those most in need, flood wardens become a vital link between those responding and the community.

Flood resilience advisors and senior emergency planning staff from the Environment Agency and the Kent Resilience Forum are running 2-hour virtual training sessions on 14 December, and 17 January next year.

The sessions will guide you on the role of a volunteer flood warden and how you would link in with emergency planning and response structures. Health and safety issues will be covered, along with information on types of flooding, the different levels of flood alerts and warnings and where to find information.

Each session is online via Teams and covers the following 5 main areas:

1) The role of a flood warden

2) Types of flooding

3) Flood and weather warnings

4) Catchment overview

5) Flood safety awareness

All attendees will receive a supporting handbook.

Emma Crofts, Environment Agency flood resilience advisor for Kent, said:

You can really help your local community prepare for flooding by volunteering as a flood warden. We provide you with the training and the resources to carry out the role.

You’ll also be fully supported by our team of existing volunteer flood wardens.

Carl Lewis, a flood warden in Tonbridge, said:

You can see the difference we make to people, knowing they can rely on you when they’re in distress, knowing you’re there to help.

Steve Scully, a senior resilience officer at Kent Resilience Forum, said:

Flooding in Kent is the major risk that everyone should plan for. Its effects can devastate lives and communities. If you feel that you can help, please sign-up for one of our free virtual training sessions.

Sessions are free to access via smartphone, tablet or computer. Full guidance for easy access provided.

  • More than 70,000 properties in Kent are at risk of flooding;
  • Flood wardens are needed across Kent – particularly in Maidstone, Tonbridge and Folkestone;
  • Flood wardens are also needed in Canterbury, Dartford, Deal, Dymchurch, East Malling, Larkfield, Faversham, Gravesend, Herne Bay, Hythe, Medway Towns, Minster-on-Sea, Paddock Wood, Sheerness, Sittingbourne, St Mary-in-the-Marsh, Whitstable.

Flood wardens are involved in writing a community plan. They help to implement it during a flood. It can help to save lives and minimise the damage and distress that flooding can cause.

There is more info on community flood plans at https://www.kentprepared.org.uk/help-your-community.

A community flood plan sets out:

  • ​the locations at risk of flooding in the community
  • actions to be taken before, during and after a flood
  • contact details of flood wardens and the cascade of information during a flood
  • what the local triggers are that will activate the plan
  • important telephone numbers
  • available resources
  • arrangements with the authorities
  • vulnerable residents/properties

Flood warden recruitment

There is always a need for more people to volunteer and train as flood wardens and to help make our communities more resilient to flood events.

Be prepared for flooding

Members of the public can check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date at https://www.gov.uk/check-flood-risk and follow @EnvAgencySE on Twitter for the latest flood updates.

Published 1 December 2022

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