A meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) – chaired by Justice Secretary and Minister for Resilience Angela Constance and attended by a number of Ministers – was held last night to ensure appropriate measures are in place to deal with the impacts of Storm Gerrit.
Met Office yellow warnings for rain, wind and snow were live until midnight across much of Scotland last night and a warning for wind and snow remained in place across Shetland until 06:00am today (Thursday 28 December).
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have also issued a number of flood alerts and warnings across the country.
Some train services and ferry services were cancelled and a major incident was declared by Police Scotland on the A9 at Dalnaspidal, which is now fully reopened between Inverness and Perth.
Winter weather response plans are in full effect with teams working hard across the transport network to restore services and routes as far as possible – with improvements in weather conditions anticipated today.
The storm has also left some homes across Scotland without power and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) are working to restore power where it is safe to do so.
Ms Constance said:“Following a combination of rain, wind and snow across the country, I have chaired a meeting of SGoRR to ensure that we’re acting as quickly and safely as possible to mitigate the impacts of Storm Gerrit.
“We know that there are areas across the country where people are without power and SSEN are working to restore this where they can. Due to the strong winds, flooding and snow, it is not always safe for SSEN to access areas for repair. Local resilience partnerships are working to put in place welfare support for individuals who may be without power overnight.
“There have already been a number of disruptions across the transport network. It’s good to see that the incident on the A9 has been cleared and the road has now reopened but people should pass with care.
“Some roads remain closed with operatives working to reopen them as quickly as possible.
“Some railway lines will remain closed tomorrow (Thursday) morning as they require safety inspections within daylight hours. People should be mindful that there will still be areas where surface water continues to cause disruption – so we would urge everyone to plan their journeys in advance, exercise caution on the roads by driving appropriately to the conditions, and follow the latest travel advice at traffic.gov.scot.
“The Scottish Government’s resilience committee will continue to monitor the situation overnight and into Thursday, and keep Ministers fully updated.
“Advice and information for the public is available at Ready.Scot and the Scottish Government will continue to work with all relevant agencies to closely monitor the storm and its impacts and ensure support is provided to those affected.”
Joanne Maguire Scotrail’s Chief Operating Officer said:“ScotRail and Network Rail teams have been working flat out to keep people moving where possible, but we have faced extreme conditions in different parts of the country which has resulted in significant disruption. The safety of our staff and passengers is our top priority.
“We will be working overnight and early in the morning to inspect the railway and restore services, but disruption is expected to continue into Thursday. Our advice to passengers is to check before travelling via the ScotRail website or app.”
Scottish households are being urged to tag their stop tap this winter as part of the Met Office’s WeatherReady campaign.
As households up and down the country are getting ready for Christmas, they are being encouraged to write the details of a WaterSafe-approved emergency plumber on a spare Christmas gift tag and attach it to their property’s stop tap.
Knowing where your stop tap is and how to turn your water supplies off could help prevent flooding and damage if a pipe freezes or bursts and having the number of a qualified and insured plumber to hand could save the day in an emergency.
Only 34 per cent of Scottish households currently know how to find and use their stop tap to turn the water off in case of a burst pipe, according to research by the national register of approved plumbers WaterSafe. It’s often found under the kitchen sink, but could also be in a kitchen cupboard, bathroom, or garage.
Julie Spinks, Director at WaterSafe, said: “Our research shows that not only do only just over a third of Scottish residents know how to find and use their stop tap, but 16 per cent of residents have had a burst pipe in the past, so it’s a real risk in wintry weather.
“Pipes freezing and bursting can cause extensive damage to homes and businesses, but taking simple steps such as knowing where your stop tap is can limit any damage.
“Writing the details of a local WaterSafe-approved plumber on a gift tag and attaching it to the stop tap means people will be able to isolate their water supply and know who to contact should they experience a problem with their property’s plumbing.
“We’d also encourage people to insulate outside pipes and taps, as well as any pipes in unheated areas of the home such as the loft.”
Met Office Head of Warnings Chris Walsh said: “Winters in the UK usually include a wide variety of weather and this winter looks likely to be no exception.
“There are simple and cost-effective things everyone can do to prepare for any severe winter weather. Including plenty of useful and creative weather hacks out there that can help people to avoid disruption and make the most of winter weather.”
For further advice on winter-proofing your plumbing, or to find an approved plumber, visit www.watersafe.org.uk/winter.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have begun issuing localised Flood Warnings as Storm Babet approaches.
Rain is already moving across the country, with flooding impacts expected to start this afternoon and into the early evening. The heaviest and most prolonged rainfall is expected over Aberdeen City, Dundee & Angus, Tayside, Aberdeenshire and Caithness & Sutherland, where some exceptional levels are forecast over the next 24 hours.
Extensive river and surface water flooding is expected, with widespread impacts to transport and infrastructure. There is a risk of more significant community scale property flooding – and there will be danger to life.
Other parts of Scotland are also at risk of flooding as rivers respond and drainage systems become overwhelmed. The risk of river flooding is exacerbated by the fact that many catchments are already saturated following recent heavy rainfall events. There is also concern that surface water flooding may be made worse by debris blocking drainage and culverts as a result of the high winds.
An additional band of rain is forecast to impact the east of the country on Saturday, which will prolong the event and keep rivers high. It is important people keep up to date by following weather information from the Met Office and flooding advice from SEPA.
Expert staff in SEPA’s flooding team are working round the clock to check forecasts and models, update Flood Alerts, issue Food Warnings and ensure that partners and responder agencies have the latest information.
Pascal Lardet, SEPA Flood Duty Manager, said: “There is exceptional rainfall forecast for parts of Scotland over the next 24 hours, and this will lead to significant flooding from both surface water and rivers.
“Regional Flood Alerts were issued over the last two days to provide early awareness, and localised Flood Warnings started to be issued this morning. More will be issued across the day, so I do encourage people to check our Flood Updates for all the latest information. You can also follow @SEPAFlood on X. However, it is important to stress that not all areas that could be affected have Flood Warning schemes, so please do take a Flood Alert in your area as advance notice that you could be affected.
“Follow the advice of the emergency services and take action now to protect yourself and your property. Hazards can be hidden, so please don’t walk or drive into flood water. Remember that not only is flood water likely to be dirty, 30 cm of fast flowing water can move an average family sized car, and just 15 cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet.”
SEPA continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7. As well as live information at Flood Updates, people can check the three-day Scottish Flood Forecast to see what conditions are expected further ahead.
Deputy First Minister Shona Robison chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) last night after the highest level Red Weather Warning was issued for the North East of Scotland.
Attended by resilience partners, Transport Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and emergency services, the meeting set out the significant action being taken to protect the public and mitigate the severe disruption expected over the next few days.
This includes multi-agency resilience arrangements being stood up across the country to co-ordinate the on-the-ground response and support anyone affected by flooding and severe weather.
The Red Warning has been issued by the Met Office for parts of Angus and South Aberdeenshire, valid between Thursday evening (6pm) and Friday afternoon (12pm).
People are urged to not to travel and to stay at home in the affected areas with ‘exceptional’ levels of rain likely to result in significant disruption and danger to life.
There is a further Amber Warning for rain covering parts of Stirling, Perthshire, Aviemore, Moray, Angus, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City from Thursday morning (0600) until Friday evening (1800). In these Amber areas it is being advised people should avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
In addition, an Amber Warning for wind was issued this morning for eastern Angus and eastern Aberdeenshire, valid between 1000 and 1800 on Thursday.
Ms Robison said: “Red Warnings are rarely issued by the Met Office and this reflects how serious the impacts will be from the exceptional weather we can expect – particularly in the North East of Scotland in the next two days.
“The strong message is that if you are in the parts of Angus and South Aberdeenshire affected – please stay at home and do not travel.
“Other parts of Scotland are also at risk of flooding as rivers respond and drainage systems become overwhelmed. The risk is exacerbated by the fact that many catchments are already saturated following last week’s heavy rainfall and flooding.
“No one should take the risks for granted and I would urge everyone in the country to prepare where necessary, heed the travel warnings issued by Police Scotland and take extreme care around fast-flowing water.
“Regional resilience partnerships have been activated and the Scottish Government is working very closely with them and with all partner agencies to ensure that all possible preparations are made and that everyone has full and immediate access to the most up-to-date information.
“I am grateful for the efforts of partners and volunteers in making preparations to help the public stay safe.
“Anyone seeking live updates should follow these partner organisations on social media, and can also consult the Ready Scotland website for general advice on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from severe weather emergencies.”
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: “Our advice is to avoid any form of travel in those areas covered by the red weather warning.
“Driving conditions are expected to be extremely dangerous with disruption and significant delays during this period.
“In those areas covered by amber warnings for rain and wind, we would urge drivers, particularly those of high-sided vehicles, to consider if their journeys are essential or if they could be delayed until conditions improve.
“Don’t ignore road closure signs – they are for your safety.”
Pascal Lardet, SEPA Flood Duty Manager, said: “Scotland has already experienced a significant flood event this month, which communities are still recovering from, and some of the rainfall totals forecast for this week are higher than experienced over that weekend – albeit in some different areas.
“We’re expecting extensive river and surface water flooding in affected areas, with widespread impacts to transport and infrastructure. There is a risk of more significant community scale property flooding – and there will be danger to life.
“Regional Flood Alerts have already been issued, and localised Flood Warnings will be issued over the next few days as rivers respond. However, it is important to note that not all areas that could be affected have Flood Warning schemes, so please do take a Flood Alert in your area as advance notice that you could be affected.
“Take action now to protect yourself and your property. Hazards can be hidden, so please don’t walk or drive into flood water. Remember that not only is flood water likely to be dirty, 30 cm of fast flowing water can move an average family sized car, and just 15 cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet.”
Dave Thompson, Director of Claims at Tesco Bank, comments: “Parts of the UK and Ireland will be bracing for flooding with Storm Babet expected to bring heavy rain.
“For those who live in areas with an immediate risk of flooding, it is essential households prepare as much as possible for downpours. For example, ensure electrics and electrical appliances are disconnected and gas and water supplies are switched off.
“If your property is flooded, do not switch any of your electrical supplies back on until the flooding is over and they have been checked by a professional.
“Floodwater can also ruin more important and valuable items in your home, so make sure documents such as passports or more cherished items are sealed in plastic wallets and moved upstairs or to a safe place in your property. Then you can think about moving furniture and soft furnishings to a safer place.
“Water can also carry your furniture about your home and cause even more damage, so for heavier items it’s worth thinking about weighing down or securing all the pieces that are too heavy for you to move.
“Having an emergency flood survival kit could also help keep you and your family safe and warm should a flood occur. In your kit, you may want to include first aid equipment, bottled water, food, a torch (in case you lose power), an emergency contacts sheet, prescribed medication, blankets, clothing, insurance documents and money. If you have infants or elderly people in your household, you should also pack any special items they may need.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have started issuing Flood Alerts ahead of expected flooding from Thursday, caused by Storm Babet.
Those living, working and staying in Scotland are being warned that the heavy rain will bring surface and river flooding, with some areas forecast to receive well in excess of the monthly October average rainfall within a 36-48 hour period.
The main concern currently is around parts of eastern and central Scotland, which could see exceptionally wet conditions. Other parts of southern and central Scotland are also likely to see significant amounts of rain. The storm may impact some of the communities still recovering from flooding experienced over the weekend of 6th and 7th October.
It’s important to keep up to date with the weather information from the Met Office and flooding advice from SEPA, as areas may change as the forecast becomes clearer.
David Morgan, SEPA’s Duty Flood Manager, said: “The forecast for the end of this week is showing extremely high rainfall totals, and people should be thinking now about the action they can take to protect themselves and their property.
“If you haven’t already signed up for Floodline, I would strongly advise you to do so. The service is free and can give you advance notice of flooding in your area.
“Scotland experienced a significant rainfall event that caused extensive flooding in local communities only a few days ago, and with catchments still saturated we’re urging people to be prepared for flooding. We are looking at some forecast totals that are even higher over the next few days, so please do use this time to plan and prepare.
“Further regional Flood Alerts and localised Flood Warnings will be issued as required over the coming days. We continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7. People can check our Flood Updates for all the latest information and the three-day Scottish Flood Forecast to see what conditions are expected further ahead.”
As Scotland’s flood warning and informing authority, SEPA continue to work closely with partners and responder agencies to share the latest information. An early alert of potential impacts was provided on Sunday through SEPA’s Flood Guidance Statement and information sharing will continue throughout the event.
People are advised to:
Register for SEPA’s free Floodline message service by calling 0345 988 1188 or by clicking www.floodlinescotland.org.uk
Don’t walk through flood water – 15cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet and hazards can be hidden under the water.
Drive with care, and do not travel through deep fast flowing water. It only takes 30cm of fast flowing water to move an average family sized car.
If you’re walking beside rivers be extra careful of wet footpaths and small watercourses.
Consider deploying flooding protection products if required.
What’s the difference between a Flood Alert and a Flood Warning?
We use forecast weather information provided by the Met Office combined with our own observation of rainfall and river levels and advanced hydrological modelling to provide advance warning of flooding.
Regional Flood Alerts are early advice that flooding is possible across a wider geographical area. The purpose of the Alerts is to make people aware of the risk of flooding and be prepared. We normally issue them 12 to 24 hours in advance of the possibility of flooding.
Flood Warnings are more locally specific and are issued for areas where we have gauges on rivers to measure the exact river height. They are issued at shorter notice when we are more certain that a specific area will be affected.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have warned communities to stay vigilant as the weekend of severe weather continues across Sunday evening and into Monday morning.
Multiple Flood Warnings and Alerts are in place across Scotland, with the focus remaining on the Spey and Tay catchments.
While local Flood Warnings in some areas of Scotland may start coming off over the evening as rivers fall, others will stay in force as some waters continue to rise and the agency continues to warn of likely impacts as communities count the cost of the weekend’s flood damage.
Ruth Ellis, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said: “Today the focus turned to communities across the North, with a particular concern for severe flood impacts to communities along the Spey and Tay rivers.I want to be clear that communities in these areas should stay alert over the evening as some rivers will continue to rise over the course of the evening. The risk to life remains.
“It’s been a difficult weekend across Scotland, with severe weather causing widespread travel disruption to road and rail networks and impacts in communities all over Scotland. Across many areas of the country there is still some deep standing water and it’s really important people understand the danger.
“Hazards can be hidden, so please don’t walk or drive into flood water. Remember that not only is flood water likely to be dirty, 30 cm of fast flowing water can move an average family sized car, and just 15 cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet.
“Our teams have been working around the clock with partner agencies, including Scottish Government, the Met Office, emergency services and local authorities across this major weather event. We will continue to provide information and support in the coming days and weeks to ensure Scotland recovers from this event and becomes more resilient to future flooding.
“We’ll be continuing to issue further updates across the evening to communities across northern Scotland and our advice remains for people to keep up to date with information from sepa.org.uk and follow guidance from emergency services.”
Update 9am, Sun 8th Oct – Flooding focus turns north as SEPA warn communities to stay alert
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have warned communities to stay vigilant as the weekend of severe weather continues across Sunday.
Multiple Flood Warnings and Alerts are in place across Scotland as the agency continues to warn of likely impacts on Sunday and communities count the cost of Saturday’s flood damage.
Vincent Fitzsimons, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said: “It’s been a rough weekend across Scotland, with severe weather causing widespread travel disruption to road and rail networks and impacts in communities from Greenock to Aviemore.
“Our teams have been working around the clock with Scottish Government and the Met Office in the lead into and across this major weather event. We have been issuing Alerts and Warnings to communities at risk and supporting first responders.
“Today the focus continues to turn to communities across the North, with a particular concern for severe flood impacts to communities along the Spey and Tay rivers. It’s a day to stay alert, not stand down. The risk to life remains.
“We’ll be issuing further updates across the day to communities across northern Scotland and our advice remains for people to keep up to date with information from sepa.org.uk and follow guidance from emergency services.”
People are being urged to avoid travel by road in Argyll and Bute and to consider carefully travel in other areas most impacted by the weekend’s severe rainfall.
SEPA has indicated up to a month’s worth of rain could fall in some areas over the course of the weekend. Rainfall is causing significant disruption in parts of Scotland, including road closures and rail service cancellations.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1710746869255520617
On Saturday afternoon the Met Office issued an Amber Warning for rain extending across Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland until 2pm on Sunday.
In Argyll and Bute, the Local Resilience Partnership has established a Care for People Sub-Group, led by the local Health and Social Care Partnership, which is working to identify and reach vulnerable people that may be difficult to reach, with assistance from the voluntary sector. Argyll and Bute Council is assisting by contacting community groups in affected areas with a view to initiating local support, such as opening up community halls.
On Friday the Met Office issued an amber warning for rain, covering Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, East and West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Lochaber, parts of Stirling, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands. It is in place until 6 am on Sunday. Yellow warnings for rain remain in place for other large parts the country and are updated on the Met Office website.
The greatest impacts earlier on Saturday were experienced in Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, East and West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Lochaber, parts of Stirling, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands. In Argyll and Bute, several roads have been closed due to flooding and landslides, including:
the A83 between Tarbet and Inverary
the A815 between Dunoon and the A83
the A816 between Lochgiphead and Oban
the A85 at Loch Awe
Road operating companies are assisting Police Scotland with the closures and clear up operations, however due to the continuing rainfall it will not be possible to make an assessment of the landslides or undertake clear up operations until conditions improve.
Network Rail has reported many incidents of severe flooding across the network, resulting in widespread cancellations to services. This includes suspension of services between Inverness and Perth. Services running across the whole ScotRail network have been cancelled, delayed or revised.
On Saturday afternoon Justice Secretary and Minister for Resilience Angela Constance chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Committee (SGoRR), which was attended by First Minister Humza Yousaf, Transport Secretary Màiri McAllan, Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop and key responder agencies.
They discussed the immediate response to the local impacts, as well as further actions being taken to support those communities most affected.
Ms Constance said: “As the weather warnings outline, heavy rainfall is expected to continue in many parts of the country into Sunday and some areas will have a month’s worth of rain over the course of the weekend.
“I would urge everyone across the country to heed the travel warnings being issued by Police Scotland and others – in particular, drivers in Argyll and Bute should avoid travel due to the significant disruption across the road network.
“We are aware that the initial, most severe impacts have been felt by people and businesses in Argyll and Bute, as well as other areas in the west and north of the country.
“Ministers are receiving regular updates on the situation from partners, including SEPA, the Met Office, and Police Scotland as it unfolds. This afternoon I convened SGoRR in recognition of the severity of the situation which will continue to develop over the next 24 hours.
“I am grateful for the efforts of partners and volunteers to help the public stay safe and where possible to restore services.
“Anyone seeking live updates should follow these partners organisations on social media, and can also consult the Ready Scotland website for general advice.”
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said: “Officers have been dealing with significant disruption on the roads caused by the heavy rainfall and we would expect this to continue into Sunday.
“It is important that we do everything we can to keep people safe and officers are out in communities helping those who need us.
“Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary or if it can be delayed until conditions improve. If you need to travel, please drive to the conditions and take extra time for your journey.”
Vincent Fitzsimons, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said yesterday: “SEPA has issued Regional Flood Alerts and more locally specific Flood Warnings across Scotland due to the major rainfall event that is bringing prolonged, heavy rain throughout the day and into Sunday.
“I want to be very clear that this is not a normal Autumn day for Scotland. We’re expecting extensive river and surface water flooding in affected areas. There is a danger to life. There will be widespread impacts to road and rail. There is a risk of more significant community scale property flooding.
“Rain will move across central and western parts this morning, moving northwards through the day. Many areas will see heavy rain for well over 24hrs before it clears on Sunday. Of particular concern are communities in the amber area that extends from west central Scotland northwards.
“Further Local Flood Warnings are likely to be issued, people can always check our Flood Updates for all the latest information. We advise people living, working and travelling in the affected areas to consider any steps they need to take now to be prepared for flooding impacts and consider whether their journey is necessary.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) issues flood alerts and warnings for Scotland. View the latest updates on their website.
Vincent Fitzsimons, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said: “Scotland is experiencing a major rainfall event that is bringing prolonged, heavy rain throughout the day and well into Sunday.
“I want to be very clear that this is not a normal Autumn weekend for Scotland. We’re expecting extensive river and surface water flooding in affected areas. There is a danger to life. There are widespread impacts to road and rail. There is a risk of more significant community scale property flooding.
“Heavy rain has been falling since Friday night in many areas and will continue in northern Scotland throughout Saturday evening and well into Sunday. Some areas will have seen more than a month’s rain by the end of the weekend.
“Of particular concern are communities in the Met Office amber weather warning area that extends across much of northern Scotland. Examples include Aviemore and communities down the Spey Valley, but many more communities are also at risk. SEPA has been working closely with partners to help them target support for these areas.
”People should check our live Flood Updates for all the latest information. We advise people living, working and travelling in the affected areas to consider any steps they need to take now to be prepared for flooding impacts and consider whether their journey is necessary.
“We will continue to keep a very close eye on the situation, monitoring 24/7 as well as working closely with the Met Office and other partner agencies.
“We would strongly advise people to sign up to Floodline to receive free updates and heed emergency service and local authority advice.
NFU Mutual is issuing flood advice as the Met Office issues an amber warning for heavy rain across many Scottish communities.
Up to 180mm of rain could fall throughout Saturday and into Sunday, with Grampian, Central, Tayside, Fife, Strathclyde and the Highlands all in danger of disruptive and dangerous downpours and flooding.
Heavy rain could lead to flash flooding with fast moving water, cutting off transport routes, and leading rural insurer NFU Mutual is urging home and business owners in Scotland to fortify their properties if possible but make safety their priority.
If they are affected by flooding, people should look at how they can work with their insurer to repair their property to be more resilient to flooding in the future.
Andrew Chalk, home insurance specialist at NFU Mutual, said:“Time and again we’ve seen how destructive and disruptive flash flooding can be for communities, and NFU Mutual Agents in Scotland stand ready to rapidly assist people impacted by these predicted downpours – including facilitating rapid payments for smaller claims and mobilising our network of loss adjusters and repairers.
“But the best way to avoid disruption, if possible, is to take some sensible steps provided by NFU Mutual to protect your property. If you have flood defences, activate them now, move valuable possessions and electrical items to higher ground and prepare a flood or extreme weather pack.
“Have your insurer’s details to hand and if you are impacted by flooding, be sure to ask your insurer and loss adjuster about flood resilient repairs. Since 2017, NFU Mutual has offered its Flood Resilient Repair scheme to all home insurance customers. As part of the scheme, customers who suffer flood damage above £10,000 receive a contribution from NFU Mutual to implement repairs which will protect the property from future flooding.
“According to NFU Mutual claims data, the average damage to a home caused by floods in 2022 was £20,706. A flood resilient home, using things like non-return valves, tiling, and resilient materials on lower floors can massively reduce this bill, and many resilient repairs will cost no more than like-for-like repairs.
“With more insurers also now offering flood resilient repairs under the Government-backed Build Back Better scheme, it is worth checking if you can access extra help if you suffer a flood.”
NFU Mutual flood advice
NFU Mutual’s flood preparedness checklist:
Check if your property is at risk of flooding on the Government website.
Sign up for flood alerts on the Government website – these can be sent by text, email or delivered by phone call.
Put a flood plan in place, including:
Moving valuables – including electric items – to a safe space
Thinking about vulnerable members of your household and neighbours
Noting down useful numbers like gas and electricity suppliers, the National Grid, local council and insurer
Ensuring you know how to switch off your mains electricity and gas supply
Consider procuring sandbags or other flood defence systems
Prepare a flood or storm back, including:
Bottled water and snacks
Food for vulnerable household members like babies, children, and elderly relatives
Pet food
Torches with charged batteries
Mobile phone power banks and chargers
What to do if your home is flooded:
Make safety your priority. Keep your family and pets away from the flood water and move to another part of the property.
Call your insurer immediately, asking about alternative accommodation if your property is unsafe.
Contact family and friends.
If you can, switch off mains gas and electricity supplies in the affected area.
Have a pack with essential items like prescriptions, other medicines and food, paying particular attention to items like baby food.
Have a torch and charged mobile phone on hand in case of power cuts.
When it’s safe to enter the flooded area again, catalogue all damaged items for insurance claims and begin clearing and drying out the area, seeking advice from your insurance company.
Business owners should remain in contact with employees and customers.
NFU Mutual’s flood resilient repairs checklist
Flood resilient repairs are repairs carried out following flood damage which help prevent extensive damage in any subsequent flood. Some may come with additional cost, but many will cost no more than restoration. Resilient repairs to ask your loss adjuster or insurer about include:
Raising electrical sockets and white goods away from floor level.
Replacing flooring with waterproof tiling and grout.
Waterproof paint.
Installing flood-resistant, self-sealing air bricks.
Fitting non-return valves to drains to prevent backflow flooding.
Replacing doors with waterproof doors to prevent floodwater spreading.
Fitting flood barriers to doors or air brick covers.
Permeable paving or driveways.
Inflatable toilet pan seals or bungs to prevent backflow.
uPVC skirting boards and kitchen units.
Removable doors.
Basement tanking or pump systems (integrated or portable).
Homeowners and businesses need to be prepared as Storm Agnes approaches. But be assured that, should you suffer any storm damage, insurers will do everything they can to help you recover as quickly as possible.
Damage caused by storms is covered by standard home insurance, commercial business policies, and comprehensive motor insurance.
Mark Shepherd, Head of General Insurance Policy at the Association of British Insurers said: “Insurers expect bad weather at any time and their priority is always to help their affected customers recover as quickly as possible.
“Where properties are damaged by floods or storms, insurers will be on hand to make emergency payments, arrange any temporary emergency accommodation, and make sure the damage is repaired.
“If you suffer damage to your property, contact your insurer as soon as you can for help and advice.”
The ABI advises people to:
· Keep a close eye on weather warnings, and follow advice from The Met Office, The Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
· Where possible, store items left in gardens that can easily be blown away and cause damage, like ladders, inside, or ensure they are secure.
· Have contact details of your home insurer to hand, along with other emergency contact numbers for your utility providers and the local authority.
If you suffer storm damage:
· Contact your insurer as soon as possible. Most will have 24-hour emergency helplines to ensure you get advice on what to do and arrange repairs as quickly as is possible.
· If necessary, arrange temporary emergency repairs to stop any damage getting worse, but speak to your insurer first. If you have to arrange emergency repairs yourself, tell your insurer and keep any receipts, as this will form part of your claim.
· Do not be in a rush to throw away damaged items, unless they are a danger to health, as these may be able to be repaired or restored. Your insurer will advise.
If your home is uninhabitable while repairs are being carried out, your insurer will arrange for, and pay the cost of, any alternative temporary accommodation you may need in line with your policy.
Commercial polices will cover damage to premises and stock. Business interruption cover (which may be included or purchased separately) will cover additional trading costs, such as hiring temporary alternative trading premises if necessary.
Comprehensive motor insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by storms.
Yellow warnings are in place this morning across Scotland for thunderstorms.
Please drive to the road conditions, plan ahead and be aware of increased stopping distances.
There are also a number of outdoor events taking place over the weekend and we would remind people to be prepared and dress appropriately for the weather.
Warnings have been issued for snow and ice by the Met Office, as a northerly airflow will bring some disruptive weather through this week.
Yellow warnings for snow and ice have been issued with the focus of initial snow showers in northern and eastern areas of the UK.
5-10cm of snow could accumulate over northern Scotland and snow is likely within the warning area even to lower ground, with icy conditions likely to cause travel disruption.
The area of high pressure that has brought recent benign conditions will move away to the west at the start of the week, allowing a northerly airflow to sweep across the UK. The introduction of an arctic maritime airmass will bring snow showers to Scotland, Northern Ireland and along the east coast of England from Monday.
The snow showers will predominantly impact northern and eastern areas; however, it will be cold across the UK, with widespread freezing conditions overnight.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Almond, said: “Very cold air will spread across the UK from late on Sunday through early next week. This brings with it snow even to low levels in the north and east through Monday and Tuesday, and in excess of 10cm could accumulate, most likely on high ground in the north, but also settling for a time at lower levels.
“With freezing overnight temperatures and the risk of ice, there’s a risk of some travel disruption and wintry hazards are likely to persist through much of next week, even further south for a time, so keep an eye on the Met Office forecast for the latest information.”
James Coles of Scottish Mountain Rescue and Team Leader at Moffat Mountain Rescue said: “The UK is entering a period of increasingly challenging weather conditions with snow, ice and gusty winds all featuring prominently in the forecast for the coming week. Upland areas, especially in the mountains, can see conditions change very rapidly and they may be markedly different from surrounding lowland areas.
“Met Office warnings come into force on Monday, but conditions ahead may deteriorate more quickly at higher elevations.”
Stay up to date with the Met Office forecast on social media, through our weather warnings and by checking our mountain area forecasts, which are written by trained meteorologists and are available under specialist forecasts on the Met Office website.
Cold weather alert
The UK Health Security Agency has issued Level 2 and Level 3 Cold Weather Alerts for the whole of England. These are likely to be reviewed and extended in the coming days.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “During periods like this, it is important to check in on family, friends and relatives who may be more vulnerable to the cold weather, as it can have a serious impact on health.
“If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important to try and heat your home to at least 18°C if you can.’’
Transport disruption
Stein Connelly, head of transport resilience (operations) at Transport Scotland, said: “We would urge the public to plan ahead, listen to Police Scotland travel advice, drive to the conditions, and also check before they travel. While our operating companies will be undertaking patrols and treatments and we are closely monitoring the network for impacts, it’s important to recognise that challenging conditions are likely early this week.
“Motorists can check with Traffic Scotland to make sure that their route is available. The new Traffic Scotland website gives people access to the latest travel information and the Traffic Scotland twitter page is also updated regularly.
“We know that stopping distances can be up to ten times greater in snow compared to dry roads so keep well back from the road user in front, check your windscreen washer levels, ensure your mobile phone is charged and have sufficient fuel and warm clothing in case your journey is delayed.”
Temperatures are likely to stay well below average for much of this week, with an increasing chance of snow further south from Wednesday onwards.
Some uncertainty remains on exact positioning and timing of further wintry hazards as milder air attempts to move in from the southwest. Details will be refined for the latter half of the week, but broadly cold conditions with further wintry hazards is the most likely scenario.
Communities across Scotland will be able to prepare and take action sooner to protect themselves from flooding as a new three-day Scottish Flood Forecast launches.
Developed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Met Office, the Scottish Flood Forecast provides the earliest indication possible of when and where flooding is expected over the next three days, and whether the source is from rivers, surface water or the sea.
In addition, the colour coded map on SEPA’s website describes the potential impacts on communities and links to advice and information on what protective action people can take if required. It also offers reassurance when significant flooding is not expected.
The Scottish Flood Forecast was developed following extensive research involving the public, community flood groups, emergency responders, partner organisations and both SEPA and Met Office employees. Feedback from more than 200 users was also gathered during a trial phase from May last year.
Gail Walker is from the Tillicoultry, Devonside and Coalsnaughton Flood Group (Tideco): “The Scottish Flood Forecast is an important information source for Tideco. Advance warning of flooding supports us to work out how we can best respond to weather events with the resources we have.
“Tillicoultry has a number of flooding issues and is a known flooding ‘hot spot’. This can include surface water and sewage flooding within residential streets, as well as flooding from the Tillicoultry Burn and the River Devon, which both have a history of having flooded out homes in the past. Whilst we have some flood defence measures in place, we still have areas that are vulnerable.
“The Scottish Flood Forecast is a useful trigger for the group to plan, prepare and to make sure volunteers are in areas where we know there is the potential for flooding. The key role of Tideco is to warn, inform and offer support to those at risk of flooding or who may have been impacted.”
The forecast is produced every morning, 365 days a year, and published on SEPA’s website. It is an additional tool for the public to use alongside the current Floodline service, which issues shorter notice Regional Flood Alerts and Local Flood Warnings to those signed up, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Environment Minister Mairi McAllan said: “Flooding can cause utter devastation to people and communities, as we saw again in several parts of the country in November and December last year.
“The impact of the climate emergency, across the world and here in Scotland, means that flooding will be more frequent. That is why it’s so important that we increase community resilience and take action to manage flood risk.
“The Scottish Flood Forecast will give people a three day look ahead to help make plans for travel and ensure safety and is a product of the excellent partnership working between SEPA and the Met Office.
“This new three-day forecast is a helpful addition to the other important services, such as Floodline, that the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service provides.”
Nicole Paterson, SEPA Chief Executive, added: “The Scottish Flood Forecast has been the biggest change to SEPA’s flood warning service in the last decade and is a major step forward in helping communities become more resilient to flooding.
“This winter we were reminded why that is so important, as parts of Scotland experienced damaging impacts from flooding – notably Aberdeenshire and Angus in November and Dumfries and Galloway in December.
“While the Scottish Flood Forecast currently displays information at a national level, work will continue on the forecast to gradually introduce localised information.”
Ian Cameron, Met Office Markets Director, said: “Every day the Met Office and SEPA teams work in close partnership to publish the Scottish Flood Forecast, providing guidance to the flood forecasting team at the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service (SFFS) with the latest weather information.
“Working together in the SFFS Partnership enables the Met Office and SEPA to achieve more together and create a more resilient environment.”
High winds, heavy rain and snow melt on Thursday, 5 January, into Friday, 6 January, are likely to cause localised disruption due to coastal wave overtopping, surface water and river flooding.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scotland’s flood forecasting and warning authority, is urging people to keep updated, be mindful of potential disruption, and plan ahead for any travel.
In coastal areas, windy conditions particularly around high tides could also lead to spray and overtopping. Localised Flood Warnings have been issued for parts of Orkney and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, where large waves and strong winds could create impacts such as flooding of causeways, promenades, and roads.
Rainfall, combined with melting snow, is likely to see minor river and surface water flooding, across much of Scotland. Regional Flood Alerts are in place and, whilst peak river levels are expected to be well below those experienced last week, given the saturated nature of the ground, minor disruption is likely on some transport routes with isolated property flooding in places.
SEPA continues to monitor the situation and will issue further flood messages as required. People are encouraged to sign up to the Floodline service to receive updates for where they live, or where they’re travelling through, directly to their phone. People can also check Flood Updates – SEPA Floodline for all the latest updates.
Staying informed
Check the latest information on SEPA’s regional Flood Alerts and local Flood Warnings at sepa.org.uk/floodupdates.
Don’t walk through flood water – 15cm of fast flowing water could be enough to knock you off your feet and hazards can be hidden under the water.
Drive with care, and do not travel through deep fast flowing water. It only takes 30cm of fast flowing water to move an average family sized car.
If you’re walking beside rivers be extra careful of wet footpaths and small watercourses.
Consider deploying flooding protection products if required.
What’s the difference between a Flood Alert and a Flood Warning?
We use forecast weather information provided by the Met Office combined with our own observation of rainfall and river levels and advanced hydrological modelling to provide advance warning of flooding.
Regional Flood Alerts are early advice that flooding is possible across a wider geographical area. The purpose of the Alerts is to make people aware of the risk of flooding and be prepared. We normally issue them 12 to 24 hours in advance of the possibility of flooding.
Flood Warnings are more locally specific and are issued for areas where we have gauges on rivers to measure the exact river height. They are issued at shorter notice when we are more certain that a specific area will be affected.
