Calderdale Council prepares for Storm Dennis

Storm Dennis is expected to hit Calderdale this Saturday and Sunday. An amber weather warning is in place for the borough.

Clean ups from last week's Storm Ciara are ongoing, with community hubs staying open all weekend and into next week as necessary.

Ahead of the storm, the Council, the Environment Agency and emergency services have put extra measures and resources in place

For the Council this includes clearing gullies and trash screens in flood prone areas.

Residents are asked to report any known gully issues at www.calderdale.gov.uk to ensure efforts are targeted and units are deployed in the most effective and efficient way possible.

During periods of intense heavy rain and flood events, gullies can become overwhelmed, as they’re not designed for flood water drainage. However, keeping them clear ensures that water can drain away quickly after the event, aiding recovery.

Incident rooms are also open in the borough and Council officers will be working around the clock to help keep people safe and to manage the current flood risk.

The Leader of Calderdale Council, Coun Tim Swift, said: “With the borough still in a period of recovery from Storm Ciara, the latest forecast warning of the impacts of upcoming Storm Dennis is not a welcome one.

“Council staff, partners, volunteers and community groups have worked tirelessly all week to assist with recovery, and I’d like to once again thank everyone for their tremendous efforts.

“We’re ensuring that we continue to have provisions in place throughout the weekend to deal with any issues as a result of the forecast storm. This includes extra resources to clear gullies to ensure they’re free of debris which has been left as a result of last week’s devastating flooding.

“Staff are on call 24/7 and in regular contact with the Met Office for weather forecasts so we can take appropriate action. We are also closely monitoring conditions and river levels and will be out for as long as needed.”

To prepare for the floods, the Council have advised to:

· Remain vigilant to the risks of flooding over the coming days, report any blockages or fallen trees or vehicles in rivers that could cause an increase in flood risk. The Environment Agency incident hotline number is 0800 80 70 60.

· Prepare in advance. Check your flood risk, know what to do if flooding is expected, and be ready to respond.

· Have a bag ready with vital items like insurance documents and medications in case you need to leave your home.

· Act. Be ready to act if flooding is possible. Stay tuned to local media and listen to advice and directions given by the emergency services. Move vital, valuable, irreplaceable items upstairs or to safety. Turn off gas, water and electricity.

· Stay away from swollen rivers and do not walk through flood water as it may be contaminated.

· Avoid driving through floodwater if at all possible as it can contain many hidden hazards, and always slow down when driving through puddles to avoid flooding nearby properties.

· Call 999 if you are in immediate danger. Listen to the emergency services and evacuate if asked to do so.