Storm Ciarán due to hit Carmarthenshire
311 days ago
Carmarthenshire County Council is asking residents and businesses to be aware of potential flooding, damage to infrastructure and distribution likely to be caused by Storm Ciarán tonight and tomorrow, 1-2 November 2023.
The Met Office have issued a Yellow Weather Warning for Rain from 18:00 tonight and a Yellow Weather Warning for Wind from 21:00 tonight. Both weather warnings are due to run until 23:59 tomorrow, Thursday, 2 November.
Natural Resources Wales have issued a number of river flood alerts across Carmarthenshire and it is possible that these will be upgraded to Flood Warnings tomorrow, as the rivers respond to the heavy rain fall. Please visit Natural Resources Wales’ website to keep up to date with the latest Flood Warnings and Alerts.
Preparations being made by the Local Authority
In preparedness for the adverse weather, the Carmarthenshire County Council have made arrangements for additional duty officers and crews to be on call, starting 1 November.
Sandbags have been deployed to sites that have been prone to property flooding in the past, these are primarily associated with main river flooding. The residents and businesses in these areas will be made aware of these localised preparations.
In areas affected by flooding, the Council will attempt to deploy sandbags to properties deemed at risk of being affected by floodwater. The distribution of sandbags will be prioritised where the risk of immanent flooding is emanating from the Highway or Council infrastructure and in accordance with the following priorities. (This will be based on resources available at the time and that it is safe to do so):
- Prevent loss of life or serious injury
- Protection of vulnerable populations
- Protection of key infrastructure i.e. electrical substations, drinking water supply, key highways, to maintain access for emergency services
- Protection of key facilities and buildings within the community
- Protection of residential property (priority to vulnerable people)
- Protection of business/commercial property
The Authority cannot pre-deliver sandbags to individual properties and businesses and for safety reasons, at no time will business/property owners or members of the public be allowed to collect sandbags directly from any of the council depots.
Disposal of used sandbags will be the responsibility of the home or business owner.
Keep up to date with road closures
For an up-to-date list of road closures across the county, please visit the Traffic Wales website.
How to report an incident of flooding
Anyone in need of immediate assistance can call 01267 234567 or after 4pm please call our emergency line via Delta Wellbeing on 0300 333 2222. Alternatively, reports can be made online.
Main rivers / sea
If the flood is being caused by a main river or the sea, please call Natural Resources Wales on 03000 65 3000.
Water mains leak / sewer
If you have a water mains leak or flooding from a sewer call Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water on 0800 052 0130.
It can be hard to distinguish between ground water flooding and a water main leak but if there is a constant flow that does not fluctuate with the rain then this could be a leaking main.
Any other source of flooding
Flooding from any other water source should be reported to the Council, for example:
- Roads
- Surface / ground water
- Small stream / tributary
Carmarthenshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services Cllr. Edward Thomas said: "With the yellow weather warnings for wind and rain set to descend on Carmarthenshire I would urge all road users and pedestrians to take extra care whilst travelling during the next few days.
“We have placed additional crews on standby and ready to respond should they be called upon.”
For further information on how to prepare for flooding, access the Council’s Sandbag Policy and much more, please visit the Flooding page on the Carmarthenshire County Council’s website.
