Preparing for Winter
Waverley Borough Council has shared the following useful information and resources to help our community prepare for severe weather and other emergencies.
Published: 25 October 2026
General advice on preparing for emergencies is available from Surrey Local Resilience Forum: Prepare for emergencies – Surrey County Council
- Supporting vulnerable people
If you are aware of any vulnerable people in your community, please encourage them to sign up to their utility company’s priority services register. This service provides additional support during an incident.
2. Flooding
Residents living in areas at risk of flooding are encouraged to sign up to the Environment Agency flood warnings online at https://www.gov.uk/get-flood-warnings check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188 (24 hour service). The type talk number for this service is 0345 602 6340.
The Met Office also provide helpful guidance on flood alerts and warnings. Flood alerts and warnings explained by the Met Office. https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/guides/flood-warnings. Receiving an early warning can help people respond more quickly in an emergency.
Further information on flooding, community safety, and how to report flooding can be found here: Flooding – Surrey County Council https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/community/emergency-planning-and-community-safety/flooding
There is no legal duty for Waverly Borough Council to provide sandbags. However, on a case-by-case basis and depending on individual circumstances, support may be available for residents who are at risk of flooding. Vulnerable residents will be given priority. If sandbags are required, residents should call 01483 523200 and we will assess your request.
3. Severe weather warnings
Residents can sign up to weather warnings and Met Office alerts: https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings
Additional seasonal advice and guidance is available here: https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice
4. Highways issues
To report an issue on a public highway, such as a fallen tree, please use: https://tellus.surreycc.gov.uk/
Waverley Borough Council are also available for emergency incidents outside of normal office hours. You can find a full list of emergency contact numbers and more information on flooding, including, signing up for flood warnings, by visiting our https://www.waverley.gov.uk/contact-us