Storm advice

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Information for those affected by storms and bad weather.

Strong winds
Here's how you can report common issues:

Powercut - call 105 or report to UK Power Networks online
Damaged power lines – please stay away and call 105. If there is an immediate risk to safety, please also call 999
Fallen or overhanging trees – if there is an immediate danger, please call Suffolk Highways on 0345 606 6171. Report non-emergency fallen trees or debris on the road to Suffolk Highways
Dangerous structure: 01394 444219 or 0800 440 2516 outside of office hours
Updates on the Orwell Bridge from National Highways or National Highways East on X
Please make sure any external Christmas lights and decorations are secure

Flooding
If you need some help with flooding, here’s how you can report common issues:

Flood warnings and alerts - residents and businesses, especially those close to waterways, should closely follow flood warnings and alerts from the Environment Agency and take action if advised.
Report flooding to your property
Report other types of flooding
Sign up for flood alerts
Report a blocked drain to Suffolk County Council. If the drain is blocked by litter or leaves, please contact our Customer Services team.
If your property has been affected by sewage flooding or there is a sewerage issue, please contact your waste water provider.
Information for people and businesses in Suffolk who have been impacted by flooding.
The Suffolk Flood Risk Management Partnership has created a Flood Risk Management Strategy and Flood Smart living handbook to help everyone understand and manage flood risk within Suffolk.
If the water supply to your home has been affected, please contact your water provider.

Useful information

If you need advice regarding housing, waste clearing or street cleansing, please call 0333 016 2000 during normal working hours (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm).
If you are faced with an emergency situation outside of working hours (including the weekend), which requires an immediate Council response, please call our ‘out of hours’ number: 0800 440 2516. Please do not call this number during normal working hours as it is diverted to other services, and ONLY call in the case of an emergency (such as further flooding or homelessness).
School closures. Please check your school's website for up-to-date information.
Updates on gritting from Suffolk Highways.
Check for Met Office weather warnings.
Advice from Suffolk Prepared on preparing for emergencies and how to set up a community, business or personal emergency plan.
You can also receive updates and news via your preferred local radio station.

Take extra care at the coast
Those visiting the coast are advised to take extra care during storms and bad weather.

Coastal Partnership East, on behalf of East Suffolk Council, is reminding people to stay safe on the coast by adhering to the following:

do not climb on eroding cliffs or sea defences.
keep well back from the cliff edge.
take notice of signage
avoid walking close to the base of cliffs.
keep pets on leads.

If you notice anything unusual or dangerous about cliffs or any coastal defences, please email coastalmanagement@eastsuffolk.gov.uk. In an emergency always call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

HM Coastguard has the following safety advice:

Do not attempt to climb up or down cliffs unless you are properly equipped and trained to do so and do not attempt to climb cliffs as a short cut back to the top again.
Make sure that you are properly equipped for walking along coastal paths. Remember to wear sturdy shoes or boots and check the weather forecast and tidal times before you set out. Carry a fully charged mobile phone and tell someone where you are going and what time you will be home. Only use the designated paths, take notice of any warning signs and fences in place, be responsible and don’t take any unnecessary risks.
Try and keep your dog on a lead near cliffs. If they pick up the scent of an animal or hear something on the coast below it doesn’t take much for them to follow their nose. Above all, if your dog does fall down a cliff or starts getting swept out to sea, please do not attempt to rescue it yourself. In the majority of cases, your dog will rescue itself and return to shore alive, but tragically some owners do not. Coastguards are trained in all types of rescue on the coast, including dog rescues.
When standing at the bottom of a cliff, we would always advise people that they should not stand less than the height of the cliff away. That means that if the cliff is 25 metres high, do not go closer than 25 metres towards it.