Emergency Planning

How we respond to local emergencies

When flooding or other local emergencies strike, the Council is ready to act. Our Emergency Planning Committee (EPC) works year-round to prepare for the unexpected, so we can respond quickly and effectively when it matters most.

If an emergency happens, councillors and council staff don’t just stay in the office – they’re often out in the community, on the ground, helping residents, coordinating with emergency services and other agencies, and making sure support reaches the people who need it.

From distributing sandbags, checking on vulnerable residents, and keeping information flowing, our goal is simple: protect people, minimise disruption, and help the community recover as quickly as possible.

In the event of an emergency the EPC is authorised to act without waiting for any form of Council approval, in co-operation with, and under the broad guidance of, Sevenoaks District Council and other emergency services.

Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF)

The KMRF has developed a simple 5-Step Guide with practical actions you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones. These steps will empower you to respond confidently to potential emergencies. You can view the Guide at www.kentprepared.org.uk/5-steps.

Flood advice and information

Residents and businesses across the Sevenoaks district are encouraged to be prepared for flooding by:

• Regularly checking road or surface water drains near your property are not blocked.  If they are, use the Kent County Council “Report a Problem” tool to get it cleared.
• Reporting if there are any water courses that are blocked or partly blocked with rubbish or weeds, to the Environment Agency via e-mail: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk or call 03708 506506.
• Having sandbags ready. Sevenoaks District Council will only provide sandbags to residents in emergency situations. Unfortunately with flash flooding events it is normally too late to stop flooding reaching your property. It is wise to have enough sandbags or floodsacks ready when there is a threat of flooding – bags of sand and flood sacks can be bought from DIY stores or online.
• Planning ahead – kentprepared.org.uk/preparing-for-an-emergency offers advice on how you can protect your home or business, including a “personal flood plan” template, and links to Environment Agency documents: www.kentprepared.org.uk/flooding
• Registering with Floodline to receive the latest information for your area during a flood by calling 03459 881188.