Vigilance advised after a week of exceptional rainfall in Oxfordshire
Vigilance advised after a week of exceptional rainfall in Oxfordshire
Residents in Oxfordshire are being advised to continue to be vigilant after a week of exceptional rainfall in the county and neighbouring areas.
On Sunday, 22 and Monday, 23 September, the county was hit with more than a month’s worth of rainfall in the space of 36 hours. Oxford University’s Radcliffe Meteorological Observatory reported that Oxford had more rain than in any defined 24-hour period since 1968.
Meanwhile in the one hour between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday, more than 20mm of rain was recorded at the Environment Agency’s Grimsbury Gauge.
More rain has swept across the county since then, ensuring that river levels remain very high. There is the potential for yet more rain over the coming week.
The county council’s fire and rescue service has been active attending many incidents. Alongside adult social care teams and emergency response volunteers, the fire service has been helping vulnerable residents and those whose homes or businesses have seen their electrics compromised by flood water, as well as supporting some families evacuate their properties.
Highways crews have been working hard to address drains and gulleys that have been overwhelmed by the unusually sustained and intense amount of rain that has descended.
Emergency planning teams have worked closely with communities affected the most by offering practical help to people in their hour of need.
Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “We and our partner agencies have been doing a tremendous amount of hard work in the past week to seek to deal with the impacts of the huge levels of rainfall to which we and neighbouring counties have been subjected. I thank all of those professionals across our services who have been involved.
“Climate change means that for some time now this country has been seeing more intense spells of rain and increased instances of flooding. None of the issues are Oxfordshire specific – all of our neighbouring areas have experienced the same incredibly difficult impacts this week.
“The surprising thing is how quickly exceptional weather events have become a regular occurrence, and we and our partners are well aware of the need to step up the pace and scale of what we do.
“Drainage systems across the UK and Europe are being overwhelmed by the sort of extreme rainfall we’ve seen in short periods of time this week. In the UK, this is compounded by the impacts of over a decade of austerity, along with well-documented underinvestment by privatised water companies.
“While we, at Oxfordshire County Council, have diverted extra funding to flood prevention, and there is a national programme funding flood defences, the job we have to do is bigger than any of that. We know that climate change is accelerating, and this will get worse for at least 30 years while we get to net zero emissions and beyond.
“Even if it were possible or affordable, replacing all of our drainage pipes with bigger ones, they won’t work when a month’s rain can fall in a couple of hours.
“There’s a much wider landscape-scale and street by street operation needed locally and nationally to work out how you hold back rainwater wherever it lands, slowing down the rate at which it hits or flows down our streets, rivers and highways.
“That means, among other things, smart ‘water farming’ practices, putting trees and other water holding measures on hillsides, and breaking up impermeable paved areas in villages, towns and cities. Fortunately, all of these make better places to live and work, and protect against air pollution and other weather extremes like heat, and gales.
“There needs to be a serious step up in national strategy and local co-operation that gathers pace to match the new reality, comes up with strong mitigations and funds them properly. In the meantime, we will do whatever is possible when these events occur, learning from each one, so we can react faster and work even more effectively together.”
Flood warnings and alerts remain in place. Residents are advised to check their flood risk, on X follow @EnvAgencySE for timely updates and sign up for free flood warnings from the Environment Agency. Residents can keep in touch with its regularly updated information relating to current flood alerts and flood warnings and the five-day flood risk for Oxfordshire.
If residents or businesses are in a flood risk area, they can access the council’s flooding toolkit, which provides advice and support, including on preparing for instances of flooding. The council’s news webpage also contains helpful information and signposting
Flooding of low-lying roads is possible. Residents are advised to check X at @OxonTravel for road and travel updates. People must also avoid driving through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move a car.
Residents can call the Environment Agency’s flooding hotline for advice and support at any time on 0345 988 1188. They can also monitor information published by the Met Office, which issues weather warnings when severe weather is expected.