Within East and South Ayrshire, there is a possibility that flooding will arise as a result of adverse weather and severe storms. 

We, and our partners within the Ayrshire Local Resilience Partnership, have a multi-agency disruptive weather arrangements plan which also includes flooding. The plan is maintained and reviewed by the Ayrshire Civil Contingencies Team.

The objectives of the plan are:

• to develop a corporate and co-ordinated response to disruptive weather incidents
• to develop and produce proactive contingency measures for dealing with disruptive weather affecting Council property, non-Council property (commercial and residential), transport routes, villages isolated by flood waters and care of the displaced
• to provide recognised and agreed procedures for obtaining assistance from Central Government, the military forces and any other organisations

To find out if there are flood warnings currently in place in your area, contact Floodline on 0845 988 1188, or alternatively visit the  Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) website.

SEPA are responsible for issuing warnings if flooding is forecast, and for issuing an all clear once the risk of flooding has passed.

Floodline operates 24 hours a day seven days a week and also provides help and advice on what do to in the event of a flood.

Preventative measures

It is advisable that you carry out preventative measures if a flood warning is issued.

Blocking doorways and air bricks could help keep water out of your property. If you don't have access to sandbags, have a look around your property and see what you can achieve with simple measures such as filling pillowcases with sand or soil to use as sandbags.

Your supply of sandbags should be stored in a cool dry area to maximise their lifespan.

Emergency contacts

Council employees are on call 24 hours a day seven days a week, and can be contacted for assistance:

During office hours: 01563 503 160

Out of hours (East Ayrshire): 0345 724 0000

Out of hours (South Ayrshire): 0300 123 0900

Flooding will often catch you by surprise. Taking some precautionary measures could make all the difference if you are ever faced with a flood. 

Precautions you can take to help include:

• contact your insurance company to make sure you have adequate flood cover
• report a blocked drain by calling us on 01563 576310 or 0345 724 0000 out of hours
• if you live in an area prone to flooding stock sandbags at your property in a cool dry place
• learn how to make emergency sandbags by filling pillowcases with soil or sand
• keep a flood pack of batteries, wind up or battery radio, torch, first aid kit, sanitary supplies, bottled water, insurance policy
• consider arrangements for children, pets and elderly family members during a flood
• keep a list of contact numbers you may need in a flood - Council, Scottish Water, GP, relatives
• plan alternative accommodation if at all possible
• during adverse weather, check flood warnings or call SEPA's Floodline on 0845 988 1188

 If there is a severe weather warning issued:

• watch what is happening and check:
  • if the weather getting worse
  • what other people are doing
  • should you be doing the same
• move your car to higher ground if you can do this safely without risk to yourself
• take measures to prevent water entering your premises such as laying sandbags or pillowcases filled with earth
• get children and pets safely inside your house
• be aware that floods can escalate very quickly

During a flood

During a flood there are a number of actions you can take to ensure your safety and that of your family and your property:

• call us we may be able to provide sandbags
• if the situation escalates contact the emergency services
• if you are being flooded from a sewer also call Scottish Water on 0845 600 8855
• keep safe your house keys, mobile phone, credit cards, medication, children's essentials

If you voluntarily choose to leave by car, tune into West Sound (96.7FM) for emergency advice and instruction.

On leaving your house, there are a few things you can do to increase the safety of your home. You should only do these if you have time and you can do them safely without risk to yourself:

• take your personal items such as house keys, mobile phone, credit cards, medication, children's essentials, flood pack and duvets/blankets
• turn off electric and gas supplies
• unplug appliances
• lock all door and windows
• raise electrical and susceptible items to avoid flood waters

Actions after a flood

As with before and during a flood, taking appropriate action after a flood can ensure your family's wellbeing, and provide you with peace of mind after a traumatic event:

• check water quality is drinkable - contact Scottish Water on 0845 600 8855 if unsure
• wait for confirmation that it is safe to turn on electricity and gas
• get an electrician to check electrical products before using them
• ask all tradesmen to show identification and be aware of rogue traders trying to cash in on your loss
• wash hands thoroughly after contact with flood water or silt
• contact your insurance company, and make an inventory of all damaged goods, including food, taking a video or photographs is useful
• dispose of contaminated food in a black bag and put out with normal refuse - do not try to salvage damaged food
• contact insurers before disposing of anything
• ensure surfaces are disinfected and free from contamination, pay particular care to food preparation areas
• make sure taps are clean before using them for the first time
• if you swallow mud or contaminated water contact your doctor and state that your house was flooded
• replace any manhole covers that may have become dislodged if you can do this safely without risk to yourself
• keep children and pets away from floodwater
• check that paving has not become hazardous or dislodged

Flooding can be a very traumatic event and causes a great deal of personal suffering. If you need emotional or financial support there are a number of agencies you can contact:

• the  Samaritans will provide emotional support and can be called on 08457 90 90 90
• contact your bank to try and arrange a holiday from mortgage payments if required
• people caring for an adult can contact the Carers Centre on 01563 571533
• The  Association of British Insurers provides help and advice on insurance matters 

Many people wrongly believe that the Council is responsible for protecting their property from flooding. The Council has no statutory duties to prevent properties from flooding. The responsibility lies with the property owner. 

The Council does have some duties in regard to flooding. These are:

• establish a local flood plan, and carry out actions identified within this plan
• assess the condition of watercourses for any risk of flooding to non-agricultural land
• cleanse, repair and otherwise maintain in due state of efficiency any watercourse which may pose a risk of flooding of non-agricultural land

The duty to cleanse, repair and maintain a watercourse consists essentially of clearing culverts, blockages and removing debris.  Other organisations, such as Scottish Natural Heritage, World Wildlife Fund, Scottish Wildlife Trust and local angling clubs also have input into what work is possible on watercourses and at what times of the year.

Although the Council is required to keep watercourses clear of obstructions such as fallen trees, it is does not have a duty to increase the capacity of a watercourse. Any responsibility in respect to increasing the capacity of watercourse lies with its owner. De-silting would have to be approved by SEPA before any work takes place.

The responsibility in respect to increasing the capacity or protecting their land against any scouring by any watercourse lies with the land owner.

Although there is no duty on the Council to do so, we will try to supply sandbags as requested by members of the public. In extreme flooding situations this may not be possible due to the level of demand. As sandbags are in limited supply they will only be provided to properties in imminent danger of being flooded.

To request sandbags contact Housing Asset Services on 01563 555555 and select option 1 during office hours or 0345 724 0000 at any other time.

Many flooding problems arise as a result of under-capacity in a watercourse. The Council does not have a duty to improve or increase the capacity of a watercourse. This responsibility lies with the owner of the watercourse, who may need to acquire a license from SEPA before proceeding.

Councils have no powers to require landowners to address flooding issues, although poor land management practices, such as ploughing downhill rather than across, have exacerbated flash flood events. The Council will provide advice on good land management if it is requested.

The Council does not have any duties or powers for maintenance of agricultural flood banks or to mitigate the flooding of agricultural land and property.  This responsibility lies with the landowner.

The Council is not responsible for dealing with flooding from sewers. This responsibility lies with Scottish Water who can be contacted on 0845 600 8855.

The Council does not have a duty to improve the standard of drainage systems of public roads, only to maintain them.

If works of clearance or repair are identified during inspection, these are assessed and where no immediate action is needed we add this item of work to our schedule of clearance and repair works.

We publish our inspection schedule in each area:

Download our inspection schedule

We carry out reactive inspections if there is a flood event or someone highlights something of concern to us.

The Council does not have a duty to improve the standard of drainage systems of public roads, only to maintain them.

Many people wrongly believe that their Council or Ayrshire Roads Alliance is responsible for protecting their property from flooding. The Council has no statutory duties to prevent properties from flooding. The responsibility lies with the property owner. 

New Cumnock

All planned actions in New Cumnock can be found in the  Cycle 2 Solway Local Flood Risk Management Plan (LPD14) [PDF 5831KB] 

Also available is the  Cycle 1 Solway Local Flood Risk Management Plan Final Report (LPD14) [PDF 4869KB] 

Other areas of Ayrshire

Other planned actions in Ayrshire can be found in the  Cycle 2 Ayrshire Local Flood Risk Management Plan (LPD12) [PDF 8475KB]

Also available is the   Cycle 1 Ayrshire Local Flood Risk Management Plan Final Report (LPD12) [PDF 3628KB] 

Water drains from the carriageway by gullies which are connected to underground pipes leading to burns, rivers or to the sewage system maintained by  Scottish Water. 

We are responsible for the maintenance and clearance of these gullies and employ contractors to locate and clear blocked pipes.