STATEMENT FROM Harlow Council:

The council is aware that a number of areas of the town and properties have been affected as a result of yesterday’s severe rainfall, with surface water causing a number of floods.

It is the council’s first priority in these types of situations to support all those residents affected. A team of council officers attended several sites to assess the situation and provided assistance where necessary. Housing officers went door-to-door to see how tenants were getting on in the affected areas too. HTS focused on providing sandbags where necessary and assisting residents by helping them to remove damaged property.

Work is still being undertaken to assess the full impact of the flooding, working closely with relevant agencies.

Anyone affected by flooding is advised to contact the council by emailing contact@harlow.gov.uk. The council is also urging all properties that have been subjected to flooding to contact Thames Water on 0800 316 9800 or retrospectively complete a sewer flooding questionnaire at https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/emergencies/flooding, which contains a link for the questionnaire to be completed by the customer for record.

Residents are advised to claim from their building/personal contents insurance for any damage caused, and properties that have suffered internal flooding can also apply for a Property Flood Resilience grant from Essex County Council at: https://flood.essex.gov.uk/get-a-flood-grant/property-flood-resilience-grant-for-homes

This grant is for up to £8,000 per property to protect against future flooding events.

Councillor Joel Charles, Deputy Leader of Harlow Council, said:

“The flooding incidents impacted a number of residents across the town. The council is committed to providing whatever support is necessary to help those who have been affected by this flooding. It is good news that no one has been forced out of their home and the council’s housing service is doing everything it can to provide support. Colleagues from HTS have also been out attending to roofing repairs and have been working hard to help make affected properties safe. Work is ongoing to manage the clean-up within affected housing estates. I know that there are further weather warnings in place. The council is monitoring local weather reports closely and will work with relevant agencies and the emergency services if further heavy rainfall impacts the town later this week. Every effort will be made by the council to provide the necessary support to those who might be affected by adverse weather in the coming days. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the emergency services for their response to yesterday’s flooding incidents. Residents affected have been in contact with the council and we are working with them to see what additional support can be provided at this time – they have shown a great deal of resilience during what has been a difficult 24 hours.”

With thanks to YourHarlow.com for imagery accompanying this post.