In England and Wales the Environment Agency operates a flood warning service in areas at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. Using the latest available technology, Agency staff monitor rainfall, river levels and sea conditions 24 hours a day and use this information to forecast the possibility of flooding. If flooding is forecast, warnings are issued using a set of four easily recognisable codes.

Each of the four codes indicates the level of danger associated with the warning. The codes are not always used in sequence; for example in the case of a flash flood, a Severe Flood Warning may be issued immediately, with no other warning code preceding it.

The warnings are updated on the Environment Agency website every 15 minutes. Flood warnings are also displayed on ITV Teletext regional weather pages (page 154), on BBC Ceefax (page 419) and BBC Ceefax on Digital TV (page 405) or you can contact the Agency's 24 hour Floodline 0845 988 1188 or Type Talk 0845 602 6340.

Alternatively the Met Office from July 2009 have launched a free subscription service available to the public to receive email weather alerts. You are able to subscribe to this on their main page www.metoffice.gov.uk. 

Tamworth Borough Council have published a Sandbag Policy that provides information to those that may be affected by flood water whether the source be from a river or as a result of localised surface water flooding due to heavy rainfall.  

 Flooding is Possible, Be Prepared

- Be Alert

- Remain Vigilant

- Early Precautions

                                         Flood is Expected, Immediate Action Required

- Flooding Expected

- Take Action

- Protect Yourselves and Your Property

     Severe Flooding Danger to Life

    - Significant Risk to Life

    - Significant Disruption to Communities

    - Protect Yourselves