A number of agencies including Herefordshire Council, Balfour Beatty, West Mercia Police, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service and health partners, worked throughout the weekend and into this week to protect residents, focusing on the most vulnerable members of the community.

With parts of Herefordshire still suffering the impacts of the storm, the recovery effort is well under way and financial support can be accessed by communities and businesses most affected by the floods.

Cllr Dan Hurcomb, Cabinet Member for Local Engagement and Community Resilience, said: “We have all been shocked and saddened to see the impact of Storm Claudia, which caused flooding and disruption to some parts of the county, and our thoughts are with those directly affected. 

“I would like to thank council colleagues and our contractor Balfour Beatty, along with our emergency service partners, for going above and beyond by working through the night to do as much preparation work as possible in advance of the storm and for their tireless efforts throughout.

“Grants and financial support are in place to help residents and businesses that have been affected by the flooding and this information is available on the Council’s website.”

Grants and Financial Support

Build Back Better - FloodRE
Flood RE enables homeowners the reimbursement (up to a limit of £10,000) of costs associated with ‘Building Back Better’ as part of a flood claim. This is on top of the usual repairs for damage and loss. The extra funding can pay for a flood risk survey, add resistance measures such as flood doors, and use more resilient materials such as hard flooring. These changes make homes better prepared for future floods and easier to clean and repair. Homeowners should check whether their insurer is part of the Build Back Better scheme before making a claim. To find out more, visit the FloodRE website.

Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Payment
The Council Tax Hardship Policy has been updated to include specific reference to homes affected by a severe weather event. This support is intended to be short-term and for cases where no other recourse is available. Applications will be considered based on the evidence provided.

Business Rates Hardship Relief
Our council discretionary rate relief policy provides guidance on when you might be eligible for hardship rate relief.

For more information, please visit the Council’s website.

Emergency Relief Fund
The Herefordshire Community Foundation emergency grant helps with urgent needs like the cost of living in temporary accommodation or for items people need to stay in their homes, for example, dehumidifiers. Grants of £200 are available for affected households. Larger grants are available for projects providing relief support for affected communities. These funds are intended for immediate emergency needs and can only be applied for up to four weeks after the date of the flood.

For more information about grants and financial support after a flood, please visit the Council’s website.

Find out more about the support and guidance available for flooding.

For the latest flood updates, please keep checking the Herefordshire Council website and follow @HfdsCouncil on Facebook and X.