HIWFRS Responds to Over 60 Emergency Calls Following Flash Flooding

The HIWFRS Control Room received a significant number of calls this evening (Thursday, 1 August) due to heavy rain and widespread flooding across the county.

During this challenging period, we have prioritised our response based on the level of risk. Where immediate deployment of resources wasn’t possible, Control Room operators provided advice on handling flooding and offered contact information for further assistance, including Floodline and local council services.

One notable incident occurred in Winchester, where firefighters were dispatched to assist a person stranded in their car due to floodwaters. We urge everyone to avoid driving through floodwater; turn back and find a safer route instead.

At 6 PM, crews from Winchester, Redbridge, and Fareham, equipped with water rescue gear, responded to an incident on Alresford Road in Winchester. They successfully rescued one individual trapped in a vehicle submerged under three feet of water. The incident was handed over to the police, with the stop message received at 7 PM.

For information on what to do in a flood and how to recover after a flood and for the latest flood warnings, visit the Flood Information Service website.