With more rain predicted this weekend Norfolk County Council's fire and rescue service is advising people to take extra care if flooding does occur.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service issued the following advice today (Friday June 29):

*Motorists should not attempt to drive through flooded roads or fords.  The water is often deeper than it looks and may be moving quite fast.  Your vehicle may  be swept away or become stranded
 
*Do not attempt to walk through flooded areas. Even shallow water moving fast can sweep you off your feet and there may be hidden dangers such as open drains, damaged road surfaces, submerged debris or deep channels; these can cause serious injuries or even death.

*Children should not be allowed to play in flood water, which can become contaminated with sewerage and chemicals
 
*Do not smoke, eat or drink after contact with floodwater and always wash your hands afterwards. 
 
*Keep an eye on weather reports on local television or radio news channels.  Do not travel in heavy rain storms unless absolutely necessary.
 
*Look after neighbours.  People have been known to suffer from hypothermia after their homes have become flooded with cold rainwater even in the summer time.

*Remember that the during a storm the emergency services will be very busy, only call for immediate assistance if there is a risk to life or serious property or environmental damage
 
*Following a flood in your home, make sure all electrical circuits are fully dried out and checked by an electrical engineer before switching back on.

David Worsley, Deputy Fire Chief for Norfolk, said: "If weather predictions are right we may miss the very worst of any further flooding this weekend. Having said that our rivers in Norfolk are already swollen and further rainfall may well give us problems which, even if they are not on the scale of what we have seen in Sheffield this week, could still create potential hazards for people.

"Hopefully the weekend will pass without incident and we would ask people to take extra care if they are confronted with floodwater and follow our advice."