Our flood wardens are champions of the community, helping us to stay safe when we get heavy rainfall. We are so grateful to them for their hard work during the flooding in early January 2025. We hope you enjoy this insight from flood warden Robert Butler*.
How long have you been a flood warden and what areas do you cover?
I've been a Volunteer Flood Warden for almost 15 years. I started small – just covering Sileby Village Centre. In 2014, I established the Facebook page “Sileby Volunteer Flood Warden”. I then expanded to cover the most flood prone roads in the Sileby area, including Slash Lane and Mountsorrel Lane as they posed the highest threat to causing disruption in the local area. Eventually I reached out locally for volunteers to help with the project and Richard Oldham came forward to volunteer too. Alongside ourselves is a small Volunteer Team for Flood Wardens across the Soar and Wreake Valley villages who assist each other from Quorn and Mountsorrel to Syston a d Rearsby, as well as other villages in between.
Why did you become a flood warden?
I became a Volunteer Flood Warden for Sileby due to the amount of Flooding I'd witnessed growing up, being familiar with the danger and chaos it causes. When local through roads become flooded and impassable, but not officially ‘closed’, it causes huge traffic delays.
How much time do you have to commit?
In the dry months I tend to commit 1-3 hours per week unless we are experiencing Flash Flooding. In the winter I spend many hours a week and sometimes multiple hours a day depending on the severity of flooding in the area. This includes on the ground observation, social media posting and speaking on the phone with the council, emergency services or media. Additionally, on my way to work from Sileby to Mountsorrel I check and post any roads that are flooded.
What’s the best bit about being a flood warden?
I enjoy being able to support the local community. Our Social Media account has more than 6 thousand followers from across the county who rely on our “Flood Patrol” updates. We receive thanks and occasional gifts from members of the public, which are not expected, but greatly appreciated.
What do you do during a flooding incident to help?
Prior to Flooding we raise awareness of weather warnings and encourage the public not to travel through flood water. During times of flooding, we share messaging around protecting property and people from flooding, as well as reporting roads that need to be closed due to flooding and if it is safe to do so, we close roads with flood signs and cones. We also regularly update our social media pages to let people know which roads are currently closed, allowing people to plan their journeys to work/school appropriately.
In the aftermath of flooding, we report to Leicestershire County Council Highways any roads that need to be cleaned and reopened. We also ensure affected people are safe.
What’s been a highlight of the work you’ve done as a warden?
My highlight has been supporting the community of Sileby and the surrounding areas in times of flooding and raising awareness of the dangers of flooding during drier weather.
What you say to anyone interested in becoming a warden?
In becoming a Volunteer Flood Warden, you become the eyes on the ground to notice and report flooding to the relevant councils and agencies, as well as gathering knowledge of flooding across your local area.
Take a look at our volunteer pages to get involved.
*this interview took place a number of months ago.