Section 19 flood investigations
As the lead local flood authority for Kent, we have a duty to publish reports of investigations of flood incidents, as detailed within section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
A section 19 flood investigation report is a public statement of the circumstances of a flood event and what parties have a role in managing the risks. The investigation is not an in depth analysis of the flood risk or mechanisms (hydraulic modelling of the risks and reduction options are not part of the investigation). Flood investigations additionally do not give us powers to require any parties to undertake any work.
When investigating a flood we will publish a report of the findings, where no other risk management authority is exercising or proposing to exercise it's risk management functions and where:
- the flooding causes internal flooding to 5 or more properties or critical infrastructure assets in a localised area
- the flood mechanism is complex, for instance there are 2 or more sources of floodwater involved or the source or mechanism of the flooding is unclear and there is a public interest to explain this mechanism
- we determine that a report of the flooding is merited.
If you have been flooded but the flood event does not meet the requirements of a flood report let us know by reporting the flood online. We may be able to help and investigate even if we do not prepare a report of our investigation.
Read the reports
Albert Road, flood investigation report
Albert Road on 21 May 2014 (PDF, 1005.0 KB)
Bethersden area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting Bethersden on 25 July 2021 (PDF, 5.9 MB)
Brook Road, Tunbridge Wells flood investigation report
Brook Road, Tunbridge Wells on 3 June 2012 (PDF, 941.3 KB)
Capel-le-Ferne section 19 flood investigation report
Capel-le-Ferne on 4 to 5 November 2023 (PDF, 4.9 MB)
Deal flood investigation report
Flooding affecting Deal on 28 August 2020 (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Complaint against Southern Water (PDF, 55.2 KB)
Five Oak Green flood investigation report
Flooding affecting Five Oak Green on 9 February 2020 (PDF, 1.5 MB)
Horsmonden area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting Horsmonden on 25 July 2021 (PDF, 1.8 MB)
Ightham area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting the Ightham area on 25 June 2016 (PDF, 4.0 MB)
Sittingbourne area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting the Sittingbourne area on 15 August 2020 (PDF, 639.3 KB)
Snodland area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting the Snodland area on 10 June 2019 (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Steeds Close, flood investigation report
Steeds Close on 9 November 2014 and 8 January 2015 (PDF, 1005.5 KB)
Swale area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting Swale on 29 May 2018 (PDF, 1.8 MB)
Swanley area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting Swanley on 20 July and 20 to 21 October 2021 (PDF, 5.1 MB)
Tunbridge Wells area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting Tunbridge Wells (24 August 2015) (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Flooding affecting Tunbridge Wells (19 July 2017) (PDF, 2.8 MB)
Ulcombe area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting Ulcombe on 1 August 2021 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
Vigo and Culverstone area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting Vigo and Culverstone on 10 June 2019 (PDF, 736.3 KB)
West Kingsdown area flood investigation report
Flooding affecting West Kingsdown on 10 June 2019 (PDF, 1.1 MB)