In short: In Cumbria, emergency planning is led by the Cumbria Resilience Forum (the county's Local Resilience Forum), which runs the Cumbria Prepared website with Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council. Its Community Risk Register rates river flooding, pandemic, new infectious diseases and failure of the national electricity system as very high risks. Sign up for free Environment Agency flood warnings online or on Floodline (0345 988 1188), call 105 for a power cut (Electricity North West), and check United Utilities for water supply problems.
Key facts
- The Cumbria Community Risk Register is put together by the Cumbria Resilience Forum and the published version was reviewed on 13 May 2024. Source
- The register rates localised river flooding, pandemic, an emerging infectious disease, failure of the national electricity transmission system and river flooding as very high risks. Source
- Cumbria Prepared is the website of the Cumbria Local Resilience Forum, a partnership including the emergency services, councils, the NHS and the Environment Agency. Source
- Cumbria Prepared points residents to United Utilities to check water supply problems and to Power Cut 105 for electricity problems. Source
- Electricity North West's network covers the North West, from the Lake District to Manchester. Source
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Most emergencies in Cumbria are handled locally, by people who know the county. This page gathers the official local sources in one place so you know where to look before you need them. Prepared, not panicked.
We are an independent guide. We don't run any of these services or show live information. For current incidents, use the official links below.
Who to contact locally
In Cumbria, emergency planning is led by the Cumbria Resilience Forum, the county's Local Resilience Forum (LRF). It's a partnership of the emergency services, councils, the NHS, the Environment Agency and others, and its public website is Cumbria Prepared. Both councils point residents to it: Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council.
| What you need | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Anyone in immediate danger | 999 |
| Local preparedness advice | Cumbria Prepared (email shown on the site: [email protected]) |
| Your council's emergency planning | Cumberland Council or Westmorland and Furness Council |
| Flood warnings | Environment Agency: sign up online or Floodline 0345 988 1188 |
| Power cut | 105 (Electricity North West) |
| Water supply problem | United Utilities |
Local risks the forum lists
The Cumbria Community Risk Register is put together by the Cumbria Resilience Forum to decide where to focus its planning. The published version we checked was reviewed on 13 May 2024.
It rates these as very high risks:
- localised river flooding, and wider river flooding
- pandemic, and an outbreak of a new infectious disease
- failure of the national electricity transmission system
- several of these happening at the same time
Its high risks include storms, localised surface water flooding, low temperatures and heavy snow, high temperatures and heatwave, failure of the regional electricity system, and loss of all fixed and mobile communications.
A risk being on the list doesn't mean it will happen. It means local services have plans for it. The register's own advice for households is simple: think about which emergencies could affect you, make a household plan, keep food, water and equipment ready, and include your pets.
If you live near Sellafield or another industrial site, Cumbria Prepared links to the council pages on chemical and nuclear sites.
How to sign up for local flood warnings
Flooding sits at the top of the Cumbrian list, so this is the most useful five minutes you can spend.
- Check your long-term flood risk on GOV.UK. It shows risk from rivers and the sea, surface water, reservoirs and, where data exists, groundwater.
- Sign up for free flood warnings from the Environment Agency, online or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188 (24 hours). You can choose phone calls, texts or emails.
- Bookmark the live list of current flood alerts and warnings for England.
Our guide to what flood alerts and warnings mean explains each level and what to do.
Power cuts in Cumbria
Cumbria's local electricity network is run by Electricity North West, whose area stretches from the Lake District to Manchester. To report a power cut, call 105 free. Cumbria Prepared also links to Power Cut 105.
Our Electricity North West power cut page explains how to report a cut, check live faults, join its Extra Care register and claim compensation.
Water supply
Cumbria Prepared points residents to United Utilities to check for water supply problems in their street. If you're not sure who supplies your home, check your bill or use the Water UK postcode checker, as CCW suggests.
If anyone in your home relies on medical equipment, has a disability or needs extra help, ask your water company and Electricity North West to add you to their Priority Services Register. Cumbria Prepared links to the PSR eligibility checker, and our Priority Services Register guide explains who qualifies.
A short Cumbria checklist
- Check your flood risk and sign up for Environment Agency flood warnings.
- Save 105 (power cuts) and Floodline 0345 988 1188 in your phone and on paper.
- Bookmark Cumbria Prepared and your council's emergency page.
- Find out who supplies your water and note their number.
- Join the Priority Services Register if you or someone you care for is eligible.
- Make sure your phone can receive emergency alerts.
- Pack a grab bag and agree a household meeting point.
- Ask whether your village has a community emergency plan or hub. Cumbria Prepared lists community emergency hubs.
Next steps
Write it all down in one place. Our free household plan builder takes about 10 minutes and fills in your power network operator from your postcode. Then try the readiness quiz to see what's left to do.
Limitations
This page is general information based on the official sources listed below, checked on 29 October 2026. Risk registers are updated over time, so check Cumbria Prepared for the latest version. It isn't a replacement for instructions from the emergency services. In any emergency where someone is in danger, call 999.
Turn this guide into a written plan
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Frequently asked questions
Who plans for emergencies in Cumbria?
The Cumbria Resilience Forum, which brings together the emergency services, Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council, the NHS, the Environment Agency and others. Its public website is Cumbria Prepared.
Where can I read the Cumbria Community Risk Register?
Westmorland and Furness Council hosts it as a PDF on its emergency planning page. The published version we checked was reviewed in May 2024, so check Cumbria Prepared or your council for any newer edition.
How do I get flood warnings in Cumbria?
Sign up free with the Environment Agency on GOV.UK, or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188. You can choose calls, texts or emails for your address.
Who do I call in a power cut in Cumbria?
Call 105, free. Electricity North West runs the local network across Cumbria and the rest of North West England.
Who supplies water in Cumbria?
Cumbria Prepared points to United Utilities for water supply problems. Your water bill shows your supplier, or use the Water UK postcode checker.
Sources
- Cumbria Resilience Forum: Cumbria Community Risk Register, reviewed May 2024 (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Cumbria Prepared: home (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Cumbria Prepared: Prepare (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Westmorland and Furness Council: How we plan for emergencies (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Cumberland Council: How we plan for emergencies (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Sign up for flood warnings (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Check for flooding, alerts and warnings (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Check your long term flood risk (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Electricity North West: About us (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- CCW: Which water company supplies my area? (checked 29 Oct 2026)