Our Risk Status — What It Means
Wraysbury & Horton Resilience monitors risks which may affect our community, including severe weather, flooding and other significant incidents.
Our Risk Status and Risk Updates are designed to answer two simple questions:
How concerned should I be?
and
What should I do?
The current Risk Status is displayed on our home page and below.
- Heat health alert updated for the South East
The amber heat health alert is in effect from9AM on 03/08/2026 until 9AM on 05/08/2026 across the South East. The amber alert has a matrix score of 12. This means:
Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:- a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups
- likely increased demand on all health and social care services
- internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
- the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
- indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
- issues managing medicines
- staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport)
- increased demand for power exceeding capacity
- other sector starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays)
- water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning
For more information on coping with extreme summer heat, click Here
We Use Two Types of Alert
Different official organisations use different warning systems.
To keep our information clear, we use the appropriate system for the particular risk.
WEATHER & OTHER COMMUNITY RISKS
🟢 GREEN
🟡 YELLOW
🟠 AMBER
🔴 RED
For heat and cold, these follow the principles of the UKHSA Weather-Health Alert system.
For other community risks, WHR may use the same colours to communicate our assessment of the likely local impact and the action residents should consider.
FLOODING
For flooding, we use the official Environment Agency warning symbols and terminology:
 | Flood Alert |
 | Flood Warning |
 | Severe Flood Warning |
We do not convert these into WHR Yellow, Amber or Red levels.
This means that when you receive an Environment Agency warning or see one in a WHR Risk Update, the symbol and wording have exactly the same meaning.
WHR Risk Levels Explained
🟢 GREEN — NORMAL / PREPARE
No significant community-wide risk currently identified
Green does not mean that nothing can happen.
It means that there is currently no significant known or expected event requiring additional action across our community.
This is the time to:
- carry on normally
- remain aware of everyday risks
- prepare for future emergencies
- check household emergency supplies
- make or review your flood plan
- consider how you would cope with a power cut or severe weather
- make sure regular medicines and essential supplies are available
- check that vulnerable relatives and neighbours are prepared.
Green is our preparedness phase.
The best time to prepare for an emergency is when there isn’t one.
🟡 YELLOW — BE AWARE
A developing situation may affect some members of our community
Yellow means that conditions require increased awareness and some residents may need to take action.
This is particularly important for people who may be more vulnerable because of:
- age or frailty
- health conditions
- reduced mobility
- disability
- living alone
- other individual circumstances.
At Yellow:
- read the latest Risk Update
- check the relevant guidance
- start sensible precautions
- check vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours
- make sure medicines and essential supplies are available
- keep watching for further updates.
Yellow does not mean “nothing to worry about”.
It means be aware and start preparing, particularly if you or somebody you know may be more vulnerable to the particular risk.
🟠 AMBER — TAKE ACTION
Significant impacts are possible or likely
At Amber, the potential impact is no longer limited principally to people who are particularly vulnerable.
Everyone should consider what action they need to take.
Depending upon the incident, this might include:
- changing travel or outdoor plans
- preparing your home
- checking essential supplies
- charging phones and power banks
- making sure medicines are available
- checking vulnerable neighbours and relatives
- following specific advice in the latest WHR Risk Update
- preparing for possible disruption to transport, power or other services.
WHR will increase its monitoring and may issue further Risk Updates as conditions change.
Amber means TAKE ACTION.
Do not wait for conditions to become an emergency before making sensible preparations.
🔴 RED — EMERGENCY / PROTECT LIFE
A serious incident or exceptional conditions may present a significant risk to life
Red is our highest risk level.
The risk may extend across the wider community, including people who would not normally consider themselves vulnerable.
At Red:
- follow the latest official and WHR advice
- avoid unnecessary exposure to the hazard
- be prepared for significant disruption
- check vulnerable people if it is safe to do so
- follow instructions from the emergency services
- prioritise people over property.
WHR volunteers may be actively responding to the incident.
Our ability to provide individual assistance will therefore be limited and priority will be given to residents already registered with us as vulnerable and requiring assistance.
RED means protect yourself and others.
If somebody is in immediate danger, call 999.
Flood Alerts and Warnings
Flooding is different.
Rather than replacing the well-established Environment Agency warning system with WHR colours, we use the official Environment Agency symbols and terminology.
FLOOD ALERT
Flooding is possible — PREPARE
- Check the latest information.
- Read the latest WHR Risk Update.
- Find your household flood plan and flood kit.
- Check flood-protection equipment.
- Consider moving vulnerable possessions.
- Think about moving your vehicle early.
- Check neighbours who may need help.
Start preparing now.
FLOOD WARNING
Flooding is expected — ACT NOW
Put your household flood plan into action.
- Protect people and pets.
- Move vehicles and important possessions.
- Deploy appropriate flood protection.
- Prepare for the possibility of leaving your home.
- Follow Environment Agency and WHR information.
Do not wait for water to reach your property before acting.
SEVERE FLOOD WARNING
Danger to life — PROTECT PEOPLE
- Stay somewhere safe.
- Be ready to evacuate.
- Follow instructions from the emergency services.
- Do not put yourself at risk protecting property or vehicles.
If anybody is in immediate danger, call 999.
What About WHR Risk Updates During Flooding?
WHR may issue Risk Updates before an Environment Agency Flood Alert or Warning is issued.
This is because our local Flood Team monitor a range of information including weather forecasts, river levels, Environment Agency information and other local conditions.
An early WHR update might therefore say that flood risk is increasing and residents should prepare, even though there is not yet an official Environment Agency warning for Wraysbury or Horton.
Equally, an Environment Agency warning always remains an official warning and should be followed.
WHR Risk Updates add local context and practical advice; they do not replace official warnings.
What Should I Do When I See a Risk Update?
1. LOOK AT THE STATUS
Is it:
🟢 Green
🟡 Yellow
🟠 Amber
🔴 Red
or an Environment Agency:
Flood Alert / Flood Warning / Severe Flood Warning?
2. CHECK WHAT THE RISK IS
Heat, cold, flooding, storm, power disruption and other incidents require different actions.
3. READ THE ACTIONS
Every WHR Risk Update should explain:
What is happening
Who may be affected
When
What you should do
4. FOLLOW THE RELEVANT GUIDANCE
Our website contains more detailed information about preparing for and dealing with the principal risks affecting our community.
Wraysbury & Horton Resilience Flooding Information
Wraysbury & Horton Resilience Extreme Heat Information
Wraysbury & Horton Resilience Extreme Cold Information
Why Do We Issue Risk Updates?
Our aim is not simply to warn residents that something may happen.
Our aim is to help our community prepare before it happens.
Early preparation can:
- protect health
- reduce property damage
- help vulnerable residents
- reduce pressure on emergency services
- make disruption easier to manage
- help the community recover more quickly.
During Green periods we encourage residents to prepare.
When risk increases we help residents understand when to act.
During an incident we provide local information and support where we can.
Afterwards we help residents recover and become better prepared for next time.
Supporting Vulnerable Residents
WHR maintains a Vulnerable Residents Register for people who may require additional assistance during significant local incidents.
When our status reaches Amber or Red, or during a significant flood incident, our volunteers may be very busy.
Our priority for direct assistance must be residents already registered with us as vulnerable and who are affected by the incident.
Other residents should use our Risk Updates, guidance pages and the official organisations linked from our website wherever possible.
If you believe that you or somebody you care for should be included on our Vulnerable Residents Register, please contact us before an emergency develops.
Remember
🟢 GREEN
PREPARE
🟡 YELLOW
BE AWARE
🟠 AMBER
TAKE ACTION
🔴 RED
PROTECT LIFE
For flooding, follow the official Environment Agency:
FLOOD ALERT → PREPARE
FLOOD WARNING → ACT NOW
SEVERE FLOOD WARNING → DANGER TO LIFE
Being prepared makes the whole community more resilient.