Establishing emergency plans, removing blockages, maintaining watercourses and installing flood management strategies are among the recommendations to prevent future flooding in a mid Suffolk village.
Debenham was one of the worst affected communities in Suffolk during Storm Babet last October.
Parts of the community were left cut off, with pupils forced to remain at school overnight and more than 70 properties left flooded.
Suffolk County Council commissioned a report into the flooding to establish what actions should be taken by local authorities to stop similar events from occurring in the future.
Among the short-term strategies identified include implementing community flood plans, removing blockages within watercourses and drainage infrastructure and improving flood warning systems.
Long-term strategies include potential improvements to drainage infrastructure and creating new natural flood management features.
The 43-page report divides the village into nine areas and investigates possible solutions to prevent further impact.
It establishes that in Bellwell Lane homes may have flooded due to drainage assets being overcapacity and a culvert under the road being blocked.
Recommendations for the area include investigating a possible blockage and regular maintenance.
Investigating issues in Hitcham Road, The Butts, Great Back Lane and Derry Brook Lane, it reads: "Reports in the area suggest both run off from surrounding fields and nearby new housing developments added to the river overtopping its banks and contributed to flooding in the area.
"Concerns were raised that new housing developments caused a higher intensity and speed of water run off due to significant amounts of non-permeable surface being added to the area.
"Recent housing developments in the area have been subject to planning conditions surrounding surface water management and following consultation with the Local Planning Authority, possible issues have been raised with these sites with regards to surface water management. Investigations are ongoing."
Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding, said: “The impact of Storm Babet is still being felt across the county with some people still not back in their homes.
"Communities such as Debenham have suffered as a result of this storm and these in-depth investigations will help us work with them and other communities to lower flood risk and build resilience ahead of future flood events."
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