DORSET is facing a huge clean-up and repair operation after one of the wettest starts to a year on record left roads crumbling, homes flooded and communities cut off.

Now the council is launching a £9.25 million recovery and resilience programme aimed at repairing the damage caused by last winter’s flooding – and preparing the county for even more extreme weather in the future.

The package includes £250,000 for extra drain and gully clearing, alongside major repair schemes in flood-hit areas including Cerne Abbas and Godmanstone.

Councillors will next week discuss plans to begin a series of detailed flood investigations across Dorset following months of disruption caused by relentless rain and Storm Chandra.

January 2026 was officially the second wettest January ever recorded in the Wessex region.

Dorset Council says pothole reports soared by 92% because of water damage, while reports of other road defects rose by 54%. Emergency road closure callouts also jumped by 83%.

Some residents saw floodwater enter their homes, while roads and villages across the county were repeatedly hit by flooding.

The council says the investigations will help uncover exactly what went wrong and what can be done to better protect communities in future.

Cabinet member for place services Cllr Jon Andrews, said: “These flood investigations will be about listening to communities, understanding exactly what went well and what can be improved, and using that evidence to make us more resilient for future flooding events.

“They will also help ensure that investment in flood recovery and resilience is targeted, fair, and shaped by local experience.

“By combining local knowledge with technical expertise, we will help communities to be heard, supported and better prepared for the challenges of a changing climate.”

If approved, the reviews will examine drainage systems, rivers and flood hotspots, with findings published publicly in the coming months.