Environment Agency launches Flood Action Campaign
As winter sets in and the likelihood of flooding increases, the Environment Agency has launched a week-long awareness campaign to encourage young people, in particular, to prepare themselves and their friends and family for an incident.
As part of this year’s campaign, the EA has joined forces with the British Red Cross to highlight that; 18-34s least aware of dangers of flooding in their area, more than half of 18-34s would not know what to do in an emergency and that mental health impacts of flooding can last for two years or more.
The joint announcement has been picked up by the Press Association, ITV News, Yorkshire Post, Shropshire Star, Northern Echo and a number of local media outlets.
Caroline Douglass, Director of Incident Management & Resilience at the Environment Agency said:
The terrible impacts of flooding can last long after the flood waters have receded. But simple actions can lessen the damage to your home, protect your well-being and help you recover more quickly.
Our flood defences protect thousands of homes around the country but we can never entirely eliminate the risk of flooding, which is why it’s crucial to know how to protect yourself when it hits.
Simon Lewis, Head of Emergency Response at the British Red Cross, said:
We respond to an emergency every four hours in the UK, from major fires to devastating floods. Flooding can have a catastrophic impact on homes and communities, causing untold damage to the things and the people we treasure most. That’s why it’s vital we all know what to do, and how to help, to lessen the impact and help communities rebuild and recover faster.
Sadly we cannot always stop things like this from happening, but by becoming a community reserve volunteer, young people across the UK could help make a difference should the worst happen.
You can learn what to do in a flood on the Environment Agency website.