The Environment Agency has urged the people to take action during Flood Action Week, as the Met Office has predicted an above average likelihood of a wet winter this year.
Widespread coverage has appeared in print, online and broadcast with the Daily Telegraph, the I, the Independent, the Sun, the Daily Mail, the Daily Express , the Daily Star , Sky News online, LBC, ITV News online and regional outlets including Western Daily Press, Norwich Evening News and Yorkshire Live, highlighting to the public that over 5.2 million properties are at risk of flooding in England.
Recent analysis by the Environment Agency shows that over 60 per cent of households living in flood risk locations do not believe they are vulnerable to flooding.
Today’s coverage includes information on how to check your flood risk online, sign up for flood warnings and, if they are at risk, know what to do if flooding hits.
Caroline Douglass, Executive Director of Flooding at the Environment Agency, said:
Now is the time for us all to be vigilant, not complacent, about flooding.
Our previous investment programme protected 314,000 properties from flooding. Our flood defences have helped to protect nearly 200,000 properties during flooding incidents since 2019, and we’re investing millions into building new schemes and making repairs to keep communities safe.
The warnings come as the Environment Agency continues to prepare for possible flooding, with the Met Office’s outlook showing there is an above average chance of the UK winter being wetter than normal over the next three months.
Will Lang, Head of Civil Contingencies at the Met Office said:
Winters in the UK usually includes a wide variety of weather and this winter looks to be no exception. However, when looking at the big global drivers that impact weather in the UK there are indications this winter could be wetter than normal.
1 comment
Comment by John W. Baxter posted on
Would someone please inform developers that building our new low energy efficient mud hut type houses in the current flood plains of our rivers is nota very good idea for enlightened society. Along with the increase in wet winters to come, can we have increased treatment capacity at waste water treatment works to prevent untreated, highly diluted sewage being bypassed to the watercourses that are in flood.
The cycle of solution to pollution is dilution must be broken.......this upcoming wet winter should mark the start of improvements to the overall health of our watercourses.