02/03/2006 - The Environment
Agency is reminding people and businesses
in Warrington to be aware of flood risk,
through a display in the town’s Golden Square
on Saturday 4 March. The display will remind
people that the Environment Agency has now
extended its Floodline Warnings Direct service
to Gemini, Sankey Bridges and Dallam. Properties
within these newly-designated flood warning
areas can now sign up for the free service,
which sends flood warning voice messages
to your home, office or mobile phone number.
In the past, the Environment Agency has
not been able to offer targeted flood warnings
to these properties. However, by developing
new forecasting methods and installing gauges
that monitor river levels, it can now predict
the likelihood of flooding to the area from
Sankey Brook much more accurately.
Environment Agency Flood Incident Management
Officer Claire James said: "We hope
that shoppers in Golden Square on Saturday
will come and look at the display and find
out how we can help them to prepare for
flooding and what steps they can take to
help themselves. Environment Agency staff
will be on hand to answer questions and
give advice.
"We’ll also be encouraging people
who live in Warrington’s designated flood
warning areas to sign up for Floodline Warnings
Direct. The service is free, and getting
a direct warning if flooding looks likely
can give you valuable time to prepare –
time to do things like moving valuables
upstairs out of harm’s way, making sure
your pets are safe, switching off your electricity
and gathering some essential supplies in
case the situation worsens.
"All these things can reduce the risk
of harm to your family and property, should
the worst happen."
Notes
Flood warning information and advice is
available 24 hours a day from the Environment
Agency’s Floodline, 0845 988 1188, or at
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodwarning.
Details are updated every 15 minutes.
Warnings will also be broadcast on local
radio and television. The Environment Agency’s
website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodwarning,
and Floodline on 0845 988 1188, also give
details of flood warnings in force.
For facts and figures on flooding the North
West, and more information on the Environment
Agency’s role in flood warning and flood
risk management, please visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/nwenvironment
and click on ‘Flooding’.
