Lucy
Harding - 1-Nov-2006 - Environment Agency spreads
the word on flooding at Dartford Mela
The Environment Agency is joining
the celebrations at this year’s Dartford Mela
to highlight the risks of flooding to the diverse
communities living in North Kent.
A new multi-lingual flood awareness
DVD and booklet, produced by the Environment Agency
in 7 different languages as part of the Florispre
project, will also be on show at the festival
and available to those living in flood risk areas.
The Dartford Mela 2006 is a celebration of Dartford’s
diversity through music, food and dance. It is
being held at the Mick Jagger Centre, Shepherds
Lane, Dartford, between 1pm and 5pm on 4 November
2006.
In Kent, around 69,690 homes
and businesses are at risk from flooding either
from the sea, rivers or groundwater. By taking
a few simple measures, those people living in
these areas can help minimise the damage that
flooding causes. Environment Agency staff will
be on hand to give visitors to the Dartford Mela
useful advice and guidance on what preparations
they can make.
Melanie Andrews, Flood Forecasting
Technical Specialist for the Environment Agency,
said: “Flooding doesn’t discriminate so it’s important
that we reach all communities living in Dartford
and surrounding areas to warn them about the risks
– the Mela is a great opportunity to do that.
Our multi-lingual DVD and booklet are great tools
to help us communicate these messages widely.
“We can reduce the effects of
flooding through building defences but we can't
prevent them from happening altogether. It’s important
that anyone living in a flood risk area prepares
themselves - by taking a few simple measures you
can help minimise the damage that flooding causes.”
Find out the likelihood of coastal
or river flooding in your area by calling Floodline
on 0845 988 1188 or going to www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline.
You can also get tips on how to prepare for floods
in advance and find out if early warnings of flooding
are available in your area.
The Environment Agency Flood
Awareness booklet and DVD are available in Bengali,
traditional Chinese, English, Hindi, Polish, Punjabi
and Urdu.
Notes to editors:
The Environment Agency’s
attendance at the event, the booklet and DVD have
been developed as part of the Florispre project
which is part-funded by the GROW (www.grow3c.com)
initiative in partnership with Spain and Italy.
