Tyrone Magunda - 12-Jan-2007 - From 18-20 January 2007, as part of our annual Flood Awareness Campaign, the Environment Agency will be running a stand at the Royal Priors Shopping Centre, Leamington Spa.

The purpose of the stand will be to provide members of the public with information about the Floodline Warnings Direct service, and encourage them to sign up to the service. They can then receive up to date flood information via mobile (SMS), fax, pager, telephone and e-mail, which marks a new era in flood warning technology. We will also have members of staff available to answer questions about local flood issues and offer advice on protecting homes and businesses.

The last major floods in Leamington Spa were Easter 1998, taking people by surprise as flooding prior to this had been some 13 years before. Tragically, five people lost their lives in the 1998 floods, and thousands of families saw their homes and treasured possessions destroyed. The floods left a mark which, for many people, will never be fully erased. There are now over 4,300 properties in Warwickshire at risk of a 1 in 100 year flood (1% chance of occurring in any given year), and it is vital to help the public realise that the next flood might not wait until 2098, it could happen anytime.

Since 2000, the Environment Agency has invested £1,100 million into building flood defences and flood risk management. On average, about 70% of all properties in England and Wales, where we offer a flood warning service, have not signed up to receive warnings, putting people and property at unnecessary risk. In Warwickshire, this figure is even higher as 80% of the properties have not signed up.

This event provides the perfect opportunity for members of the public to ask our flood specialists all sorts of questions on flooding and our new Floodline Warnings Direct service. Flooding cannot be prevented, but Floodline Warnings Direct provides people with an early warning to help them prepare.

Anthony Perry, Flood Risk Manager for Warwickshire, said: "We can reduce the effects of floods but cannot prevent them. However, there are simple ways to find out if you are at risk, and also easy steps you can take to prepare for flooding and to reduce the financial and emotional costs. Our campaign is not about causing unnecessary alarm. It’s about urging everyone to find out if they are at risk from flooding before it is too late."

Notes to editors:

The Environment Agency provides a 24-hour flood warning service for England and Wales. Floodline Warnings Direct is a free service that gives advance warning of flooding by telephone, mobile (SMS), fax, pager or e-mail. To register for the service call Floodline on 0845 988 1188, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All that is needed to register are relevant contact details where flood warnings can be sent 24 hours a day.

Floodline Warnings Direct is our primary method for issuing flood warnings. However, in some areas we also provide flood warning information by other channels – sirens, loudhailers, TV and radio broadcasts.

People can also find out what flood warnings are in force in their area any time of the day or night by:

contacting Floodline 0845 988 1188 and listening to our recorded flood warning messages or speaking to our staff
viewing the flood warnings (updated every 15 minutes) on our website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline
viewing Teletext (page 154) or Ceefax (page 419)
Since January 2006, our flood warnings have been simpler and more focused:

A ‘Flood Watch’ will now provide a warning of expected (rather than possible) flooding to low lying land and roads. This will relate to easily understood geographical areas, such as ‘Rivers in East Warwickshire’.
A ‘Flood Warning’ will mean that flooding of homes and business is expected.

A ‘Severe Flood Warning’ will be issued when there is extreme danger to life and property.