Michelle
Dolphin - 8-Jul-2008 - One year on from
unprecedented rainfall which led to widespread
flooding in Warwickshire, the Environment
Agency has been working tirelessly to minimise
the risks of flooding to people and their
homes.
Across England and Wales
34 new flood defences have been built, increasing
protection to 30,000 homes. A further £1billion
will be invested over the next three years
on schemes to improve protection to at least
another 145,000 households.
Officers in the Midlands
have been working non-stop over the last
12 months inspecting, rebuilding and maintaining
the 1,200km of defences in just over 4,680km
of river. They have also been working with
local communities, gathering information,
advising people how to prepare for flooding,
and planning new defences to help protect
more households and businesses.
A pump has temporarily
been located in Alcester to deal with any
surface water flooding while permanent solutions
are being found. In Stratford the trash
screen on the Birmingham Road culvert will
be replaced, which will help the flow of
the river and reduce the risk of flooding.
We are also conducting studies throughout
the region to find ways of reducing the
risk of flooding, and maintenance of river
channels to improve the flow of water.
Throughout the region
1,833 people attended the 32 flood surgeries
held in the weeks after the floods. People
shared their experiences and were encouraged
to sign up to receive the Environment Agency
flood warning service.
Despite this, people
in the Warwickshire are still not doing
enough to protect themselves from flooding.
Over 70% of people whose homes are located
in river floodplains, and are therefore
at real risk of suffering the devastating
effects of having floodwater in their houses,
have still not joined the Environment Agency’s
warning systems. Warnings will not prevent
the floods, but they can, and do, give people
time to ensure their families, valuable
or treasured items are protected.
Flood Risk Manager,
John Buckingham said “We are committed to
protecting communities from the distress
and damage caused by flooding. Over the
past year, we have worked very hard to reduce
flood risk for the people who flooded last
summer and we will continue to do everything
in our power to defend them.
“However, there is a
lot that individuals can do to reduce the
personal trauma that occurs when their homes
are inundated with water. Our flood warnings
can give them a few valuable hours in which
they can take action. They can have our
warnings sent to almost any media, such
as a call to their mobile while at work,
to warn them that they may want to return
home to prepare. There is advice on our
website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk
about what you can do to reduce the risk.
This advice is also available by calling
Floodline on 0845 988 1188.”
+ More
Environment Agency ensures
the show goes on!
Paul Gainey - 10-Jul-2008
- It was a case of ‘the show must go on’
in Cornwall as Environment Agency officers
helped a circus protect performers and the
audience from the risk of flooding.
The Environment Agency went to the Paulo’s
Americano Circus, on a field at Launceston
Rugby Club in the River Tamar floodplain
at Polson Bridge yesterday afternoon after
a flood warning was issued on the river.
The Operations Delivery
staff became concerned that the caravans
used as accommodation by the performers
could be flooded if the heavy rain continued
and the nearby river over topped.
A flood warning was
issued for the Upper Tamar and a flood watch
for the middle Tamar.
Working with the circus
staff, the Environment Agency worked tirelessly
to move all of the caravans to higher ground.
It was decided there
was a real risk of the circus being flooded
and alternative parking and entrances for
the audience needed to be found.
In addition, Agency
staff were used to monitor river levels,
provide forecast information to the site
owners and advise the circus management
on how to reduce the risks associated with
managing the two evening performances.
‘It was an excellent
team effort. The operations delivery team
assisted with moving all the accommodation
to safer ground and we remained on site
to offer advice on alternative parking and
access information. Staff were also nearby
monitoring river levels and remained in
the vicinity until the flood risk had subsided,’
said Steve Marks for the Environment Agency.
The Big Top was not
moved and both evening performances went
ahead as scheduled.
‘All of this work averted
a major flooding incident as the public
performances were completed with everyone
safely leaving the site. The River Tamar
came out of bank overnight and flooded the
area where the caravans had been located
up to a metre.’
‘We knew this area could
flood extensively, and needed to ensure
we could respond by warning and informing
as quickly as possible,’ added Steve Marks.
