New online flood forecasts
and clearer warnings are part of improvements
to Environment Agency Wales’ flood warning
service that took affect from Tuesday 30th
November.
Environment Agency Wales
now provides a daily, three day flood forecast
for Wales on its website of flood risk from
rivers, the sea and the potential for surface
water flooding from intense rainfall.
Warnings issued to homes
and businesses by phone and text message
now include more localised information about
potential flood risk from rivers and the
sea, with clearer advice on actions to take
to help safeguard lives and property. The
existing ‘flood watch’ – the lowest level
of warning – is replaced by ‘flood alert’,
and icons have been redesigned to make them
clearer and easier to understand. ‘Flood
warning’ means that flooding is expected,
urging people to take action to prepare.
A ‘severe flood warning’ will be issued
when flooding poses a danger to life.
In late December, Environment
Agency Wales will make live feeds of flood
warning information available under licence
for companies to create tailored services,
such as iPhone applications.
Earlier this year, the
Environment Agency in England and Wales
automatically signed up some 500,000 additional
homes and businesses to receive free localised
river and sea flood warnings, more than
doubling the total registered to almost
one million properties.
Householders and businesses
can also monitor rising water levels during
a potential flood at over 1,700 river and
coastal locations across England and Wales
online at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/riverlevels.
Over five million people
in England and Wales are at risk from flooding
from rivers and the sea. Those in flood
risk areas should sign up to the Environment
Agency’s free flood warning system – the
most immediate and localised source of information
on flooding – by calling 0845 988 1188 or
visiting www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood.
The changes made yesterday
follow recommendations made by the Pitt
Review into the floods of summer 2007.
Environment Agency Wales’
flood project manager Iwan Hughes, said:
“The recent devastating events in Cornwall
remind us of the dangers of flooding and
how being prepared is crucial.
“One in six homes in
England and Wales are at risk of flooding.
We urge everyone to check whether their
property is at risk by visiting our website
and taking steps to prepare, such as looking
at ways to make properties more flood-proof.
“Our new online flood
forecasts, along with clearer warnings,
will better prepare people ahead of potential
flooding, helping protect lives and property.”
More information on
the new flood warning codes can be found
online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fwd.
Environment Agency Wales’
flood project manager Iwan Hughes, said:
“The recent devastating events in Cornwall
remind us of the dangers of flooding and
how being prepared is crucial.
“One in six homes in
England and Wales are at risk of flooding.
We urge everyone to check whether their
property is at risk by visiting our website
and taking steps to prepare, such as looking
at ways to make properties more flood-proof.
“Our new online flood
forecasts, along with clearer warnings,
will better prepare people ahead of potential
flooding, helping protect lives and property.”
More information on
the new flood warning codes can be found
online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fwd.
+ More
Environment Agency to
launch new flood codes (Midlands)
During the summer floods
of 2007 the Midlands experienced some the
most devastating floods in recent history.
10,460 properties and businesses were flooded
throughout the region between June and July.
The flooding of Mythe water treatment works
in Tewkesbury created one of the UK’s worst
post-World War II emergencies, leading to
the loss of piped water supply to 350,000
customers in over 138,000 properties in
the Gloucester area for two weeks.
In response, Sir Michael
Pitt stated that a number of systems needed
to be improved to stimulate a more effective
response from both professional partners
and the public. This included changes to
the flood warning system and improving the
way in which the Environment Agency provides
its online forecasting.
Warnings issued to homes
and businesses by phone and text message
will now include more localised information
about potential flood risk from rivers and
the sea, with clearer advice on actions
to take to help safeguard lives and property.
The existing ‘flood watch’ – the lowest
level of warning – is replaced by ‘flood
alert’, and icons have been redesigned to
make them clearer and easier to understand.
‘Flood warning’ means that flooding of homes
and businesses is expected, urging people
to take action to prepare. A ‘severe flood
warning’ will be issued when flooding poses
significant risk to life.
The Environment Agency
will also now provide a daily, three-day
flood forecast for England and Wales on
its website of flood risk from rivers, the
sea and the potential for surface water
flooding from intense rainfall.
Earlier this year, the
Midlands Environment Agency automatically
signed up some 50,000 additional homes and
businesses to receive free localised river
and sea flood warnings, more than doubling
the total registered to over 100,000 properties.
Mark Sitton-Kent, Midlands
Regional Director, said: “The launch of
the new flood codes is just one aspect of
the wider improvements being made to the
Environment Agency’s flood warning service.
The new flood warning messages will include
more localised information, with clearer
advice on the action people need to take.
“We would urge every
resident and business in the Midlands to
check whether their property is at risk
of flooding by visiting the Environment
Agency’s website, or calling the Environment
Agency’s Floodline on 0845 988 1188, and
taking steps to prepare . ”
More information on
the new flood warning codes can be found
online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodmidlands.
