England facing heightened flood risk this winter, people urged to prepare for flooding as wet and windy weather to continue

England facing heightened flood risk this winter, people urged to prepare for flooding as wet and windy weather is set to continue

The Environment Agency is warning of an increased likelihood of flooding this winter.

Wet weather, strong winds coinciding with high tides and wind-blown leaves and debris blocking rivers, are increasing flood risk, especially in the west of England. Families, communities and businesses are urged to check their flood risk and be prepared for possible flooding and its impacts.

Based on Met Office analysis, the Environment Agency is advising that:

• There is an elevated risk of flooding from rivers, the sea and from surface water
• Persistent rainfall in the second half of October made the ground very wet – making rainfall more likely to lead to flooding
• Strong winds could increase the risk of flooding, as leaves and branches block drains, culverts and rivers
• A strong westerly jet stream is expected to dominate through much of November bringing bands of rain from the west and southwest, driven by strong winds. Heaviest rainfall is expected in the west of the country, especially on areas of high ground
• During November and early winter Atlantic depressions are typically more intense, more frequent and carry large amounts of moisture. Late autumn and early winter are typically the stormier and wetter times of the year.

With one in six properties in England at risk of flooding, the Environment Agency offers a free flood warning service which can give people and businesses vital time to prepare – protecting belongings and reducing the costs of repairs. The flood warning service, which sends an automated telephone message, text message, email or alert to Facebook profiles, has over 1.2 million subscribers across England.

David Rooke, Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency, said: “The most important thing that we can all do to protect ourselves from the devastation that flooding can cause is to be prepared – by checking our flood risk on the Environment Agency’s website, signing up to free flood warnings and making a personal flood plan.

“Every £1 spent on protecting communities from flooding saves £8 in repairing damage. Over the last three years we have protected an additional 182,000 homes and businesses with new flood defence schemes.”

Last year over 7,000 properties were flooded but 200,000 properties were protected from river and coastal flooding by Environment Agency flood defences.

You can check your flood risk and sign up to free flood warnings by visiting the Environment Agency website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood or by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188.