Environment Agency: no time for complacency about flooding

• Environment Agency urges action as Met Office warns of above average likelihood of a wet winter 

Nearly two in three households at risk of flooding don’t believe it will happen to them, new analysis revealed by the Environment Agency today (Tuesday 23 November) has warned. It comes as the Met Office has said there is an above average likelihood of a wet winter. 

Members of the public are being urged to join their friends, family and neighbours who have already taken action to help prepare themselves and their properties for possible flooding. The research shows that people who haven’t taken action to prepare for flooding are in the clear minority (30%), but this still means that as many as 1.5 million households, who are at risk, are yet to prepare. 

The new analysis has been released at the start of Flood Action Week (22–28 November 2021), when the Environment Agency is urging people to check their flood risk online, sign up for flood warnings and, if they are at risk, know what to do if flooding hits. Those at risk are encouraged to follow the advice to ‘Prepare. Act. Survive’, specifically:

• If there is a flood alert – prepare by packing medicines and insurance and other important documents and visit the flood warning information service.
• If there is a flood warning – act by moving family, pets and belongings to safety. Turn off gas, water and electricity.
• If there is a severe flood warning – survive immediate danger by following the advice of emergency services or calling 999 if needed

The warnings come as the Environment Agency continues to prepare for possible flooding, with the Met Office’s outlook showing there is an above average chance of the UK winter being wetter than normal over the next three months.  

Caroline Douglass, Executive Director of Flooding at the Environment Agency, said: 

“Now is the time for us all to be vigilant, not complacent, about flooding.  

“Our previous investment programme protected 314,000 properties from flooding. Our flood defences have helped to protect nearly 200,000 properties during flooding incidents since 2019, and we’re investing millions into building new schemes and making repairs to keep communities safe.   

“Yet we can’t prevent all flooding - climate change is only increasing that risk – and today’s figures show that while some people are prepared, many are not. 

“It’s vitally important for the public to go online and check if they are at risk, sign up for Environment Agency warnings, and know what to do if flooding hits.” 

With 250 mobile pumps and 6,000 trained staff across the country, the Environment Agency is ready to take action wherever it is needed this winter. The construction and repair of flood defences has also continued throughout the year as part of the record £5.2 billion government investment to better protect 336,000 properties. 

These preparations have already helped to protect communities from flooding in late October, when parts of the country saw a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours. While this sadly led to the flooding of 79 households, flood defences and Environment Agency action helped to protect over 3300 properties.

Will Lang, Head of Civil Contingencies at the Met Office said:

“Winters in the UK usually includes a wide variety of weather and this winter looks to be no exception. However, when looking at the big global drivers that impact weather in the UK there are indications this winter could be wetter than normal.  

“Although these wetter conditions are most likely in January and February next year, details will become clearer nearer the time and information can be found on the forecast pages of our website.” 

With just 30cm of flowing water being enough to float a car, drivers are also being warned not to attempt to drive through flood water and take extra precautions in wet weather. 

Tony Rich, from The AA said:  

“Roads can quickly become impassable during very heavy rainfall, so you should allow plenty of time for journeys. It’s also important to leave twice as much space between you and the car in front to allow for greater stopping distances. 

“Drivers should take extra care where roads dip, for example under bridges, as these areas are more likely to flood.

“Flood water can be deceptively deep, and it doesn’t take much for water to get sucked into your engine. It can also mask other hazards in the road, such as displaced manhole covers, so if in doubt turn around and find another route.”

Notes to editors  

The figures released today come from the Environment Agency’s Public Flood Survey, a survey of 749 households in areas at risk of flooding completed in February 2021. A summary of these responses is below:

Do you believe your property is at risk of flooding? Do you believe it is…?

• Definitely at risk = 4%
• Possibly at risk = 34%
• Not at all at risk = 61%
• Don’t know = 1%

Here are a number of things people could do to prepare in case their home might be flooded. For each one please indicate whether this is something you have already done.

• Found out whether my home is at risk of flooding = 47%
• Looked up flood information from the Environment Agency online = 43%
• Checked the government’s flood warning information service = 36%
• Signed up for flood warnings from the Environment Agency = 32%
• Thought through or prepared a plan for my home of what I should do in a flood = 31%
• Taken the time to understand how we should respond as a community to flooding in my neighbourhood = 24%
• Investigated flood protection products such as flood boards, air brick covers or sandbags = 22%
• Net figure for actions taken: Already done any = 70%
• None of the above = 30% 

The Environment Agency estimates that 5.2 million properties in England are at risk of flooding. 

Figures on properties protected during a flood based on Environment Agency figures:

• 2019/2020 - 130,000
• 2020/2021 - 58,000
• 2021/2022 – 3,300