Tyrone Magunda - 4-Jan-2007 - From 11-13 January 2007,
as part of our annual Flood Awareness Campaign, the Environment
Agency will be running a stand at the Mall Eastgate Shopping
Centre, Gloucester.
The purpose of this event 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 Gloucester were in 2000, when
some gauges recorded their highest level since 1947. The
floods took people by surprise as previous flooding had
not been for some 10 years, and the potential impact had
been forgotten. In Gloucester, 30-40 properties were affected
and the floods left a mark which, for many people, will
never be fully erased.
There are now over 11,000 properties in Gloucestershire
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 2100, 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 Gloucestershire up to 66.5% 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 can’t be prevented, but Floodline Warnings
Direct provides people with an early warning to help them
prepare.
Anthony Perry, Flood Risk Manager for Gloucestershire 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 the ‘River Severn in Gloucestershire’.
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.
