Tyrone Magunda - 19-Jan-2007 - From 25-27 January 2007,
as part of our annual Flood Awareness Campaign, the Environment
Agency will be running a stand at the Riverside Shopping
Centre, Evesham.
The purpose of the stand 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 Evesham were in 1998, taking people
by surprise as flooding prior to this had been some 13 years
before. Tragically, five people lost their lives in the
1998 floods, and thousands of families saw their homes and
treasured possessions destroyed. The floods left a mark
which, for many people, will never be fully erased.
There are now over 3,150 properties in the Evesham area
that are 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
2098, 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 Worcestershire 64% of people 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 cannot be prevented, but Floodline Warnings
Direct provides people with an early warning to help them
prepare.
Anthony Perry, Flood Risk Manager for Worcestershire 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 Avon in Worcestershire’
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.