ENVIRONMENT AGENCY IMPROVES FLOOD WARNING SERVICE

From today (30 November 2010) North West residents can benefits from new online flood forecasts and clearer warnings are part of improvements to the Environment Agency’s flood warning service.

From today (30 November 2010) North West residents can benefits from new online flood forecasts and clearer warnings are part of improvements to the Environment Agency’s flood warning service.

The Environment Agency will 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.

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 new flood warning symbols and what they mean are:

Flood alert, meaning Flooding is possible. Be prepared. Residents and businesses are advised to be prepared to act on your flood plan. Prepare a flood kit of essential items. Monitor local water levels and the flood forecast on our website.

Flood warning, meaning flooding is expected. Immediate action required. Residents and businesses are advised to move family, pets and valuables to a safe place. Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies if safe to do so. Put flood protection equipment in place.

Severe flood warning, meaning severe flooding. Danger to life. It will be used when flooding poses a significant threat to life. Residents and businesses are advised to stay in a safe place with a means of escape. Be ready should you need to evacuate from your home. Co-operate with the emergency services. Call 999 if you are in immediate danger.

Warnings no longer in force (no symbol), meaning no further flooding is currently expected in your area. It will be used when river(s) or sea conditions begin to return to normal. Residents and businesses are advised to be careful. Flood water may still be around for several days. If you've been flooded, ring your insurance company as soon as possible.

Householders and businesses can also monitor rising water levels all year round at over 160 river and coastal locations across the North West at 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 are encouraged to 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/floodnorthwest

The changes made today follow recommendations made by the Pitt Review into the floods of summer 2007.

Pete Fox, North West Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, said: “Just over 400,000 people in the North West live and work in properties that are at risk of flooding. We urge everyone to check whether their property is at risk by visiting the Environment Agency’s 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

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact the press office on 01925 542621
Out of hours please call 07776 497255 and ask for the duty press officer
www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Notes to Editors

In March 2011, Defra, the Welsh Assembly Government, Cabinet Office and Environment Agency will conduct a national emergency flooding exercise – Exercise Watermark – to test the country’s arrangements to respond to severe, wide-area flooding from the sea, rivers, surface water and reservoirs. Local communities and businesses are being encouraged to take part by signing up at www.exercisewatermark.co.uk

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Business’ environmental record prompts new focus on poor performers and illegal activity

Environment Agency publish Greener Business Report

A comprehensive review of industry’s environmental performance in England and Wales has been published by the Environment Agency. It shows that most of industry is improving, even during difficult economic times, and that the impact of pollution going down. It also shows that some sectors need to do better.

The majority of operators are doing well. More than half (54 per cent) of the sites regulated by the Environment Agency were in the top two ‘A’ or ‘B’ ratings, up from 51 per cent last year. Industrial sites are inspected by the Environment Agency and rated on a scale from A to E for their environmental performance and management.

The legal waste sector has the most serious (category one and two) pollution incidents of the sectors regulated by the EA. It causes around half of all serious incidents in this category.

And the water industry also has an underlying performance issue: pollution incidents from this sector have remained static at around 2,200 per year, although more serious pollution incidents by the water industry have reduced dramatically.

The new research highlights illegal waste activity as a serious risk to the environment: dangerous or hazardous chemicals are often not disposed of properly by illegal operators and this can blight local communities. The Environment Agency has identified over 800 illegal waste sites, over 350 of which are operating within 50 metres of schools, homes or sensitive environmental sites.

In fact, the analysis indicates that for every ten legal waste sites, there is another operating illegally. The Environment Agency today pledged to continue to crackdown on these dangerous sites and urged all waste producers to take responsibility for ensuring they deal only with legitimate waste and skip companies.

The number of serious industrial pollution incidents has fallen by over 30 per cent in the last five years – down from 600 incidents per year to just under 400. And that emissions associated with global warming fell sharply last year in the energy sector.
But the analysis also highlights key areas for improvement among big industrial sites, with the waste and water sectors continuing to cause the most pollution incidents.

The energy sector is still the biggest source of emissions from regulated sites, with 75 per cent of greenhouse gases, 82 per cent of nitrogen oxides and 75 per cent of sulphur oxides. Though each of these has reduced substantially over the last decade and the energy sector is well-managed.

The Greener Business report provides vital evidence for the Environment Agency and business to guide their priorities over the next five years.

The Environment Agency will be focusing its regulatory efforts on improving those poorest performing sectors and organisations with advice, guidance and more regular inspection. Those organisations that perform will have fewer inspections – reducing the administrative burden and associated costs.

Dr Paul Leinster, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency said:

‘Our analysis shows that most companies have a good environmental record, despite the difficult economic conditions. And serious pollution incidents have reduced dramatically in the last five years. Green business is good business because it can help reduce costs and enhances reputation with customers.

‘But we will continue to target the poor performing companies and illegal activity that cause damage to the environment and pose a risk to communities. There are still too many pollution incidents in the water and waste industries and we will be working with companies to clean up their act.

“And we’ll continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to illegal waste sites. We have stopped 2,000 in the last two years, but continue to work with the police and other agencies to gather intelligence and target these dangerous operations. Though waste companies, councils and householders also have a role to play by making sure their waste goes only to licensed sites”.