Flood Action Week: Communities urged to prepare

The Environment Agency is urging communities to prepare to flooding over the winter, by launching an awareness campaign.

Flood Action Week from 7 to 13 November is designed to encourage people who live in at-risk areas to act now to protect their home and possessions.

The Met Office has warned that unexpected flooding could happen at any time, as the likelihood of wet and windy conditions increases throughout the season.

The Environment Agency has set out three steps for people to take: check your flood risk online, sign up for flood warnings and know what to do if flooding hits.

Caroline Douglass, Executive Director of Flooding at the Environment Agency, said: "Climate change is happening now. We’re seeing more extreme weather - in this year alone with three named storms in a week, record-breaking temperatures and drought declared across large parts of the country.

“That is why it is vital that people take the necessary preparations as early as possible to prepare for the worst. Our recent investment programme has better protected 314,000 homes from flooding and we’re investing millions into keeping communities safe, but we can’t stop all flooding.

"The message is clear - households risk ignoring the danger of flooding at their own peril. Anyone can go online to check if they are at risk, sign up for Environment Agency warnings, and, most importantly, know what you need to do if flooding hits."