Some people think that flooding will never happen to them. However with one in six properties in England at risk, the fact is – it could.
The Environment Agency’s flood action campaign starts this week, its aim is to encourage people to prepare for flooding. The campaign promotes three simple steps that people can take to protect themselves, their family and homes from flooding.
Last winter was the wettest in England for nearly 250 years and around 6,000 properties flooded across the country.
This year alone, Leeds has experienced 828 incidents of flooding of the City’s infrastructure including 407 residential properties. Looking back over the past 10 years there have been an average of 400 flood incidents reported annually.
Work is due to start shortly on the £45million Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme first phase. This will see the installation of innovative moveable weirs at Crown Point and at Knostrop which will be the first of their kind to be used in the UK. The plans also include low level flood defences and landscaping in the city centre and the removal of the island at Knostrop Cut in Hunslet.
The Leeds “Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment” states that there are 26,821 people at risk of flooding in our local authority boundaries. Predicted future changes to our climate will continue to increase the risk of flooding for all.
The 3 simple steps you can take to help protect your property from flooding are:
– Check your risk of river or surface water flooding
– Sign up to receive FREE Flood Warnings for your area or call 0345 988 1188 for help
– Prepare a personal flood plan
All of this can be done by visiting www.gov.uk, click on Environment & Countryside and follow the links.
Don’t be caught out. Floods destroy. Be prepared!
These government services that we are sensationally coerced / advised to use in this article are all PAID services and not cheap or even affordable for many in South Leeds. Outrageous.
Hi Kath, thanks for your comment. We checked the services at https://www.gov.uk/browse/environment-countryside/flooding-extreme-weather and these services are free in most cases. Some businesses are charged for a flooding history of the site. You may be charged for your call if you choose to set up your flood warning by phone, but you can sign up for free online.