Roll out of flood warning service across West Midlands complete
New flood warnings help alert almost 13,000 more property owners to risk. Part of nationwide project to reach more at-risk homes and businesses
The Environment Agency's flood information pages and Floodline have vital information that could help communities prepare for flooding, or react if the worst happens.
The Environment Agency has launched new flood warning services across the West Midlands that will help to warn almost 13,000 additional property owners of the risk of flooding.
Flood warnings inform the public about an imminent risk of flooding to their home or business and help people make decisions about how to respond.
Three new flood warning services went live today in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, covering 280 properties. This takes the total number of properties to benefit from the new service over the last two years to 12,788 across 30 new areas.
The move is part the nationwide flood warning expansion project, which is increasing England’s flood warning service to previously hard-to-reach at risk properties.
Ian Jones, Environment Agency area flood and coastal risk manager for the West Midlands, said:
We want to ensure that everyone has as much time as possible to prepare for flooding, which is why we’re pleased that there are more communities across the West Midlands receiving the new service.
We are informing all addresses who are benefiting from the service and encouraging people to sign up for alerts. We know how devastating flooding can be, which is why we remain committed to helping reduce the impact of flooding for any who may be affected.
There are three types of messages – flood alert, flood warning and severe flood warning. Each type can be triggered by particular weather or river conditions which cause flooding.
Residents are encouraged to prepare if they receive a flood alert, which could mean packing a bag with medicines, insurance documents and anything else they wouldn’t want to lose if flooding were to take place. A flood warning calls on people to act now, which means turning off gas, water and electricity, and moving family and pets to safety.
A severe flood warning means you are in immediate danger and to follow advice from emergency services.
Additional funding from the Government has enabled the Environment Agency to invest in the latest technology and infrastructure needed to provide a flood warning service in more than 200 communities across England. In total, an additional 110,000 properties at risk of flooding will receive flood warnings between now and the spring of 2023.
To check whether your home is located in this new flood warning area, visit https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/. If your home does lie within the flood warning area, it is vital that you sign-up to flood warnings to better protect yourselves and loved ones.
To sign up to the flood warning service, the Environment Agency is encouraging people to register directly with them by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188, or visit https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings where you can register yourself or vulnerable family members/friends.
Read more about the flood warning expansion project here:
New flood warnings have been introduced at the following locations as part of the project:
Etwall Brook, Etwall; Slad Brook, Stroud; - Wymans Brook from Wymans to Pittville, Cheltenham; Hatherley Brook from Leckhampton to Down Hatherley; Whaddon Brook at Lower Tuffley; Daniels Brook at Lower Tuffley; Nailsworth Stream at Nailsworth, Woodchester and Dudbridge; Horesbere Brook at Gloucester; River Twyver at Gloucester; Sud Brook at Gloucester; Wotton Brook at Gloucester; Ford Brook at Rushall; Bourn Brook at Selly Oak; Perry Brook at Perry Barr; Illey Brook at Halesowen; Lutley Gutter at Halesowen; River Stour at Halesowen; The Bourn at Bournville; Spadesbourne Brook at Bromsgrove; Plants Brook at Sutton Coldfield; Tanyard Stream at Kenilworth; Wash Brook and Wyrley Brook at Churchbridge; Waterhead Brook at Bushbury, Wolverhampton; Gog Brook at Warwick; Saltisford Brook at Warwick; St Johns Brook at Warwick; Ashfield Brook at Newcastle-Under-Lyme; and Dulas Brook at Ewyas Harold.
Latest areas went live on 24 May 2023 , River Onny tributaries at Craven Arms; Hen Brook at Stoke Prior; and Brimfield Brook at Orleton and Brimfield.
Additional information:
- Some 5.2 million properties in England are at risk of flooding
- The average cost of flood damage to a home is £30,000
- The average cost of flooding to a business is £82,000
- If you are flooded, temporary accommodation costs on average £10,000
- If you are flooded, you are likely to be out of your home for an average of 5 months
- Know what to do when you receive a flood warning and download our 3-point flood plan - https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/what-to-do-in-a-flood
All Environment Agency news releases, both area and national, can be found under Announcements at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency
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