North West

The Environment Agency’s North West branch admits that it’s impossible to completely eradicate the risk of floods. But with the average cost of repairs to a flood-damaged home estimated at £28,000 they are warning that we all need to be well prepared. 

Alerting residents could be the key

Early warning

The residents of the Lancashire village of Earby are no strangers to flooding.

Barbara Males’ house was damaged by floods in 2000, 2001 and 2004.

But signing up to an Environment Agency early warning scheme meant she avoided a similar fate in 2007.

"We were in bed and got a call from the Environment Agency, we looked out of the window and the water was more or less at the top of the bridge."

"We managed to sandbag the kerb which averted the last flood getting into the house."

Drainage tunnels

As well as making sure residents are well prepared, the Environment Agency also has to maintain a huge network of water drainage tunnels, much of it dating from the Victorian era.

Inside Out joined one of the Environment Agency’s Confined Spaces teams as they journeyed through a culvert under the Bridgewater Canal to check for damage and blockages.

"We find wastepaper bins, Christmas trees, car parts – all sorts of things, you have to see it to believe it."

Keeping the waterways free of debris is no easy task - there are only 14 people to monitor around 7,000 culverts stretching from Carlisle to Crewe. 

The Environment Agency say that first step of preventing flood-damage is to check the risk to your own property by contacting their floodline on 0845 988 1188 or visiting the Environment Agency website.