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There are a number of ways you find out whether your area is at risk from flooding. Both the Environment Agency (for England and Wales) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency update their warnings 24 hours a day via the Floodline number.
Floodline
- 0845 988 1188
And since December 2001, the Environment Agency issue live warnings online too.
The BBC also uses a four-tiered flood
warning system to make alerts easier for
everyone to understand. So if there is the chance of a flood
near where we live, work, or are planning on travelling to,
we will be aware of the current situation and the chances
of it developing further.
The system, set up in September 2000 has four categories of alerts:
Flood Watch
Flood Warning
Severe Flood Warning
All Clear
 Flood
Watch
This is the first stage of the warning. If your area is issued
with a flood watch it means there is the possibility of some
flooding. You're advised to keep a close eye on local radio
or television reports, alert your neighbours, watch water
levels, check on your pets, reconsider any travel plans, make
sure you can put your flood plan into action, and ring the
Floodline for further information and advice.
 Flood
Warning
If a flood warning is issued in your area, it means flooding
is expected and will cause disruption. You are advised at
this stage to move pets, vehicles, food, valuables, and other
items to safety, be prepared to turn off the gas and electricity,
be ready to evacuate your home, and put sandbags or floodboards
in place to protect your home.
 Severe
Flood Warning
This is the warning issued when serious flooding is expected
and there is imminent danger to life and property. If your
warning is upgraded to this you should be prepared for your
gas, electricity, water, and telephone supplies being lost,
you're advised to keep calm and reassure others, and cooperate
with the emergency services.
 All
Clear
This is issued when the flood water levels are going down
and no flood watches or warnings are in force any longer.
At this stage you can check it is safe to return home.
The flood classifications
have been designed as a result of a consultation process following
the devastating floods in the UK in Easter 1998. Four hundred
million pounds worth of damage was caused and in central England
the highest water levels ever recorded were seen.
An independent review
following this indicated that the existing warnings were confusing
and misunderstood by "nearly all who receive them". As a result
of this, the Environment Agency set up a discussion programme
to make sure they could learn from the floods of 1998. The
new warning system is a result of this.
There are a number
of things we can do to prepare for floods, so when a warning
is issued we'll be ready and know what to do:
- Make sure you have
a list of the important phone numbers, including the Environment
Agency's Floodline (0845 988 1188), the local council, emergency
services, and your insurance company
- Collect together
a flood kit which should include a first aid kit, torch,
and waterproof clothing
- Find out how to
turn off your gas and electricity
- Think about where
you could move things like cars to if a flood is imminent,
and also where you could take your pets
- Have some sandbags
or floodboards on hand to block or doors
Useful links
What to do before, during and after
Life After The Flood
Flooding 2001
Current flood
warnings
Environment
Agency - Flooding
Scottish
Environment Protection Agency
(The BBC is not responsible for the content of external
websites)
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