Cumbria’s flood risk manager says that Carlisle has a greater level of protection from flooding than the current storm as heavy rain continues in the city.
A flood alert is in force for the Lower River Eden which warns people to “be prepared” for flooding. However, river levels in the city remain either at either “normal” or “low” levels.
“Carlisle is obviously fed by a large catchment, again we will watch that into Friday and Saturday,” said Stewart Mounsey, flood risk manager for Cumbria. “The new defences have obviously been finished in Melbourne Park and the centre of town so it is protected to Storm Desmond level in those areas of Carlisle, which is a much bigger storm than what we are seeing today in terms of the size of the storm.
“We will keep a close eye on the Caldew as well.”
Mr Mounsey added: “We’ve got three days of heavy rainfall over the next few days across Cumbria. The Met Office have just changed that to an amber, so medium risk level of effects for today.
“Overnight the forecast has gone up a bit for today’s rainfall and we are likely to see widespread flood alerts, which is our lowest level of flood alert, and some flood warnings today as the rivers respond to that rainfall.
“The Environment Agency has teams that are out looking after our flood defences and teams in the office who are watching the weather and they will be issuing flood warnings.”
Round the clock
The flood risk manager says teams will be working 24 hours a day over the next three days in Cumbria.
“We will be monitoring the situation with our field teams and office teams who do the forecasting and let people know how things are progressing. The rivers will be swollen, they are going to be high. It’s half-term so please stay away from them and be safe,” he said.
“Avoid driving near or in floodwater if you can because you might not make it through the other side and you could write your car off.
“My advice to people is be prepared, sign up to our flood warnings if you haven’t already, if you have property-level protection then make sure that is to hand and all the kit is there just in case you need it.
“Check your flood risk, sign up to our flood warnings and prepare a plan around what you would do in the event of a flood. There are lots of templates and guidance on that on the website and making those preparations will save you time in the event of a flood and will also mean you are a little bit more in control of what happens to you rather than getting a surprise.
“Hopefully people won’t need to use that but it is there and people have thought about it if they do.”
People in Carlisle can get free advice about how to better protect their homes from flooding at Botcherby Community Centre today.
Flood RE, which is a Government and insurance industry initiative that helps to ensure homeowners in flood-risk areas have access to more affordable insurance, have teamed up with flood campaigner Mary Dhonau to bring the FloodMobile to Carlisle.
It is stopping off in Carlisle as part of a tour of areas at risk of flooding across the UK.
