A new flood warning service has been launched in Cumbria.
The Environment Agency has announced that it will be offering a new flood warning service to communities including Ambleside and the River Crake Valley, which come into effect from today and cover 823 properties.
Flood Warnings tell people about an imminent risk of flooding to their home or business and helps people make informed decisions about how to respond. There are three types of warning – Flood Alert, Flood Warning and Severe Flood Warning.
Householders are encouraged to prepare if they receive a Flood Alert which could mean packing a bag that includes 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.
The new flood warning service coincides with the Environment Agency’s Flood Action Week, an annual campaign which calls on people to protect their homes and stay safe by checking their flood risk, signing up for flood warnings and following ‘Prepare, Act, Survive’ guidance.
Stewart Mounsey, Environment Agency area flood and coastal risk manager for Cumbria, said: “Whether you live on a hill, in a flat or in an area that’s never flooded before, flooding can still affect you, putting your home, your possessions and your family at risk.
“We know the devastating impact that it can have, which is why we are making our communities even more resilient through our free flood warning service.
“Knowing what to do in a flood could help keep you and your family safe, and save you thousands of pounds in damages and disruption. I would encourage everyone to use this Flood Action Week to sign up for flood warnings and prepare a plan in advance so you know what to do should the worst happen.”
Home and business owners will be auto enrolled to the Flood Warning service via their mobile network.
However, to get the most benefit out of the service the Environment Agency is encouraging people to register directly with them by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188, or visiting https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings where they can register preferred contact details.
