New figures from the Environment Agency show that over
four in ten of the five million people living in areas vulnerable to
river and sea flooding in England and Wales are unaware that they are
at risk

Over
four in ten of the five million people living in areas vulnerable to
river and sea flooding in England and Wales are unaware that they are
at risk, new figures from the Environment Agency reveal today.

The
new statistics also show that just nine per cent of those in flood-risk
areas have found out how to stay safe in a flood, and even fewer – just
three per cent – have prepared a ‘flood kit’ of essential items to use
in the event of flooding.

The
Environment Agency is urging the public to face up to flood risk and be
better prepared, particularly as climate change could see the number of
people in England and Wales at the highest risk of flooding rise from
1.5 million to 3.5 million by 2080.

This
supports recent comments by Sir Michael Pitt, who carried out the
independent review into the 2007 summer floods, that many Britons are
“in a state of denial” over the risks of flooding.

The
Environment Agency runs a free service that automatically sends alerts
by telephone, mobile, email, text, or fax to registered households as
soon as a flood warning is issued and is urging those who are not
signed up to call 0845 988 1188. Whilst the Environment Agency is
working to sign up all properties at high risk automatically, some 70
per cent of those eligible have not yet registered and so homeowners
should call now to register.

Dr
Paul Leinster, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: “We’ve
completed 54 new flood defences since June 2007, increasing protection
to more than 38,000 homes, but the reality is that we can’t always
prevent flooding.

“Many
people don’t believe that the small river or stream at the end of their
road could pose a flood risk but it could. More people are becoming
aware of the risks a flood might pose, but we are encouraging everyone
to check our website to see if their house is in a flood risk area and
to sign up to our Floodline Warnings Direct service.

“The
annual clean up costs of flooding is around £1.1 billion and rising. We
all need to face up to flood risk as climate change will dramatically
increase the number of homes affected. We will continue to invest in
managing flood risk, but householders need to play their part by being
fully prepared.”