The new flood warning service comes one year on from the launch ofonline floodplain maps at the height of last Autumn’s floods, whennearly a million people logged onto the service on day one to checkif they were in a flood prone area.
During last Autumn’s floods a total of 1,437 flood warnings wereissued, of which 190 were severe flood warnings.
Special features on the flood warning website include:
- National summaries of flood warnings in force for the whole of England and Wales, as well as regional summaries
- Search by map, town, postcode or nearest river
- Flood warning history – the last five flood warnings recorded for each area
- Maps of flood warning areas covered by the new service
- Supporting information – TV and radio stations that broadcast flooding information, and quickdial numbers to make it easier to use Floodline
The site is the first Government web system built to withstand onemillion hits a day and to offer 24-hour automatic updating, every 15minutes.
The new service is part of the Environment Agency’s programme toimprove public access to vital information about flooding and toincrease awareness about flood risk, enabling people to prepare andprotect themselves. It is available in English and Welsh.
The system is believed to be unique in Europe in being able tojoin up multiple data sources used for generating voice and faxalerts into a single system which fires warning messageselectronically to the Internet.
Jim Haywood, Head of the National Flood Warning Centre at theEnvironment Agency, said:
“Flooding is a real risk. Research has shown that nearly a thirdof people who were flooded last Autumn had taken no action toprepare. There are simple steps everyone can take in advance. Peopleshould keep alert to flood warnings, know what to do and take actionwhen a warning is issued. Online Flood Warnings are an important newway to help people wise up and prepare for flooding”
The internet is one of a number of ways the Environment Agencyissues flood warnings – you can also call the Agency’s 24-hourFloodline 0845 988 1188 for recorded flood warning summaries.Warnings are also broadcast on many local and national TV and radiostations.
Flood Warnings: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodwarning
