Londoners are being urged to sign up for flood warnings amid growing concern that extreme weather fuelled by a “Godzilla” El Niño will batter the UK this winter. Flood action online is designed as a one-stop shop for people to understand the flood risk to their homes and take action to reduce it, as well as providing easy access to weather alerts from the Met Office during incidents.
Government boosts flood resilience
The Government is looking to boost resilience to flooding ahead of potential extreme weather this autumn and winter, with a taskforce meeting this week to assess how prepared the UK is. The Met Office has warned of the potential impact of a huge El Niño on UK weather this autumn and winter.
Top scientists have said there is a higher likelihood of storms and high rainfall in the coming weeks. Models also suggest a higher chance of cold snaps in the second half of the winter.
Floods minister urges preparation
Floods minister Emma Hardy said: “Climate change means that extreme weather can switch quickly, but we’re more prepared than ever before for the challenges posed by floods.” An investment of £4.2 billion into new and existing flood defences aims to support the country against severe weather in the coming years.
“We are continuing to step up our defences against the weather, and encourage everyone to check their flood risk, prepare a flood plan, and follow warnings to protect their home and family,” Ms Hardy said. It comes as the Environment Agency is launching its annual Flood Action Week campaign to encourage the public to prepare.
Environment Agency and opposition respond
The agency’s director for floods, Caroline Douglass, said: “Every year, flooding threatens communities across England, and as we deal with the changing climate, it’s never been more important for people to understand what they can do to prepare.
“This Flood Action Week, our new flood website will make it easier than ever to access helpful guidance, while our ongoing investment and maintenance programme will ensure our flood defences continue to protect the areas that need them most. As we head into the winter, our teams are ready to respond around the clock, backed by hundreds of pumps and kilometres of temporary barriers, but we can all play our part in making a difference.”
Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said: “Communities in fear of devastating flooding need physical and natural defences urgently, and a new website does little to tackle that. The Environment Agency is failing to clear rivers and maintain defences to prevent flooding despite this being their job. This is why the Conservatives believe this department needs wholesale change, including bringing flood prevention under Ministerial control to get a proper grip – and accountability – on this vital issue.”
