Households urged to brace for floods in wetter winter

The government has warned that the climate crisis is exacerbating flood risks across the country, and is urging people to prepare for what may be a particularly wet winter.

- HARRY COCKBURN

The government has warned that the climate crisis is exacerbating flood risks across the country, and is urging people to prepare for what may be a particularly wet winter. The Met Office says there is an “above average” likelihood of the coming winter being wetter than normal over December, January and February.

The Environment Agency said a new analysis of attitudes to flood risk revealed two-thirds of people in vulnerable areas don’t believe it will happen to them. The agency said their research also suggests 30 per cent in these areas have not taken any action to prepare for flooding, leaving as many as 1.5 million households at risk of heavy impacts.

The government published the study yesterday to mark the start of Flood Action Week. The Environment Agency is urging people to check their flood risk online, sign up for warnings and, if they are at risk, to know what to do if flooding hits.

The government said the construction and repair of flood defenses has continued throughout the year as part of a £5.2bn programme which aims to better protect 336,000 properties. But they warned that the works could not prevent against all flooding.