Accidents, emergencies and safety

Flooding

Environment Agency

Working for a better environment in England and Wales for present and future generations.

Flood defence in your area

The Environment Agency aims to protect and improve the environment while aiding sustainable development through integrated management of air, land and water. Flood defence is a key component of this strategy.

The Thames Region of the Agency serves a population of 12 million people and maintains 5,200 km of main river and 193 km of tidal defences, including operation of the Thames and Barking Barriers. The Thames Regional Flood Defence Committee agrees the levy and oversees expenditure in the region.

• The aim of Flood Defence is to reduce the risks of flooding from rivers and the sea to people, property and the natural environment by providing adequate warnings and providing effective defences where economically viable.

• The Agency provides the lead role for issuing flood warnings directly to the public, media, emergency services and local authorities for flooding from main rivers and the sea, using a system with the following meanings:

  • All Clear – Issued when flood watches or warnings are no longer in force.

  • Flood Watch – Flooding possible. Be aware! Be prepared! Watch out!

  • Flood Warning – Flooding expected affecting homes, businesses and main roads. Act now!

  • Severe Flood Warning – Severe flooding expected. Imminent danger to life and property. Act now!

The status of flood warnings can be accessed on the Environment Agency website at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Copies of the booklets "Preparing for Floods", "Damage Limitation" and "After a Flood" are available by contacting the 24-hour FLOODLINE Service.

For flood warning information please use the 24-hour FLOODLINE service on 0845 988 1188. In the event of any river flooding emergency please call National freephone number 0800 80 70 60. For general enquiries to the Agency use 0845 933 3111. All calls are charged at local rates for this service.

Current issues:

• A revised system of funding Flood Defence activities comes into place for 2004/2005. The majority of the Agency's funding now comes direct from DEFRA in the form of grant in aid. This is supplemented by a local levy on County and Unitary Authorities and London Boroughs.

• The Agency is planning to increase its capital expenditure in future years to contend with the increasing flood risk. Changing climatic conditions are likely to present a growing threat to property, infrastructure and perhaps lives.