Heavy rains cause flood chaos across UK

Torrential rain across Britain has resulted in flooding in many areas of the country.

Among the worst hit areas are southwest Scotland, Cumbria and Wales, where hundreds of homes are reported to be affected and many roads are closed.

Scotland has 15 flood warnings in place, including one severe flood warning in the Teviot Valley in the Scottish Borders, where there is a threat of “serious danger to life and property” because of the weather.

Wales has also been badly hit with floods reported in several areas in the west of the country, including Whitland, Cardigan, Haverfordwest, Tenby and Pembroke Dock. Milford Haven was reported to have experienced nearly four inches of rainfall within 24 hours.

The Environment Agency confirmed that flood warnings are in place on the River Cocker at Cockermouth, the River Ehen at Egremont and the River Greta at Keswick.

The flooding came as the Environment Agency warned that many people in the UK were ignoring the risk of flooding.

Barbara Young, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: “Whilst we can reduce the effects of floods through awareness, education and investment in flood defences, we can never prevent them. That’s why we’re urging people to try to reduce the massive financial and emotional costs of flooding. So the message is: be prepared for flooding.”

The Environment Agency has a number of recommendations for preparing for floods:

• Co-operate with emergency services and local authorities – you may be evacuated;
• Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies at the mains. Find out where these are well in advance of any flood;
• Put plugs into sinks and weigh them down with something heavy;
• Move sentimental items, like photographs, upstairs and think about storing them more safely in future, in case you forget or don’t have time to move them during a flood;
• Move as many possessions upstairs as you can.

The Agency said that five million people, living in two million properties in England and Wales live in flood risk areas, but as many as two fifths are still unaware of the threat.

Research conducted by the Agency found that 69% of those surveyed were unlikely to take measures to protect themselves and their property, while just over a third (34%) had not checked their insurance cover to see if it covered flood damage. Forty-two per cent said they did not know what to do in the event of a flood.

(KMcA/SP)