THE Environment Agency is warning that up to five million householders could be hit by flooding this autumn. Last year was the wettest on record with ten thousand homes and businesses affected at 700 locations across England and Wales.
The agency has launched a public awareness campaign for those living in the danger areas. Research has suggested that almost half of those living in flood-prone areas are unaware of the risks and that only one person in ten takes any action to prepare for a possible flood.
Scientists have confirmed evidence of increasing winter rainfall and river flow extremes over the last 40 years. High tides over the coming week could put some coastal areas at risk.
Agency research has shown that nearly a third of those who had been flooded before did nothing to minimise flood damage last year. Simple precautions like checking their insurance cover, preparing a flood plan, blocking doors with flood boards or sandbags, switching off gas and electricity and moving cars, furniture and valuables out of danger could have saved a lot of heartache.
As test sirens wailed out Northampton today local people were hoping that there would be no repeat of the widespread flooding which brought chaos to the town in 1998.
Hundreds of houses were hit and two people lost their lives. In the weeks and months following the floods local GPs reported a marked rise in the number of people suffering with depression.
The EA has begun work on major new flood defences for the town but a local action group led by Brendan Glynane (pictured) is concerned that it's too little, too late.
Mr Glynane says a new study commisioned after work begun on the new defences recommended that barriers should be able to cope with a 20 per cent rise in river levels. He says global warming could soon render the Northampton defences ineffective.
Local people are also concerned about planned developent on flood plains.
