Environment Agency continues to urge caution during ongoing flooding

The Environment Agency is continuing to urge people to remain vigilant following the recent flooding, as flood warnings are still in place and a mixture of alreadymelting saturatedsnow catchments and meltingsaturated snowcatchments could risk some further disruption in parts of England on WednesdayTuesday and Thursday.Wednesday.

Ongoing minorsignificant river flooding impactsis areprobable expectedin alongLeicestershire majortoday, riverswith inmore partsminor ofriver theflooding Midlandsalso todayprobable andin tomorrow,some withother minorparts impactsof possibleEngland, morecontinuing widelythrough untilto Thursday.Thursday for some larger rivers.

People in affected areas should follow advice from emergency services and take caution, particularly while travelling.

Those travelling are urged to stay away from swollen rivers and to plan ahead when making journeys, as disruption from significant flooding in the Midlands is possible today and into tomorrow, while minor impacts are also probable more widely across other parts of England.

Environment Agency teams remain on the ground supporting the public and are still operating flood defences and basins to manage possible impacts.

As of 12:2012:00 on WednesdayTuesday 87 January, there is one severe flood warning, meaning there is a danger to life, at caravan parks near Barrow upon Soar, where residents have been evacuated. There are 84also 133 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 152221 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, live across the country. SinceFollowing 5flooding January,since New Year’s Eve, the Environment Agency estimates that so far, in total across EnglandEngland, nearlymore 35,000than 41,000 properties have been protected and aroundat 800least 300 properties have flooded, with reports of further flooding being investigated.

Heavy rainfall over the New Year also saw significant river flooding across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Yorkshire, with the highest river levels on record being reached on the Mersey in Stockport and South Manchester. In total, over 70,000 properties have been protected from flooding and approximately 1,000 properties have flooded across England since New Year’s Eve.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy has met with staff from the Environment Agency Chiefand ExecutiveMPs Philipin Duffyaffected areas to discuss the nation’s response to the recentheavy floodingrain events. During the meeting, the Floods Minister was briefed on the current situation on the ground, and theflooding response being led by the Environment Agency and the emergency services. Together, they discussed how to continueensure tothat supportcommunities theare collectivekept effortssafe of the Environment Agency, emergency services, and localreceive authoritiesthe insupport respondingthey to flooding. need.

The Environment Agency continues to monitor the forecast and impacts on river levels. Its message to the public remains to check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation.

Stefan Laeger, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

The recent heavy rain combined with melting snow means ongoingit minoris probable significant river flooding will continue in partsLeicestershire oftoday, the Midlands today and on Thursday, with minor river flooding expectedprobable in some other parts of Englandthe alongcountry, majorcontinuing riversthrough todayto andThursday intofor Thursday.some larger rivers.

Environment Agency teams continue to be out on the ground, operating flood defences, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding, issuing flood warnings and supporting those communities affected.

We urge people to remain vigilant over the next few days,days and advise anyone travelling to be especially careful and urge people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.

People should search ‘check my flood risk,’, sign up for free flood warnings, and keep up to date with the latest situation at @EnvAgency on X.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

YesterdayMy afternoonthoughts Iare heldwith anthe urgentpeople, meetingbusinesses withand thecommunities Environmentimpacted Agencyby about the ongoingrecent flooding incident.  across the country.

MyI sympathiescontinue goto outspeak towith officials from the people,Environment businessesAgency and communitiesMPs impactedto byensure thethat recentimpacted floodingcommunities acrossare receiving the country. 

necessary support. I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe. People must continue to follow their advice and sign up for flood warnings.  

ThisThe Government is working at pace to accelerate the building of flood defences through our new Floods Resilience TaskforceTaskforce, and investing £2.4 billion, so we can continue to protect people and their homes.

Lessons learned from these floods will be fed directly into the new Floods Resilience Taskforce to speed up the development of flood defences and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather.

The Taskforce brings together the Secretary of State and Minister Hardy with representatives from Defra, MHCLG, Home Office, Cabinet Office, the Environment Agency, the Met Office, Local Resilience Forums, Mayoral Offices, emergency responders and the National Farmers Union, among others.