Further rain expected as Environment Agency warns of ongoing flood risk

The Environment Agency continues to call on the public to remain vigilant to the risk of significant flooding with warnings and alerts still in place across England.

Current forecasts show conditions are expected to remain unsettled, with further impacts expected across the country. There are currently 76 flood75 flood warnings and 157 flood151 flood alerts in place across the country, with snow and ice warnings in place across the country.

MultipleOver groundwaterthe floodweekend warningsand areinto nownext inweek, forceany insnowmelt Dorset,is Wiltshireexpected to be limited and Hampshire.gradual, Groundwaterso respondssignificant slowlyrises andin mayriver continuelevels toare causenot prolongedanticipated. disruption.

PumpsHowever, havethe beentiming broughtand onlinerate byof Environmentmelt Agencywill teamsstill influence local river level patterns in locationsnorthern acrossupland theareas.

Multiple Somersetgroundwater Levelsflood andwarnings Moorsalso andremain in continueforce tofor Dorset, run, reducingWiltshire theand impactsHampshire. ofGroundwater floodingresponds slowly and helpingmay continue to stabilisecause waterprolonged levels.disruption.

The OurEnvironment localAgency staff continuecontinues their workto onwork in the groundregion with local councils, the water company and areemergency regularlyresponders meetingin withresponse residentsto flooding. Local residents are urged to answeravoid theirdriving questions.through floodwater.

Earlier this week, Floods Minister Emma Hardy visited Langport in SomersetSomerset, this week (10 February), one of the areas most affected in recent weeks, to see the impact of flooding on the local community. 

TheBefore Ministeragreed mettrigger withpoints were reached, Environment Agency officersteams onproactively deployed pumps in locations across the groundSomerset Levels and heardMoors, howso teamsthey arewould operatingbe defencesready into reduce the areaimpact of flooding and supportingstabilise localwater residents.levels Asas wellsoon as operating theas pumps,conditions officersallowed. 

Since then, our teams have been clearingsteadily vegetation,increased removingtheir obstructionsdeployment in rivers,parts and erectingof temporarythe barrierscounty. This includes Dunball where needed. 

Elsewhere,new waterpumps levelsare remainremoving very10 highcubic inmetres Dorset– andor Wiltshiretonnes and- theof Environmentflood Agencywater continuesa second to worklower withriver levels, alongside the council,existing watertide companygate. The andinstallation emergencyof respondersfurther inpumps responsewill totake flooding.pump Localcapacity residents areat urgedDunball up to avoid15 drivingcubic throughmetres floodwater.a second.

EAAlongside this, officers have been clearing vegetation, removing obstructions in rivers, and erecting temporary barriers where needed.

More widely, EA teams have been mobilised across the country to check on other flood defences, clear any river blockages and closely monitor river levels. They have been working around the clock to reduce the risk of flooding and will continue to be out in force over the coming days.

At this time, we estimate atestimate around least 300 properties330 properties have been recorded as flooded and more than 22,000 have beenthan 24,000 have been protected by defences. These numbers are subject to change as our teams continue to verify the impacts on the ground.

Jonathan Day, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

With another band of rain on its way, we need the public to remain vigilant to the risk of flooding.

Significant groundwater flooding remainsimpacts likelyare probable in parts of Dorset and Wiltshire, with minor groundwater impacts probable in Hampshire and West Sussex. Due to steadily rising levels, minor groundwater flooding impacts are possible in Kent and East Sussex from Friday.Sussex.

Significant >River riverlevels floodingwill impacts remain probablehigh in the Salisbury area,area andtoday possibleand on Saturday, and inpumping theoperations continue to manage ongoing flooding on the Somerset levels.

So far more than 22,000 homesthan 24,000 homes and business have been protected but sadlysadly around over330 have 300 have suffered flooding and our thoughts are with those communities affected. Our teams will continue to do all they can to support local people, with pumps, temporary barriers and by clearing waterways to ensure flood water can drain away.

It is extremely dangerous to drive through flood water - we urge drivers not to do so.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

Flooding is devastating and my thoughts are with the people affected, and with another band of rain on the way I urge residents to follow local advice over the next few days to ensure they stay safe.

I am in regular contact with the Environment Agency on their response to the ongoing flooding who, alongside local authorities and the emergency services, are already taking action to keep communities safe.

To protect homes and businesses from future flooding situations, this government is investing a record £10.5 billion to protect a further 900,000 properties by 2036. This is alongside reprioritising over £100 million to maintain existing flood assets.

We will continue to monitor the situation and will review plans as the forecasts are updated. updated.

As rainfall levels start to ease, some rivers, moors and levels will respond slowly to previous rainfall and therefore may continue to rise.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to sign up to Get flood warnings by text, phone or email. People can also call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

Check for flooding - GOV.UK.