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Environment Agency - Ravensthorpe residents get free flood advice

www.environment-agency.gov.uk

19 May 2010

Ravensthorpe residents get free flood advice

Residents in Ravensthorpe near Dewsbury are being offered free advice this week on how they can prepare for flooding.

Staff from the Environment Agency are teaming up with Kirklees Council and Ravensthorpe Action Group to visit homes in Ravensthorpe on Thursday (20 May).

They will be encouraging people to think about the actions they can take if flooding is likely, and to draw up their own personal flood preparation plan.

Environment Agency officer Graham Lindsey said: “Around 2,000 properties in Ravensthorpe are at risk of flooding, in particular from the River Calder, and Spen Beck.

“We expect flooding to become more common as our climate changes, so it is important to have a plan for your own household – which is why we’ll be offering Personal Flood Plans and advice about how to protect your property from flooding.”

Council community worker Laila Ahmed said: “Many residents here experienced the devastating effects of flooding in June 2007 and we want to make sure people are aware that it could easily happen again.

“Fortunately there are a number of simple steps that people can take to prepare, including registering for the Environment Agency’s free flood warning service, and keeping a list of useful contact numbers and an Emergency Flood Kit. Experience shows that being prepared can really help to reduce the financial damage caused by floods, not to mention the distress caused.”

Ravensthorpe Action Group member Karen Mayfield, of Victoria Street, has been affected by flooding several times.

She said: “Of course, what we would all really like is to stop the flooding altogether, but we realise this isn’t possible. The Ravensthorpe Action Group has been working with the different authorities to try to solve local flooding problems, but we do also need residents to consider what action they can take for themselves, so that we are more prepared as a community.”

The Environment Agency introduced a new flood warning service for Spen Beck in March, to complement the service for the River Calder.

The Floodline Warnings Direct service sends an automatic message to the landlines and mobile telephones of those signed up, telling them that flooding is imminent and that they must take urgent action to protect their home or business.

To find out more information about this free service, or for information on how to prepare for flooding, visit the Environment Agency website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodnortheast or call Floodline 0845 988 1188.