Environment Agency Wales’ Flood Awareness Wales campaign has received the support of Caerphilly County Borough Council and Assembly Member for the Caerphilly constituency Jeff Cuthbert, at an awareness event held last week.
Jeff Cuthbert AM and Councillor Lyn Ackerman, Cabinet Member for the Environment at Caerphilly County Borough Council were amongst those to visit the Castle Court Shopping Centre, Caerphilly; one of 16 locations across Wales to be visited by the Agency’s Welly Boot Tour, which forms the initial part of a wider flood awareness raising campaign.
Cllr Lyn Ackerman said, “I was delighted to be invited along to this excellent awareness raising event, and I think the ‘giant welly’ idea is a great means of engaging with members of the public. With the winter weather just around the corner, it is important that residents whose homes are at risk of flooding are well prepared, and take all the necessary precautions to help protect them from the possibility of flooding in future.”
She continued, “By following just a few simple steps, residents really can make a huge difference to how well protected their homes are from the risk of flooding.”
Flood Awareness Wales Project Director Gareth O’Shea said: “Climate change is having an impact on our weather patterns and flooding is likely to become more frequent. We need to raise people’s awareness of this increased risk and work with them so that they can become more prepared. We’re delighted that our Welly Boot Tour could visit Caerphilly. We hope that our giant wellies will have caught the attention of local people and will motivate them to check whether they are at risk from flooding.”
The Agency’s Flood Awareness Wales campaign effort focuses on direct engagement with those communities with a high risk of flooding but where awareness of the risk may be low.
Despite a number of flood alleviation schemes within Caerphilly County Borough designed to reduce the risk of flooding, the Agency cannot eliminate the risk of all future flooding so it’s important for communities to be prepared.
Gareth added: “Our flood awareness officers have already been out in force in Pontymister and will be visiting Ystrad Mynach, Llanbradach, Risca, Caerphilly and Tirphil, helping people in each area to understand and manage the risk they face. We’re seeing more and more people becoming aware that although flooding cannot be completely prevented, its impact can be minimised by taking simple steps in advance. Don’t be the only one who isn’t prepared.”
Flood Awareness Wales can help you find out if your home or business is at risk and provide advice on what you can do to prepare for this, reduce the impact of flood water on your property and ensure your own personal safety in a flood.
Or you can call Floodline 0845 988 1188 to find out if you are able to sign up to receive free advance warning of flooding from rivers and the sea. Floodline Warnings Direct is a free service that provides advance warning of flooding direct by telephone, mobile, email, SMS text message or fax.
For flood awareness advice or to download a personal flood plan visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodwales
