More Than 200,000 Homes at Risk of Flooding in the South East

More than 200,000 homes across the South East of England are at risk of flooding, according to new figures from the Environment Agency. This alarming revelation coincides with the launch of Flood Action Week, marking the first anniversary of Storm Babet, which caused significant damage in the region. The Environment Agency reports that the period…

Written by

David Wimble

Published on

October 15, 2024
News

More than 200,000 homes across the South East of England are at risk of flooding, according to new figures from the Environment Agency. This alarming revelation coincides with the launch of Flood Action Week, marking the first anniversary of Storm Babet, which caused significant damage in the region.

hastings 12 months ago this week

The Environment Agency reports that the period leading up to February 2024 has been the wettest 18 months on record, further raising concerns about the increasing threat of flooding. Homeowners are being urged to take proactive steps by signing up for flood warnings on the agency’s website and preparing an emergency plan should they be affected.

Storm Babet, which struck the South East last year, flooded approximately 2,150 properties and followed the wettest three-day period in England and Wales since records began in 1891. The storm caused widespread disruption, and many towns, including Hastings in East Sussex, were left under deep floodwaters.

Caroline Douglass, the Environment Agency’s executive director for flood and coastal risk management, warned that climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. “We’ve already experienced an unusually wet September this year,” she said. “While we cannot always predict where rain will fall or where flooding will occur, we do know which areas are at risk.”

The South East remains particularly vulnerable, with Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, and Surrey identified as high-risk areas. In Kent alone, nearly 80,000 properties are at risk, while East Sussex faces similar threats, with over 30,000 homes at risk of flooding.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy emphasised the devastating impact of flooding on affected communities. “Flooding can be a destructive force that puts everything in life on hold. I’ve seen the impacts firsthand and am determined to ensure others do not suffer the same.”

In response to growing concerns, the government has launched the Floods Resilience Taskforce, which aims to accelerate the development of flood defences and strengthen the UK’s ability to withstand extreme weather events.

Homeowners are encouraged to visit the Environment Agency’s website to assess the long-term flood risk to their properties and ensure they are prepared for potential future floods.