The 'biggest flood risk' that can affect anyone
The UK is facing an uptick in floods. More intense storms, freezing winters, unpredictable heatwaves, and long periods of drought are all signs of global warming taking its grip on our rainy island.
"Climate change means we are going to be more exposed to extreme weather. We need to know how to prepare for this as a country," Emma Hardy, Minister for Water and Flooding, tells Country Living.
Not only are weather patterns shifting, but areas previously unaffected are now in the eye of the storm.
"Flooding is getting worse and can affect everyone — it's not just to do with your area or if you live near the coast," adds Emma.
"People who live away from all flood risks are now flooding because of surface water [when rainwater doesn't soak into the ground or drain away]. I think people will be surprised to hear that this is the greatest risk of flooding.
"We've noticed this has become the biggest change, as the water has nowhere to go."
In 2018, the Environment Agency declared surface water the 'biggest flood risk of all'.
People often associate flooding with rivers overtopping their banks, but don't consider the power of surface water. Also known as flash flooding, it occurs when the volume of rainfall exceeds the capacity of drains. These types of floods are difficult to predict, spilling into buildings, and overwhelming drainage and sewers.
According to a previous report, around 325,000 properties in England are at high risk of surface water flooding, while a further 500,000 are in medium-risk areas.
Findings also suggest annual flood damage costs are in the region of £1.1 billion across England.
Andrew Cliff, who lives in West Sussex, has witnessed this devastation first-hand. "My elderly mother lives in a state of fear and panic every time it rains," he tells us, explaining that her house has flooded multiple times. "Her property is blighted from flooding and she will not be able to sell it."
The flooding was caused by nearby surface water drainage (a system that transports rainwater away from gutters, patios, driveways, roads and fields to prevent flooding). Periods of heavy rain caused run-off water to pass through neighbouring gardens, subsequently flooding houses on the next street.
Paul Dowell lives in one of those houses. "Flooding has left us feeling anxious for the future of our property. We have lived here for 20 years and thought this was a one-off event.
"The experience of being flooded twice in 18 months has caused both my wife and me significant stress. When it rains heavily we are both extremely anxious about what might happen to our property."
Are storms getting worse in the UK?
Last winter was the third wettest winter flood period in the past 10 years, as storms including Babet, Ciarán, Henk, and Isha caused severe flooding, loss of crops and livestock, power outages, and travel cancellations around the UK.
"We've had the wettest 18 months on record. We are also facing drought — they are two sides of the same coin," says Emma.
As temperatures warm, it rains more heavily. According to Greenpeace, this is because warmer air can hold more moisture, resulting in more intense rainfall. What's more, severe flooding often follows long periods of drought as dried-out soil struggles to absorb heavy rain.
"We often talk about flood awareness, but it's also important to talk about drought awareness. Our weather is flipping between floods and draughts, and it's something we need to be more prepared for," continues Emma.
What should you do if your property is at risk of flooding?
With more unpredictable weather in the UK, Minister Emma Hardy suggests helpful steps if your property is at risk of flooding.
1. Get your home ready: "Always have a bag with your medications and anything important you might need to take with you, such as food supplies and bottles of water," says Emma. "Also, think about your pets and what you're going to do with them.
"We often see a lot of pets that need rescuing. Move precious items, rugs and furniture upstairs. I spoke to one lady recently who lost all her family photographs in a flood."
2. Respond to flood alerts: Flood alerts (found on service.gov.uk) exist to give homeowners enough warning to prepare their homes. "If you're at risk of flooding, please sign up for flood alerts. It will normally tell you a few days ahead if you are at risk."
3. Sign up for Build Back Better: The Build Back Better scheme gives homeowners up to £10,00 extra to make their homes more flood-resilient after a flood. Simple changes to your property can make flooding much less destructive and distressing.
"This includes things like covers for air bricks and moving sockets higher up the wall. If your house has already been flooded, check whether your insurance offers Build Back Better. It's to prevent future flooding."
4. Look into the grant scheme: "People may also want to look into the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme from Defra. This is up to £5,000 to make homes more flood resilient."
What is the government doing to help with flooding?
Infrasture, gutter maintenance, dams, reservoirs, and retention ponds are all ways to control flooding. But what is the government doing to help homeowners?
"We can't stop flooding, but it's about making sure we can recover quickly and having defenses where they are needed," says Emma. "I'm really interested in looking at the ways we can make UK homes more flood-resilient.
"One homeowner I spoke to said the water had gone into their house by just an inch. That's where we can make a difference. If the water is over a metre high, property flood resilience measures will help with the recovery but not with the flooding. This is something that I want to make mainstream so that everyone understands it."
Meanwhile, the government spent over a billion pounds on flood defenses this year. They are also looking at smaller schemes, such as Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS), which provide an alternative to the direct channelling of surface water through networks of pipes and sewers to nearby watercourses.
"If you can hold water away from the combined sewers and drains it stops some of the overflows and the likelihood of flooding."
The Environment Agency is currently developing flood maps where you can see how at-risk your area is from tidal, surface, and river water. This is in its final stages of development, with January 2025 set to see its release.
If you have been flooded or need additional help, visit nationalfloodforum.org.uk.
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