PRESS RELEASE : Public urged to remain vigilant and flooding continues in England [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 6 January 2024.
The Environment Agency is warning people to take care during the ongoing flooding.
Significant river flooding impacts are expected to continue today (Saturday) until Monday in parts of the Midlands, Lincolnshire and on the River Thames, due to the recent prolonged wet weather and intense rainfall. Parts of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire have seen increased river levels over the past 24 hours, with areas of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire continuing to also be impacted.
At 1pm on Saturday 6 January, 207 flood warnings and 222 flood alerts are in place and Environment Agency teams are out on the ground with other emergency responders operating around temporary pumps, barriers and flood defences to help reduce impacts.
So far, more than 45,000 properties have been protected from flooding caused by Storm Henk in the last few days, but sadly around 1,800 properties have flooded.
While risks are likely to start reducing over the weekend, ongoing flood impacts are also likely across much of England over the next five days as some larger rivers slowly respond to recent and forecast rain. Many rivers are elevated and will remain so for several days.
The message to the public remains to check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation. Anyone driving is urged to not to go though flood water and follow advice of local emergency services on the roads.
Katharine Smith, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:
Significant river flooding impacts are still expected today and over the next few days across parts of the river Thames in Oxfordshire as well as the River Trent near Nottingham and the River Severn including Gloucester. The prolonged wet weather and intense rainfall has led to flooding impacts and our thoughts are with all of those affected.
Environment Agency teams are out on the ground, working to minimise the impacts of flooding where possible by operating flood defences and clearing watercourses. So far, more than 45,000 properties have been protected in the last few days. We also urge people not to drive though flood water and follow advice of local emergency services on the roads – flood water is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.
People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation as well as following @EnvAgency on X, formerly Twitter, for the latest flood updates.
For images of operational activity by the Environment Agency, please see the South West, South East, and Midlands team’s accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter.
