Homeowners 'in denial' over flood risks

Homeowners who live in flood risk areas are in denial about the serious damage that could be done to their property, the head of the Environment Agency said today.

The warning, at the launch of the agency's annual flood awareness campaign, comes as the country braces itself for storms later in the week.

Baroness Barbara Young, the agency's chief executive, said only 31% of homeowners living in flood risk areas had taken steps to find out if they are at risk, and just 10% had signed up for the free flood warning service on offer. The agency said 2.3m of the 25m homes in England and Wales were in flood risk areas, with property, land and assets worth £237bn in danger of ending up under water. The annual cost from flooding is £1bn and is expected to increase if the flood risk continues to be ignored. Rising sea levels and more extreme weather conditions expected to result from climate change will also increase the number of homes at risk.

Last week, research by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) showed that a 0.4 metre rise in the sea level would almost double the number of homes in danger in eastern England. The Environment Agency said being flooded could be 30 times more costly than being burgled. While repairing damage and replacing items lost in a burglary costs an average of £900, putting things back to normal after a flood costs an average of £28,000, it said. Baroness Young said a flood was "a perfect burglar - it enters your house uninvited and leaves nothing behind except distress and misery." She added: "We all have locks on our doors and many of us install alarms to protect our home and possessions against burglary. "However, surprisingly many people take no steps whatsoever to safeguard their home against the increasing risk of flooding. "Clearly, some people living in flood risk areas are in denial about the dangers flooding can cause."

The agency said that while there was no way homeowners could prevent floods, there were ways for them to reduce the financial and emotional cost of such an event. It recommended that homeowners find out if they are living in a flood risk area, and if they are that they make sure their buildings and contents insurance would cover any damage, and to sign up for flood alerts. It also advised people to prepare a flood checklist and look into ways to protect their homes.

The ABI said better public awareness of the risks needed to be matched by government investment in flood defences. Jane Milne, the ABI's head of property, said: "The Environment Agency's assessment of the number of properties at risk of flooding - 570,000 - has more than doubled in the past four years as we understand more about the flood risk. Yet spending on flood defences is now falling in real terms. "We believe that flood defence spending needs to rise by 10% a year to £750 million by 2011. This will give those vulnerable to flooding the protection they need, and the flood insurance cover they depend on."

Flood risk - Prepare for flooding

Simple ways to protect your home from flooding Find some quick and easy flood precautions that everyone should take. They will also help if you don't have long to prepare for a flood.

Installing your own flood defences For a little more investment of time and money, you can install your own small-scale flood defences. You can also buy free-standing barriers which help stop water reaching your property.
During a Flood What should you do during a flood, or when you first hear that a flood is about to happen? Look through our check list now, so you'll be prepared if the worst happens.

After a flood Cleaning up after a flood. How to get your home back to normal.

Flooding: a guide for older people Research shows that older people find it hard to cope with being flooded. Even if you haven’t experienced flooding before you should be prepared. Download the leaflet on the next page to help you plan ahead and reduce the risk to you and your belongings.

Flood preparation guide for business Don't let a flood drown your business. Make a plan that'll keep your business afloat if the worst happens. Your business is more likely to flood than to burn down, so it is vital you prepare now.

Homeowners Flood Risks

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