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| Scene of a flood - what every householder dreads |
FLOOD-warning sirens in Grimsby and Cleethorpes have been deemed redundant and are to be decommissioned.
This is because more than 80 per cent of the 33,000 properties at risk of flooding in North East Lincolnshire now receive advanced warnings through the direct-messaging service.
The two towns’ 18 flood sirens were installed in 2006.
Now, 14 years later, that service’s advanced-warning messages are delivered to around 3,750 more properties than the sirens were ever able to reach, with more accurate, tailored and reliable messages than the sirens could.
Using the latest forecasting and modelling techniques, the Flood Warning Service alerts people to the possibility of flooding many hours - and sometimes days - in advance.
It sends timely, tailored, location-specific messages with exact details of what to expect, when, and how to react.
Those messages can be sent via a choice of text, landline, mobile and email - or any combination of those methods up to a maximum selection of five. For example, text messages to two mobiles, emails to two addresses, and an automated call to a landline.
It is a far cry from a short-notice, potentially confusing siren containing no specifics and no advice, and with no guarantee of being heard.
Says Ben Thornely, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency: “We know how devastating flooding can be, and we want people to have the most accurate and timely information if and when it is expected.
“The best way of doing that is via our free, reliable Flood Warning Service, which gives people clear, specific advice on how to protect themselves, their loved ones and their homes. This just isn’t possible with sirens.
“It takes just a minute to check online if you’re at risk of flooding and to sign up for warnings. We urge people to do that now via GOV.UK/Flood or by calling 0345 988 1188.
Agrees North East Lincolnshire Council’s cabinet member for the environment: Cllr Stewart Swinburn, North East Lincolnshire Council’s cabinet member for the environment:
“We’ve been kept up-to-date with the Environment Agency’s plans for the flood sirens and they’ve also held two virtual sessions with councillors to explain their proposals.
"Those sessions have allowed us to inform the Environment Agency’s approach and we’ve stressed the need for local people to be given all the information they require to adapt to the changes with the sirens.
“We’re aware similar system updates have worked well in other areas and we share the Environment Agency’s expectation that advances in technology will make it easier for people to get any flood messages as quickly as possible should the need arise.”
Since 2006, the Environment Agency has invested around £20m into the area’s flood defences.
That includes a £19-million upgrade along the Humber and at the port of Grimsby plus improvements along the River Freshney.
Further work between Immingham and Grimsby is expected to begin in 2022.
The Environment Agency plans to stop using the flood sirens from the end of this month.
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