Floods

Question

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has well established protocols to monitor and respond to the flooding and water supply impacts resulting from adverse weather events. DEFRA, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Met Office work closely with the Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) to identify potential flood risks for England. The FFC provides and communicates accurate advanced warning information to Government and local responders on Coastal, Fluvial (rivers) and Surface Water Flooding. In advance of forecast adverse weather conditions, the department contributes to cross-government discussions with resilience partners to assess and take action to minimise the risk to its sectors.

The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have issued Cold Weather Alerts for impacts on the health sector, with the Met Office issuing Yellow warnings for snow and ice in parts of England and Wales, to warn and inform the public of the adverse weather and what appropriate steps they can take to protect their homes and businesses. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs is working closely with its affected sectors, which are implementing their winter preparedness plans.