Environment Agency Flooding Risk Update

12.00.00am GMT Fri 26th Feb 2010

Our Forecasting Centre, which we run with the Met Office, has told us there is a risk of coastal and river flooding in Kent over the next few days as a result of predicted heavy rainfall. Rising spring tides and rain falling on already saturated land could result in localised flooding. We wanted to advise you of that and let you know what we, and others, are doing.

We are monitoring the situation as it develops and keeping local authorities and emergency services informed. We will issue Flood Warnings as required to provide people with the time and information they need to be prepared. We have the following flood watches in place in Kent:

• Stour

• Medway

• Eden

• Darent

• Beult

• Teise

We have Incident response teams in Kent, minimising the risk as much as we can by:

• ensuring that culverts and channels, such as on the Upper Stour are clear of debris;

• checking flood defences are operating as needed. this includes completing a reprofile of the Northern Sea Wall between Reculver and Minnis Bay;

• using pumps across the area to pump away yesterday's rain;

• deploying demountable defences at Brastead to temporarily raise the heights both of defences and other low lying structures such as bridges.

Concerned residents can get up to date flood warning information from our website, www.environment-agency.gov.uk or our 24 hour Floodline on 0845 9881188.