The Environment Agency has begun a programme of seminars to train volunteer flood wardens on their role during a flood.

The series of seminars, which kicked off in Alford, near Louth, on Wednesday (20 Feb, 2008), covers everything from where the flooding hotspots are in each area and how to inform and help vulnerable people during a flood, to how to set up a parish council flood plan and how to draw up an evacuation plan.

Flood wardens are usually made up of volunteers from parish councils and local residents. They play a vital role when flooding hits, providing local information to the Environment Agency as well as keeping residents informed and helping in the event of an evacuation.

During the summer floods in June and July, flood wardens were put to the test across Lincolnshire, with some knocking on doors to urge people to move their furniture, while others helped out the elderly or built sandbag defences around homes.

Ian Russell, Area Flood Risk Manager for the Environment Agency said: ‘During flooding our flood wardens are our eyes and ears on the ground, providing vital information to the incident room as well as being a reassuring presence to the local community.

‘The Environment Agency actively supports people who want to set up a flood warden scheme in their local community as it is a vital step towards communities protecting themselves during flood events.’

To become a flood warden you must live in or close to an area affected by river flooding – to find out if you’re eligible ring Floodline on 0845 988 1188. To find out if your home is in a flood zone you can visit the Environment Agency’s flood maps online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

 

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