Shropshire homes facing high risk of flooding

The Environment Agency is warning of the increased likelihood of flooding due to rain fall and strong winds coinciding with high tides and wind-blown leaves and debris blocking rivers.

Flood defences in Shrewsbury protect 74 properties in Frankwell and 80 in Coleham Head, while temporary measures in Ironbridge protect 15 properties.

But Shropshire residents are being advised to check their flood risk and sign up for free flood warnings to give them vital time to prepare damage limitation measures.

According to figures from the agency, 2,400 homes in Shropshire are at "significant risk" of being affected by extreme flooding estimated to occur once in 75 years.

These homes are also included in the total of 3,600 homes in Shropshire are at risk from an extreme flood which could occur once in 1,000 years. Only 48 per cent of the properties at risk in Shropshire are registered to the Flood Warning Service.

The Environment Agency is advising that there is an elevated risk of flooding from rivers, the sea and from surface water. Persistent rain in the second half of October made the ground very wet – making rainfall more likely to lead to flooding. Strong winds could increase the flooding risk, as leaves and bran-ches block drains, culverts and rivers.

Protect yourself:

• Visit www.environment-agency .gov.uk/floodmidlands

• Visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31618.aspx

• Call Floodline on 0845 988 1188

• Follow @EnvAgencyMids and #floodaware

A strong westerly jet stream is expected to dominate through much of November bringing bands of rain from the west and southwest, driven by strong winds.

During November and early winter Atlantic depressions are typically more intense, more frequent and carry large amounts of moisture.

Late autumn and early winter are typically the stormier and wetter times of the year. Across England, one in six properties are at risk of flooding.

The Environment Agency offers a free flood warning service that can give people and businesses vital time to prepare.

Andy Wilkinson, Midlands Flood and Coastal Risk Manager at the Environment Agency, said: "The most important thing that we can all do to protect ourselves from the devastation that flooding can cause is to be prepared – by checking our flood risk on the Environment Agency's website, signing up to free flood warnings and making a personal flood plan.

"Every £1 spent on protecting communities from flooding saves £8 in repairing damage. Over the last three years in Midlands we have reduced the risk of flooding to an additional 18,465 homes and businesses with new flood defence schemes."