2,000 homes and businesses to benefit from new SEPA flood
warning scheme
02 March 2010
EXT01 – B12
A new £1 million SEPA scheme to protect vulnerable communities
from the threat of flooding in high-risk areas of the North East of
Scotland was launched today by Environment Secretary Richard
Lochhead.
Approximately 2,000 homes and businesses will benefit from the
Scottish Government funded flood warning scheme around the rivers
Dee, Don, Deveron and North Esk.
Over the past decade there have been around 90 significant
floods across Scotland and climate change predictions show that
Scotland will experience major changes in rainfall patterns.
Full-scale live testing of SEPA's North East Flood Warning
System began on Friday – four days earlier than planned due to the
adverse weather conditions affecting parts of the north east last
week.
The system uses state-of-the-art technology to measure rainfall
and river levels and issue early flood warnings.
Launching the scheme at a SEPA river monitoring station in
Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Richard Lochhead said:
"Flooding wreaks havoc and distress whenever it strikes and we
must do everything we can to protect ourselves from its devastating
impact. The past year has seen some of the most severe floods in
the North East of Scotland in recent decades, destroying
livelihoods and homes.
"That is why the Scottish Government has invested £1 million
into this ground-breaking warning scheme to significantly improve
flooding information in these high-risk areas. This will allow SEPA
to issue early warnings and give members of the public vital time
to prepare and protect themselves and their properties against
flooding and limit the damage it can cause.
"Through the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act and record
levels of investment in flood defences, this Government is taking
every possible step to improve our understanding of flooding risk,
our capacity to manage this and our ability to respond effectively.
There are now 84 flood prevention schemes in Scotland, with a
further seven under construction and four more in the
pipeline."
Richard Brown, SEPA's Head of Hydrology, said:
"The aim of the flood warning schemes is to prevent loss of life
and reduce the economic damage caused by floods. This is achieved
through the ability to forecast likely flood conditions and provide
interpretation and warnings to those at risk.
"SEPA is further developing its current flood warning provision,
and in Spring 2011 we will be launching a new Floodline Warnings
Direct service, which will allow members of the public to register
to receive direct warnings to their landline or mobile phone."
Rainfall and river level monitoring across the catchment areas
will provide SEPA with improved information on conditions, which
will then be used to provide advance warning of flooding to members
of the public who can access the information via SEPA's 24 hour
Floodline information service. This will allow local people crucial
extra time to take action to protect themselves and their
property.
The early warning system will also be used to alert the police
and local authorities to any potential flood threat so
they can respond if necessary. The areas that will benefit from the
new scheme include several urban centres such as Aberdeen,
Inverurie and Huntly, rural settlements, large areas of
agricultural land and significant transport links.
Ends
Notes to editor
- An interview with Richard Lochhead is available to download
from the Scottish Government's website at http://podcast.scotland.gov.uk/download-flood-warning-system.zip
- A photograph of Richard Lochhead launching the new flood
warning scheme is also available, please email publicrelations@sepa.org.uk
for a copy or telephone 01785 452546.
- SEPA currently operates over 40 flood warning schemes across
Scotland. Once a warning is issued, SEPA alerts local authorities
and emergency services, giving them advance warning to take
action.
- Floodline is available by telephone – 0845 988 1188 – and
online at www.sepa.org.uk/flooding