The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is urging those who live, work or travel in areas prone to flooding to remain vigilant to flood risk over the next 24 hours and use SEPA’s Floodline as a key tool to preparing and coping with flooding.

The message comes as the Met Office forecasts predict further wet weather for much of Scotland into tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd October 2002).

At 1400 today, there are 19 Flood Watches in force across;
Highland Angus rivers, Lowland Angus rivers, Dundee Coastal, Upper Tay and tributaries, Lower Tay and tributaries, Isla and Ericht, Earn, Stirling rivers, Fife and Clackmannanshire rivers, Edinburgh and Lothians rivers, Falkirk rivers, Upper Tweed, Middle Tweed and Liddel, Lower Tweed and Eye, Glasgow, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire rivers, Ayrshire rivers, Dumfries and Galloway rivers, the North coast of the Firth of Forth from Alloa to Crail, including Rosyth and Kirkcaldy, and the South coast of the Firth of Forth from Kincardine Bridge to North Berwick, including Grangemouth and Leith.

Flood Watch means flooding is possible. Be aware and be prepared!

David Faichney, SEPA’s National Flood Warning Development Team Manager, commented,
“It is very possible that some localised flooding of roads and watercourses will occur as a result of the slow moving band of heavy rainfall making its way across Scotland today and tomorrow. I would urge anyone living, working or travelling in areas prone to flooding to be aware of flood risk and use Floodline – 0845 988 1188 - for up to date flood alert information.

Floodline provides recorded flood warning information for your area or you can speak to an operator for advice 24 hours a day. SEPA’s website, www.sepa.org.uk/flooding, supports Floodline with LIVE flood warnings.”


Notes:

In November 2001, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), with financial assistance from the Scottish Executive, established Floodline – 0845 988 1188. Floodline gives information about potential flooding and advice on how to reduce the impact of floods when they do happen.

SEPA has hydrologists on flood warning duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Monitoring of weather forecasts, catchment conditions and river levels allow SEPA’s hydrologists to deliver flood warning to SEPA’s 42 Flood Warning Schemes. Through Floodline, SEPA also provides a Flood Watch service across Scotland, keeping the public, emergency services and local authorities informed of potential flooding.

Flood Watch means Flooding is possible, and the situation could worsen, so:

· Watch water levels
· Stay tuned to local radio or TV
· Make sure you have what you need to put your flood plan into action
· Reconsider travel plans
· Notify relevant departments/check resources
· Farmers - check livestock

Areas within specific flood warning schemes

In certain parts of the country where serious flooding has been experienced in the past, a number of local flood warning schemes are operated by SEPA in partnership with local authorities and the police. There are 42 such schemes and more detailed flood prediction alerts are available for these areas. People within existing flood warning schemes will receive warnings of flooding from the media, Police and Local Authorities. Since the introduction of Floodline, a set of standard codes has been in use throughout the UK.

These, easily recognisable codes – FLOOD WATCH, FLOOD WARNING, SEVERE FLOOD WARNING and ALL CLEAR - deliver clear information and practical advice so you know what action you should take on hearing them.

FLOOD WATCH is available for all of Scotland. FLOOD WARNING and SEVERE FLOOD WARNINGS are issued to those covered by the 42 existing flood warning schemes. Remember - they apply only to existing flood warning scheme areas! (Call Floodline 0845 988 1188 with your Postcode to find out the Floodline quickdial code for your area. www.sepa.org.uk/flooding)

ENDS