Today marks the start of Flood Action Week (13-19 October) and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is outlining what her department is doing to manage this risk and how everyone can take simple steps to prepare for severe weather.

The Met Office has also encouraged communities not to be complacent about the risk of flooding following this summer’s dry weather.

Minister Kimmins said: “We are experiencing more frequent and intense rainfall due to climate change. Already this autumn Storm Amy brought strong winds and heavy rain.  Around 45,000 homes and businesses are in areas at risk of flooding across the North and this figure is expected to rise to nearly 60000 in the future as a result of climate change. Flooding also brings a significant risk to life and sometimes irreparable damage to homes, businesses and communities which can often impact people’s mental health.

“My Department and NI Water carries out a wide range of activities to help mitigate the impacts of flooding from various sources including rivers, sea, out of sewer flooding or surface water. This includes the maintenance of flood risk management infrastructure and the construction of flood alleviation projects. My department’s preparations for the emergency response to flooding is ongoing with an on-call rota system 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We, in conjunction with our multi-agency partners and Community Resilience Groups, are ready to respond to emergencies, but we cannot control the weather, and we cannot prevent all flooding from happening. Preparing before a flood, and knowing what to do when it happens, can reduce flooding impacts and help mitigate the problems our changing climate can cause.

“During Flood Action Week my department will provide useful information and links to highlight the work we do and help everyone understand the actions we all can take to improve our resilience to flooding and reducing the devastating impacts flooding can cause to homes, families and livelihoods. I urge everyone this week to make it your aim to know what to do in a flood – knowing just one action could reduce the effects on your home and family and even save a life.”

More information on how you can be ready for emergencies is available here: www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/be-ready-emergencies and at www.nidirect.gov.uk/flooding-in-your-area.