Carlisle Phase 2 FRMS online

Carlisle Phase 2 FRMS online. This information  is available for 
you to review immediately, and will be made available for full public 
access at midday tomorrow (Friday). Please follow this link to access 
the website – www.thefloodhub.co.uk/carlisle-phase-2

Changes to the Flood Warning Service

From  @environment-agency.gov.uk

Dear Community Group member,

I would like to update you on the current situation regarding the flood warning service. 

Back in April, the Environment Agency nationally put measures in place to protect the flood warning service. These measures are outlined in the attached briefing note. We recently asked for feedback on any flood alert areas which may need to be added to the list we would issue. This follows the easing of lockdown restrictions and tourist hotspots across the area becoming busier. 

Following feedback from yourselves and our internal incident duty staff, the updated list of flood alert areas within Cumbria which would be issued when necessary is shown below. The additional areas will “go live” from Wednesday 29 July.  

Although none of these may apply to your particular location, I thought it would be useful to let you know which alerts will now be issued under the appropriate circumstances. 

          Original list of flood alerts from April 2020: 

·         Rivers Caldew and Petteril

·         Lower River Eden

·         Rivers Esk and Irthing

·         Rivers Lowther and Eamont

 

To be added to the list to issue from Wednesday 29 July 2020:

 

·         Rivers Cocker, Marron and Derwent

·         Upper River Derwent, Stonethwaite Beck and Derwent Water

·         Rivers Greta, St John’s Beck and Bassenthwaite Lake

·         Rivers Ehen, Calder, Irt and Esk

·         Rivers Duddon, Crake, and Mill Beck

·         Rivers Brathay, Rothay and Winster

 

The national guidance relating to the flood warning service is being reviewed on a monthly basis. I will keep you informed of any updates

Background

We are currently planning for how to protect our flood warning service if severe resource constraints prevent our usual level of operation during the Coronavirus pandemic period.

The Coronavirus pandemic is anticipated to place extraordinary pressure on the Environment Agency, particularly as sickness and other absences peak. Consequently, we propose some changes to the Flood Warning Service so we can continue to issue warnings wherever reasonable and practicable in the current circumstances. These changes are also intended to preserve our ability to provide warnings where most necessary and to support our activities during the Coronavirus pandemic period to protect lives and livelihoods.

Changes to the Flood Warning Service

The EA’s flood warning service provides three types of messages that help people prepare for flooding and take action:

• Flood Alerts – flooding is possible; be prepared

• Flood Warnings – flooding is expected; immediate action required

• Severe Flood Warnings – severe flooding; danger to life

  In order to sustain an effective flood warning service during the Coronavirus pandemic, the Environment Agency (EA) will be making some minor changes to the service.

  These measures are being introduced to ensure we protect our critical Flood Warning and Severe Flood Warning services, which protect lives and livelihoods, whist minimising disruption and potential anxiety in communities.

  Flood Alerts

  We will Issue Flood Alerts by exception only.

  We will only issue Flood Alerts where:

• spray / waves overtopping may cause risk to life

• lives may be at risk due to minor road closures

• livelihoods depend on them in farming communities

• the Alert will prompt an operational action by communities or partners, for example putting out property level flood defences.

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