Managing flood risk - role of the Environment Agency
The Environment Agency has lead responsibility for responding to flooding, particularly in terms of reducing the likelihood of flooding and, when flooding does occur, to reduce it’s consequences.
In Manchester, 9,629 properties are located in Flood Warning Areas.
Flood mapping and flood risk management
The Environment Agency runs flood modelling and maintains, produces and disseminates maps of areas liable to flood. The Agency also issues Flood Alerts & Warnings when flooding is forecast.
Agency officers attend command structures and give technical advice, operate flood control structures and pumping stations, and routinely clear debris from channels, screens and culverts on main rivers and monitor and repair stressed defences. It also prepares emergency plans and responds when a flood event occurs.
The Agency operates Floodline, a 24-hour telephone helpline providing information and advice including property flood-risk checks, flood warnings, and flood preparation advice. You can check your flood risk, and if necessary sign up for flood warnings here.
The Environment Agency carries out an advisory function in development control, namely by commenting on planning applications within areas deemed to be at higher risk of flooding. It also provides technical advice to assist planning authorities in ensuring that any development is carried out in line with the National Planning Policy Framework
The Agency, established in 1995, works under the direction of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Manchester falls within the Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire area.
Manchester Flood Warning Areas (Environment Agency)
Hierarchy of Environment Agency flood alerts and warnings
Living better with a changing climate, Environment Agency, 2021
Living better with a changing climate
In October, 2021 the Environment Agency published its third adaptation report under the Climate Change Act. The report outlines how the Environment Agency will adapt its work and develop partnerships to tackle the challenge of climate change.
But it also has wider messages for national adaptation and the part the Agency must play in enabling the country to make a resilient transition to net zero.
In media coverage during the launch of the report, Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, warned that we needed to accelerate preparation for inevitable climate shocks, referring to it as an ‘adapt or die’ moment (see footage below).
Download the full report:
Living better with a changing climate (publishing.service.gov.uk)
