Dawlish gets flood warning service

400 properties to be told when water rises

A new flood warning service that has gone live for more than 400 properties in Dawlish has been welcomed by the town’s county councillor.

Homes and businesses will be automatically registered to receive free flood warnings for Dawlish Water - the waterway that runs through the centre of the town on its way to the sea. The alerts will tell residents about imminent risk to their properties.

Councillor Martin Wrigley (Lib Dem, Dawlish) said the new system is “really good news” for the town. “Having a flood warning service is fantastic and really helpful because when it does flood through the middle of town it is just dismal for everyone concerned,” he said.

The Environment Agency, which is responsible for the service, said it was being introduced in Dawlish after "numerous flood events over the years" especially in 2012 when some people had to be evacuated. Two years later, flooding in the town made national headlines when the main rail line was washed away, cutting off services to the south west beyond Exeter.

Cllr Wrigley added: “When the river rises significantly, people along the High Street do get extremely concerned about flooding because there is a lot of water going down very quickly into the sea. And when the sea is coming in as well, you are really trapped. Other than going uphill, there is nothing you can do.

“People do get very worried about it so I think this will put a lot of people at ease and help them know what is coming and when it’s likely to come.”

Three types of warning – flood alert, warning and severe warning - are triggered by particular weather, river or sea conditions which cause flooding.

Ben Johnstone, flood and coastal erosion manager for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly at the Environment Agency, said: "We know the devastating impact that flooding can have, which is why protecting people and communities is our top priority.  However, the climate emergency means we cannot prevent all flooding – so we’re working to make communities resilient to future flooding."

Home and business owners will be auto enrolled to the service via their mobile network. However, the Environment Agency is encouraging people to register directly with them by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188, or visiting https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings where they can register preferred contact details.