Flood warning service expands to properties along Bradford Beck

The move is part of an expansion to the scheme across Yorkshire by the Environment Agency to ensure more people are warned about any imminent risk of flooding.

A total of 62 new flood warning areas have been created across the county as part of the project.

Vehicles were washed up at Denso Marston Nature Reserve in Baildon by the floods in 2015 (Image: Newsquest)

This means that more than 3,700 additional homes can now receive the early warnings when flooding is forecast.

New areas included for the first time include properties alongside the Bradford Beck and its tributaries, and homes in Oakenshaw and Horsforth, as well as 13 other locations in West Yorkshire.

Residents can register for the new service for free and choose to receive notifications via phone call or text.

The warnings tell people about the risk of flooding to their home or business and help people make informed decisions about how to respond. There are three types of warning – Flood Alert, Flood Warning and Severe Flood Warning. 

Graham Lindsey, flood resilience team leader 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.

“These warnings are there to help people prepare for, and become more resilient to, flooding incidents and this new service allows even more people to take appropriate action when flooding is forecast. We would encourage all of those in new flood warning areas to sign up now for free for both their safety and peace of mind."

People are encouraged to prepare if they receive a Flood Alert which could mean packing a bag that includes medicines, insurance documents and anything else they wouldn't want to lose if flooding were to take place.

A Flood Warning calls on people to act now which means turning off gas, water and electricity and moving family and pets to safety. A Severe Flood Warning means you are in immediate danger and should follow advice from the emergency services.

Mill Hey, Haworth, during the 2015 Boxing Day floods (Image: Newsquest)

Many properties previously considered too remote, rural, or difficult to warn of flooding because of lack of power supply, are now able to take advantage of the service.

This improvement to the service has been made possible using new technologies developed by the Environment Agency.

In Yorkshire, the programme has also included the installation of 15 new river level gauges and two new rain gauges to ensure that decisions about when to issue a warning are made using real-time data.

To register call Floodline on 0345 988 1188, or visit flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings.