Wet summer raises autumn flood risk in Norfolk

Residents are being urged to think how they can protect their homes from flooding after a wet spring and cool summer is set to bring the threat of rising waters to Norfolk earlier than normal this year. 

The three months to June saw abnormally high levels of rainfall in the country, compound the previous six months' worth of exceptional rain: as a result, this year Norfolk is at risk of flooding faster and earlier than in previous years. 

Groundwater levels remain high, while Environment Agency readings show that East Anglian river flows in June were up to 172% the long term average as additional water remains trapped in the system. 

Using the summer months to check your house and prepare for possible flooding may make the difference between thousands of pounds of flood damage and keeping your home and family safe. 

Henry Cator, Chair of the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance (NSFA), said: "For many people in Norfolk the memory of last winter's floods is still fresh, but because of the wet spring and summer we've experienced we have no time to relax. There's a real chance of flooding earlier than usual this year, which means homeowners can't afford to wait until the autumn to prepare: we all need to start thinking, planning and acting now to keep our properties safe and dry this winter." 

High groundwater levels mean there is less capacity for water to be soaked into the ground, making alternative means of moving water away from your home even more important. Guttering, ditches and drains need to be free of blockages to avoid water building up around your home, while installing water butts can give your property additional storage to avoid water pooling on the ground. 

Owners of properties in at risk areas can also made additional preparations. This range from simple approaches, such as keep valuables upstairs and keeping bricks stored ready to raise up furniture in the event of a flood, to investigating the wide range of property flood resilience products available, from emergency barriers and self-expanding sandbags to non-return valves for household drainage pipes and waterproof front doors. 

Cllr James Bensley, Norfolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "We've all noticed the poor weather we've had and the lost opportunities for BBQ's and other outdoor pastimes this summer, but everyone needs to be aware of the longer term consequences as well. Without the normal sunshine and heat, water that normally evaporates or soaks away is still there, leaving less space in which fresh, autumn rainfall can drain away. If we want to protect homes and businesses from flooding this winter, we all need to start planning now." 

When rain falls over winter, it soaks down through the ground to join the groundwater. As more and more rain falls, the groundwater levels get higher and higher, leaving less capacity for subsequent rainfall to be soaked up. In most years the warm, dry weather through spring and summer allow the groundwater to return to normal levels before the more intense rainfall of the autumn arrives. 

This year, groundwater levels remain high across East Anglia, with all catchments demonstrating above normal, notably or exceptionally high levels compared to the long-term averages. When intense rainfall begins, this leaves less capacity for the water to be soaked up by the ground, increasing the risk of flooding.