Area’s flood sirens to be decommissioned
FLOOD sirens in Grimsby and Cleethorpes are being decommissioned this month - meaning people must sign up for direct-messages to receive warnings.
The Environment Agency claim its direct-messaging Flood Warning Service has proven so effective that the old sirens in Grimsby and Cleethorpes are now redundant.
The region’s 18 flood sirens were installed in 2006 to help warn the vast majority of at-risk residents, who, at the time, had not signed up to the direct-messaging service
More than 80 per cent of the 33,000 properties at-risk of flooding are already signed up to the service and now the Environment Agency is encouraging the remaining householders to do the same.
It is understood about 3,750 more people who might not have been able to hear the sirens due to their location have been able to receive “more accurate tailored and reliable messages than the sirens could”.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Using the latest forecasting and modelling techniques, the Flood Warning Service alerts people to the possibility of flooding many hours – and sometimes days – in advance. “It sends timely, tailored, locationspecific messages with exact details of what to expect, when, and how to react. Those messages can be sent via a choice of text, landline, mobile and email – or any combination of those methods up to a maximum selection of five. For example, text messages to two mobiles, emails to two addresses, and an automated call to a landline.
“It is a far cry from a short-notice, potentially confusing siren containing no specifics and no advice, and with no guarantee of being heard.”
The Environment Agency has so far invested around £20 million into the area’s flood defences, including a £19 million upgrade along the Humber and at the port of Grimsby, and improvements along the River Freshney.
They plan to carry out further improvement work between Immingham and Grimsby in 2022.
Ben Thornely, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency, said: “We know how devastating flooding can be, and we want people to have the most accurate and timely information when flooding is expected.
“The best way of doing that is via our free, reliable Flood Warning Service, which gives people clear, specific advice on how to protect themselves, their loved ones and their homes. This just isn’t possible with sirens.
“It takes just a minute to check online if you’re at risk of flooding and to sign up for warnings. We urge people to do that now via GOV.UK/Flood or by calling 0345 988 1188. “Doing so can reduce the impact of flooding – saving you thousands of pounds.” Councillor
Stewart Swinburn,
North East Lincolnshire Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “We’ve been kept up-to-date with the Environment Agency’s plans for the flood sirens and they’ve also held two virtual sessions with councillors to explain their proposals. Those sessions have allowed us to inform the Environment Agency’s approach and we’ve stressed the need for local people to be given all the information they require to adapt to the changes with the sirens.” Sign up for the Flood Warning Service on 0345 988 1188 or GOV.UK/ Flood, where there is also information on the practical things people can do to protect their businesses and homes.