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MP Welcomes New Flood Forecast Service From SEPA
Local MP Richard Thomson has welcomed the launch of a new service from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) which aims to give the public a warning three days in advance of flooding events.
Developed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Met Office, the Scottish Flood Forecast provides the earliest indication possible of when and where flooding is expected over the next three days, and whether the source is from rivers, surface water or the sea.
In addition, the colour coded map on SEPA’s website describes the potential impacts on communities and links to advice and information on what protective action people can take if required. It also offers reassurance when significant flooding is not expected.
The Scottish Flood Forecast was developed following extensive research involving the public, community flood groups, emergency responders, partner organisations and both SEPA and Met Office employees. Feedback from more than 200 users was also gathered during a trial phase from May last year.
Commenting, Richard Thomson MP said:
“As climate change brings an ever greater number of extreme weather events to the North-east, community resilience and preparation are vital for being able to deal with and respond to the situation.
“The Scottish Flood Forecast service will be an important tool in assisting communities at risk from flooding to be well-prepared.”
The Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform Màiri McAllan MSP said:
“Flooding can cause utter devastation to people and communities, as we saw again in several parts of the country in November and December last year.
“The impact of the climate emergency, across the world and here in Scotland, means that flooding will be more frequent. That is why it’s so important that we increase community resilience and take action to manage flood risk.
“The Scottish Flood Forecast will give people a three day look ahead to help make plans for travel and ensure safety and is a product of the excellent partnership working between SEPA and the Met Office.
“This new three-day forecast is a helpful addition to the other important services, such as Floodline, that the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service provides.”
The Scottish Flood Forecast can be viewed at www.sepa.org.uk/scottishfloodforecast.
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