Flood Re and the Environment Agency have launched a campaign to raise awareness around the likelihood of homeowners in England suffering a flood and the associated cost and impact. The ‘Be Flood Smart’ campaign seeks to encourage more homeowners to implement flood resilience measures to their properties.

Flood Re said 1 in 6 (17%) people in England are now at risk of flooding, but that more than a quarter (27%) don’t think it will ever happen to them. It said the average cost of fixing flood damage was £32,000.

Andy Bord (pictured), CEO of Flood Re, said: “More frequent and more damaging flooding is one of the ways the climate crisis is having a very real impact on households across the UK. We need to take urgent action to adapt to a warmer and wetter planet and reduce that risk.

“There are simple and cost-effective steps homeowners can take to protect their homes and the things they love from floods – and we want to inspire more people to do just that. That’s why we are partnering with the Environment Agency to deliver Be Flood Smart.”

The campaign launched at the Property Flood Resilience Centre in Oxfordshire. It is a dedicated PFR demonstration facility and where the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management’s PFR Code of Practice training will be held, alongside the National Flood School.

Alan Ryan, programme manager, Ox-Cam Property Flood Resilience Pathfinder and West Northamptonshire Council, added: “This is the first centre of its kind and we are delighted to bring together key stakeholders from across the flood risk management community, including CIWEM and the National Flood School, to put property-level flood resilience in the spotlight.”

The launch comes one year after the introduction of Flood Re’s Build Back Better scheme, designed to ensure homes are more resilient against future flooding. It said this was now offered by 64% of the UK insurance market, enabling customers of participating insurers to access reimbursement costs of up to £10,000 as part of a flood claim, over and above work to repair damage and loss. The funds are for the installation of PFR measures that will reduce the impact of future flooding.

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