North East Lincolnshire Council is calling on people to take steps to protect their home or business premises if they are at risk of flooding.

Many properties in North East Lincolnshire are at risk of flooding from different sources, including the sea, surface water and rivers. Some are also at risk of flooding from rising groundwater.

People can find out more about flood risk and what they can do to protect their property at a series of drop-in information events being held across the borough later this month. If you can’t make it to one of the events, there’s lots of information and practical advice available on the Council’s website, www.nelincs.gov.uk/flooding.

Officers from the Council and its partner Cofely, along with representatives from the Environment Agency and Anglian Water, will be on hand to give advice and answer your flood-related questions at the following locations:

• Wednesday 21 October, Immingham Library, 10am to 4pm
• Friday 23 October, Freeman Street Market, 9am to 4pm
• Tuesday 27 October, Cleethorpes Library 10am to 1pm
• Tuesday 27 October, Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, 2pm to 6pm
• Wednesday 28 October, Grimsby Central Library, 10am to 1pm
• Wednesday 28 October, Grimsby Leisure Centre, 2pm to 6pm

A new information leaflet has been published and the Council’s website, www.nelincs.gov.uk/flooding, has been updated with new pages where people can find out about flood risk, how they can prepare for flooding and what support the Council does and does not provide in the event of a flood.

Some flooding can happen suddenly and with little or no warning. The Council and others will not always be able to prevent it from happening, but there are steps you can take to protect your property. As a property owner, you are legally responsible for protecting your home from flooding.

Rachael McMahon, Flood Resilience Advisor at the Environment Agency, said:

“There are three really simple things you can do to help protect your family, home and business from flooding – check your risk, sign up for flood warnings, and make a plan. Come along to one of the upcoming events to chat to us and find out more.

“The Environment Agency provides a free flood warning service which can give you as much notice as possible of flooding – and signing up is as easy as calling 0345 988 1188 or searching for ‘flood warnings’ on our website. If you can’t make it to one of these events, make sure you still register for flood warnings, as these will buy you vital time to take action and reduce the impact of flooding.”

Jonathan Glerum, Anglian Water Flood Risk Manager, said:

“When the extreme weather hit Grimsby last year our pumps were operating at full capacity to clear water and our staff were working round the clock to provide help for those affected.

“Since then all the different agencies responsible for drainage in this area have been in close contact to discuss what can be done in the long and short term to reduce the risk of flooding in the future. Extreme weather is just that though – sudden, heavy and localised in this case and therefore difficult to predict where flooding may occur. We are looking forward to having the opportunity to speak with customers, explain our role, the aspects of the drainage that we are responsible for, and what we’re doing and investing in the region.”

For more details visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/flooding.