New warning issued over 6.3m UK homes near rivers or sea

Flood victims need a single trusted line to contact experts for help and clear accountability, MPs have recommended.

The cross-party Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has warned that many communities still do not know who is responsible for managing flood risk where they live.

Toby Perkins MP, chair of the EAC, said: "I know from my own constituency that flooding devastates communities, rips away livelihoods and causes horrific economic and psychological damage. As my community tragically found out with the death of Maureen Gilbert, who drowned due to flooding from Storm Babet in 2023, flooding can pose a threat to life too.

"The Government has made some welcome progress; record levels of investment are set to secure defences for thousands of vulnerable properties. But this problem is only growing. Much more still needs to be done.

"Victims deserve better than being passed from agency to agency. When your house is on fire, you know exactly who to call and what to expect from them. That isn't the case with flooding. The increasing frequency of flood events suggests we need to treat this like other domestic emergencies.

"A single national line would be a helpful step towards helping flood victims feel that the state has their back, and that they are not alone when they feel most vulnerable. A national flood awareness campaign would help the public to understand that while they should not panic, they must also prepare."

A report by the MP found public awareness of the risk of flooding is "dangerously low", with too many people not understanding the risks they face, how to respond to warnings or how to protect their homes.

MPs recommend the Government establish a single, widely promoted national flood reporting and information service by March 2026, offering a clear point of contact for all types of flooding.

The Government announced last week that more than 24,000 homes and businesses have been better protected from floods across England because of recent works to boost resilience.

It comes after the Government committed to an increase in spending on flood defences, pledging £2.65 billion over the two-year period until April 2026 - up £250 million from what the former Tory government had promised.

The number of UK properties at risk from flooding is growing amid rising sea levels and more volatile rainfall patterns, as well as outdated flood defences and increased development projects.

The Environment Agency says 6.3 million properties in England are currently at risk and estimates that this number will rise to around eight million (one in four properties) by 2050.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: "Floods devastate lives and livelihoods, but this Government's preparations mean that after inheriting flood assets in their worst condition on record, we're better prepared than we were this time last year.

"We're investing more than £10.5 billion up until 2036 to build new and repair existing flood defences, driving growth by creating thousands of jobs, protecting against billions of pounds of damage, and unlocking the building of new homes.

"I urge everyone to take simple steps to protect yourselves and your homes from flooding this winter, such as by checking your flood risk, signing up for flood warnings, and preparing a flood plan."