Sign up for flood warning alerts

People living, working, and travelling in areas at risk of flooding in Ayrshire are being urged to sign up for free flood warnings through Floodline.

This is a service operated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the aim is to better prepare the public for extreme weather events.

In recent weeks storms in the UK such as Dudley, Eunice and Franklin brought with them torrential rain and caused damage, cancellations to public transport and a host of other disruption. Receiving advance notice of flooding allows communities and businesses more time to act and reduce the risk of damage and disruption.

This may involve deploying flood protection products, moving vehicles from at risk areas and changing plans.

Anyone signed up to Floodline will receive an automated message to a landline or mobile, via text or phone call, when flooding is expected to occur.

Multiple phone numbers can be included within one account to ensure the message reaches all who need it and can also be received for more than one area. Around 1350 homes were sent postcards last month with information on two flood warning schemes for the Ayr and Annick Waters.

Pascal Lardet, Flood Warning Unit manager, said: “Extreme weather and rising river levels will only become more common because of climate change, so it’s vital that communities are supported to prepare more effectively for the impacts of flooding.

“We would encourage all of those who live, work and travel in the Ayr and Annick Flood Warning areas to sign up for our warnings for their safety and convenience.”

Find out more and sign up at floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup/ or by calling 0345 988 1188./