Your first thought should be your safety. Find out if family or friends can offer you a place to stay when flooding threatens. If you have a disability contact your local authority social services and ask them how they will help if you are at risk from flooding.

Plan your escape route, particularly if you are in a bungalow. If you live in a house and have window locks, always keep a key upstairs. Find out from your local authority where you would be evacuated to and let family and friends know.

Make a list of useful numbers and keep it in a safe place. This should include, Floodline 0845 988 1188, family and friends, your local authority and your insurance company.

The Environment Agency (EA) is the authority responsible for implementing and managing flood defence schemes inEnglandandWales. The EA also plays an important role in warning people about the risks of flooding, and establishing and maintaining flood-warning systems. Today, the Agency provides and maintains more than 34,000km of river and coastal defences inEnglandandWalesand spends nearly £400 million each year on flood defence.