People living, working, and travelling in areas at risk of flooding in Ayrshire are being urged to sign up for free local 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 1,350 homes were sent postcards last month with information on two flood warning schemes for the Ayr and Annick Waters.
These schemes were developed by SEPA in partnership with South and North Ayrshire Councils and prioritised under the Flood Risk Management planning process introduced by the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009.
The schemes cover the following communities:
*Annick Water Scheme, Flood Warning Areas
*Stewarton
*Perceton
*Annick Water, Irvine
River Ayr Scheme, Flood Warning Areas
*Sorn
*Catrine
*River Ayr, Failford
In addition to the two schemes, SEPA also improved the flood warning scheme for the River Irvine by recalibrating existing flood warning areas and introducing a new one in Springbank.
The existing area for Queens Drive, New Mill Road and Samson Avenue, Kilmarnock, has been extended.
The Irvine Waterside/Low Green warning area has been renamed as ‘Low Green, Irvine.’
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.
“These warnings are there to help people prepare for flooding incidents and this service will allow people to consider their plans and take appropriate action.”
Find out more and sign up at floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup/ or by calling 0345 988 1188.
Information on what to do before, during and after flooding, and tips to protect your home or business can also be found at https://floodlinescotland.org.uk/
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