To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Environment Agency took recently to warn the public about possible flooding; when the flood warnings were issued; what other steps the Environment Agency took in response to the Meteorological Office warning and information; and when these steps were taken. (153730)

The Environment Agency has worked closely with the Met Office, receiving a number of flood specific weather and rainfall warnings, which helped to inform the agency’s flood forecasting systems. In total, the Met Office issued 214 flood warnings, including 19 severe flood warnings, from 18 July.

In response to this, the Environment Agency issued warnings to an estimated 145,000 people via its free Floodline Warnings Direct system. This provides information to the public, the emergency services, local authorities, and the media via email, telephone, mobile, fax or pager.