THE Environment Agency is urging people in Devon to prepare for floods this autumn and winter. 

It comes after the wettest 18 months on record up to February 2024, according to the Met Office.

There have already been floods in the Crediton area this year, with firefighters rescuing people from vehicles stuck in floodwater on October 16. 

The EA has advised checking your flood risk online and signing up for flood warnings by phone, text or email. It has also suggested preparing for future flooding by storing important documents in a secure, waterproof location, taking rugs and small furniture upstairs and checking how to turn off your electricity and water. 

During a flood, the EA said it is important drivers take care on roads, staying away from swollen rivers and not driving through flood water. 

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: “Through the recent launch of our Floods Resilience Taskforce, this government is taking decisive action to accelerate the development of flood defences and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather.     

“We must be all be proactive in taking steps to protect ourselves by checking our flood risk and signing up for flood warnings.” 

Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon and Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, added: “Flooding poses a risk to many of my constituents.  

“Taking proactive steps to plan for flooding, and knowing what to do during a flood, can significantly reduce risk." 

You can check your flood risk, find out more about how to prepare for flooding and sign up for alerts by visiting: gov.uk/prepare-for-flooding.