Nearly 100,000 properties protected from flooding during Storm Babet, but threat remains
Rolling updates on flooding impacts from Storm Babet in England.
Nearly 100,000 properties were protected during flooding caused by Storm Babet, the Environment Agency has confirmed.
However the threat of flooding remains. As of 18:00pm on Friday 27 October there are 16 flood warnings, meaning that flooding is expected, and 75 flood alerts, meaning that flooding is possible, and this number is likely to rise again over the weekend.
In particular, large waves and spring tides could bring coastal and tidal flooding to parts of the south west.
An estimated 96,000 properties have been protected and as part of the EA’s response to flooding caused by Storm Babet, twenty high volume pumps and five small volume pumps were deployed across several sites. The EA’s flood warning service sent out over 300,000 messages by email, telephone and text during Storm Babet.
Tragically, a number of deaths have been widely reported and, sadly, the total number of properties reported to have been flooded stands at 2,146. We will work to understand if more could be done to better protect these properties in future.
While the immediate threat from Storm Babet has passed, heavy rainfall over the weekend means that significant river and surface water flooding is possible, but not expected, in parts of South East England on Saturday and Sunday. Large waves and spring tides also mean that coastal flooding impacts are probable for parts of the south coast over the weekend.
Dan Bond, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:
Flood defences and the work of Environment Agency staff have helped to protected nearly 100,000 properties from flooding during Storm Babet, while the total number of properties sadly reported to have flooded is 2,146.
However the threat of flooding remains. Large waves and spring tides mean that minor flooding impacts are probable for parts of the South West of England on Saturday, and heavy rainfall across sensitive river catchments means that significant river and surface water flooding is possible, but not expected, in parts of South East England on Saturday and Sunday.
We advise people to take extreme care on coastal paths and promenades, stay away from swollen rivers and urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.
People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation at https://www.gov.uk/check-flood-risk, call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or follow @EnvAgency on X, formerly known as Twitter, for the latest flood updates.
The Environment Agency has worked round the clock with its partners to help reduce the risk. Teams operated flood defences, flood storage reservoirs and put up temporary barriers where needed to help protect communities.
The Government has also announced that support will be available to areas in England that have experienced exceptional localised flooding through the activation of the Flood Recovery Framework scheme.
The public should sign up to flood warnings and check the latest safety advice as heavy downpours are likely to fall on saturated ground.
Last updated 27 October 2023 + show all updates
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This update reflects the most recent situation regarding Storm Babet as of 18:45 on Friday 27 October.
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Updates to flood statement and number of properties flooded.
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This update reflects the most recent situation regarding Storm Babet as of 13.45 on Tuesday 24 October.
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The story has been updated to reflect the latest picture as of 3.30pm 23 October.
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Update on the latest flooding situation, as of 20:10pm Sunday 22 October
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The story has been updated to reflect the latest picture as of 22nd October.
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This is an update to reflect the numbers of properties protected and flooded as of 15.15 on Saturday 21 October.
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This update reflects the latest situation as of 12.30pm on Saturday 21 October.
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First published.