Environment Agency warns south west coastal communities to prepare for flooding from Storm Eunice

The Environment Agency issued the warning on 16 February 2022, saying a tidal surge caused by Storm Eunice was possible on Friday morning along the north coast of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset¹. It said strong winds, large waves and the storm surge were likely to cause wave-overtopping and flooding to exposed communities during the high tide, bringing a risk of flooding to homes and businesses along the north coast¹. A Met Office weather warning was in place for Storm Eunice¹.

The agency's warnings widened as the storm approached. On 15 February it had already urged communities in the Severn and Wye estuaries to prepare, with flooding possible from Avonmouth and up the Severn into Gloucestershire and along the Wye from Chepstow to Monmouth². On 17 February it said it had issued 9 Severe Flood Warnings along the Severn and Wye, covering the same stretch from Avonmouth into Gloucestershire and along the Wye from Chepstow to Monmouth, and that a further 20 Flood Warnings were in place³. Severe Flood Warnings indicate that there is a risk to life³. The agency said there was potential for record water levels along the Severn and Wye estuary, and for high water levels between 7:30 and 11:30 am on Friday morning³. Flood barriers were deployed in Shrewsbury, Frankwell and at Beales Corner in Bewdley, with officers ready to deploy barriers at Ironbridge if needed³.

Jim Flory, for the Environment Agency, said:

Kay Champion, Area Incident Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said the arrival of Storm Eunice overnight on Thursday had the potential to cause severe flooding with overtopping of defences, very strong winds and high waves³.

Why it matters for households

The warnings cover households in flood risk communities on the north coast of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset and in the Severn and Wye estuaries, with the tidal surge expected on Friday morning and high water levels possible between 7:30 and 11:30 am on Friday in the Severn and Wye area¹. The agency advised people to stay away from coastal areas and keep away from shoreline roads and paths, piers and promenades, and to avoid low lying roads and footpaths during this time¹. It urged people to stay away from the coast during the storm, saying there is a real risk to life during these severe high winds, and warned wave watchers against the unnecessary danger of taking "storm selfies"¹.

Residents were urged to sign up to Environment Agency Flood Warning messages and to follow the "Prepare, Act, Survive" guidance, which the agency lists as: prepare a bag that includes medical and insurance documents; check the latest flood situation online; know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water; check your insurance to make sure you are covered for flood damage, noting that if you rent your home it is your responsibility to have insurance for your belongings; and, if flooded, call 999 if in immediate danger and follow advice from emergency services¹. The agency said people could check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date at check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk, on Floodline 0345 988 1188, or by following its regional accounts on Twitter¹. Our guides on coastal flooding, tidal surges and erosion and on staying safe on the coast in gales and high waves set out how these events affect shoreline properties and paths, and the checklist for when a flood warning is issued covers the steps authorities list at that stage.

What happens next

The Environment Agency said it would issue flood warnings if necessary and had teams out on the ground taking action to reduce the impact of any possible flooding¹. It said its incident response staff were checking defences and that it was working closely with partners³. The Met Office red warning for strong winds from Storm Eunice was in place at the time of the 17 February statement³. No further updates after 17 February are covered here.