Flood Action Week launched to raise flood risk awareness

Flood Action Week 2026 runs from Monday 12 October to Sunday 18 October, an annual campaign led by the Environment Agency that aims to raise awareness of flood risk and encourage people to prepare and have a plan in place¹. Councils and community organisations marked the opening day with local announcements, including Suffolk County Council, Devon County Council, ACRE and the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council¹.

The Environment Agency says around 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are in areas at risk of flooding¹. In its own words:

Devon County Council reports that El Niño is now affecting weather patterns, which it says does not mean flooding is certain but makes repeated storms, prolonged rainfall, saturated ground and flooding in the UK more likely². ACRE, the rural communities charity, says that following a notably wet winter and a record-breaking hot summer, many catchments remain vulnerable to future flooding events³. GRCC reports that summer 2026 has been the hottest on record, and that polling shows almost 50% of the public have not looked up the flood risk for their home⁴. GRCC also reports that nearly 11,000 properties in Gloucestershire face a 1% annual risk of river flooding, a 1 in 100-year event⁴.

Local figures and arrangements reported this week:

Suffolk County Council says many people may not realise they are responsible for a ditch, stream or other watercourse on their property, and that keeping these clear helps water flow as intended and can reduce the risk of flooding both for themselves and their neighbours¹. Devon County Council describes flood wardens as a voluntary role with no fixed duties, and says they are not responsible for managing flooding².

Why it matters for households

The campaign covers the practical side of household readiness. Devon County Council advises people never to walk, cycle or drive through floodwater, saying it may be deeper or faster-flowing than it looks and may hide hazards, and that just 12 inches (30cm) of moving water can float a car². It says that if a road is flooded, people should turn around and use another route, and that if there is an immediate danger to life, 999 should always be called². It advises checking on neighbours, friends and relatives who may need extra support by phone or message first, asking what help they need, and not entering floodwater or putting yourself at risk².

On planning, Devon County Council says a household flood plan helps everyone at home know what to do, where to go and who to contact in an emergency, and suggests including contact details for insurers, utility companies, local councils, medical contacts, friends and family, and how to safely turn off gas, water and electricity². It suggests a flood kit could include copies of important documents in a waterproof folder, medicine and a first aid kit, bottled water and food that will not go off, warm waterproof clothing, a torch and spare batteries, a portable radio, phone chargers and power banks, and supplies for babies, children or pets, kept somewhere easy to reach². It also advises looking at ways to protect the home such as flood barriers, airbrick covers and non-return valves, and says not to wait until floodwater reaches your home². ACRE notes that older residents, people with disabilities and those living alone can be disproportionately affected by flooding and severe weather³.

The Environment Agency's flood risk checker, flood warning sign-up and guidance on alerts and warnings are cited by the councils as the routes for checking risk and receiving warnings¹. Our guides to flooding and to making a household flood plan set out the household side in more detail, and Flood Alerts, Flood Warnings and Severe Flood Warnings explains what each level means.

What happens next

Flood Action Week closes on Sunday 18 October 2026². GRCC's next Explore Your River Day is on 6 November 2026, 9am to 1pm at Moorwood Lodge, GL7 7EB, with booking essential⁴. Wiltshire and Swindon Prepared lists the landline telephone switch-off on 31 January 2027 among its upcoming dates⁵. No further Environment Agency timetable for the campaign has been reported.