Gloucestershire prepares for flood season with expert advice during Flood Action Week
The aim for Flood Action Week is to encourage people to get prepared and understand the flood risk to their home.
People across Gloucesterhire are being given advice and guidance around what to do to preapare for flooding season.
As the colder months approach, so does the risk of heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding.
During Flood Action Week, people across Gloucestershire are being signposted to resources that will help to prepare them in case of emergency.
Councillor Ashley Bowkett is the Cabinet Member for Nature, Climate & Waste Reduction.
We spoke to him about how climate change has impacted how the council anticipate flood risk in Gloucestershire.
He said, ''There have been meteorological office warnings about potentially more severe weather conditions this coming winter, which could mean more severe rain, prolonged periods of rain.
We have to be prepared for that. And every year the situation is changing and we have to adapt.''
He told us that, ''the natural flood management team at Gloucestershire County Council has been working on some really, really supportive measures in a few areas in the county.''
Ashley spoke about some of the successful flood alleviation schemes in the county.
Talking about a project in Lydney in the Forest of Dean, He said, ''We've been restoring rivers there, creating wet woodlands, and we've been using large woody debris to slow the flow of water as it comes down from hilly areas and gathers pace, and we've seen really encouraging results
He added, ''in Newent, we've been building some 'leaky dams' using natural flood management measures. None of it is flashy, but it helps to hold the water higher up in the catchment area, which delays the water flowing downstream so quickly. So it allows people to prepare ahead, to know in advance what's coming.''
The aim for Flood Action Week is to encourage people to get prepared and understand the flood risk to their home.
Ashley said, ''It's really important to plan ahead, rather than panicking at the last minute when the rain starts and the flooding is approaching, it's better to be prepared now.''
''So what we're strongly suggesting is to go to the flood guide at the Gloucestershire County Council website. It lays out lots of different sections about how to prepare ahead, what to do when a flooding event is occurring, and also how to manage things after a flood event.''
Flood Action week is a national campaign running from 12th-1th October.