People in Suffolk urged to check flood risk and prepare ahead of winter
Flood Action Week aims to raise awareness of flood risk and encourage people to have a plan in place
People in Suffolk are being urged to check their flood risk and prepare ahead of winter.
Suffolk County Council is supporting the Environment Agency's Flood Action Week, which runs from 12th October 2026.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of flood risk and encourage people to have a plan in place.
The council said people should also find out about their responsibilities on their land and the steps they can take to reduce the impact of flooding.
It said flooding is becoming an increasing risk across the country as climate change brings more frequent periods of intense rainfall.
The council said many Suffolk communities experienced this during Storm Babet in October 2023.
Flood risk in England
The Environment Agency said: "6.3 million properties in England sit in areas at risk of flooding. And as our climate keeps changing, that risk keeps growing. Between April 2025 and March 2026 alone, we issued over 3,400 flood alerts, around 1,000 flood warnings, and 3 severe flood warnings."
What the council is doing
Suffolk County Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority for the county.
It said that, alongside Suffolk Highways' programme of maintaining more than 150,000 highway gullies, it is securing funding and delivering projects to reduce the impact of flooding on homes, businesses and critical infrastructure.
This includes natural flood management projects developed with farmers and landowners, which slow the flow of water through the landscape and reduce flood risk for downstream communities.
The council said a number of recent projects are underway in Debenham, which felt the impact of Storm Babet.
It has also worked with Norfolk County Council on the Reclaim The Rain project, which is testing new ways of managing and harnessing water in small rural locations.
This includes projects with Boxford Village Hall and Little Blakenham Village Hall.
What people can do
Councillor Morgan Brobyn, the council's cabinet member for food, waste and rural affairs, said: "Flooding can have a devastating impact on homes, businesses and communities, which is why being prepared is so important."
He said: "While Suffolk County Council continues to invest in projects that help reduce flood risk, there are also practical steps that residents can take themselves, from understanding their flood risk to maintaining watercourses on their land."
He said: "Many people may not realise they are responsible for a ditch, stream or other watercourse on their property. Keeping these clear helps water flow as intended and can reduce the risk of flooding both for themselves and their neighbours."
He said: "Increasingly intense rainfall can sometimes lead to flooding even where drainage systems and gullies are working as intended, which is why we need a combination of local action and flood resilience measures to help communities adapt."
He said: "Flood Action Week is a good opportunity to check what support and information is available and make sure you're prepared ahead of the winter months."