New flood warning system launched

A Stromness woman whose home was devastated by a sudden storm surge has welcomed a new scheme to provide advanced flood warnings for Orkney.

“Forewarned is definitely forearmed,” said Sarah Taylor, as Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) launched a series of new flood warnings for the county, yesterday, Tuesday.

Mrs Taylor, whose seafront property was left under a metre of water, back in January 2005, has praised the new system of 18 forecasting points, which will model coastal waters and the potential impact from elevated water levels across the county.

If you sign up for the new service, when flooding is forecast in a Flood Warning Area, messages will be sent by phone as an SMS or voice message, telling you that a Flood Warning has been issued.

“Advance warning will be very worthwhile, because it gives you the ability to plan ahead, move your valuables out of harm’s way,” she explained.

At the launch, Councillor Graham Sinclair, chairman of OIC’s development and infrastructure committee said: “The additional and advance notification gives everyone extra time to take necessary precautions in terms of any potential risk to property, or in terms of planning their journeys.

“We welcome the introduction of this new warning system and hope that the greater notice it provides will give locals valuable extra time to plan in periods of severe weather. I’d urge everyone in Orkney to consider the warnings they should be signing up for.”

To find out more about the new service or to sign up to the Floodline alerts, you can visit www.floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup

To see the full story, pick up a copy of this Thursday’s The Orcadian.