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Half a million homes could be swamped by Thames surge
Sri Carmichael and Will Stone26 Feb 2009
MORE than half a million London properties are at risk of flooding.
Hundreds of thousands of homes could be left underwater if rivers burst their banks or a tidal surge hit the Thames, the Environment Agency said.
The research provides the most detailed picture yet of the flood dangers facing London.
Experts from the Agency revealed that nine out of 10 homes in Hammersmith and Fulham could be left underwater.
In Southwark almost seven out of 10 buildings could be submerged and at least half of all properties in Newham are vulnerable.
In total 563,783 London buildings are in danger from floods, according to the State of the Environment report.
It comes two weeks after torrential downpours triggered almost 100 flood warnings across the capital.
An agency spokesman said: "Londoners need to be prepared as floods can occur at any time from prolonged rainfall to storms."
He added: "The risk of flooding can be reduced by adapting buildings."
He warned that just five per cent of the properties in the flood "danger zone" have signed up to the agency's warning service, which sends advance alerts by phone, text, email, pager or fax. Flood warnings are also broadcast on local radio stations. A spokesman for Hammersmith and Fulham council said the figures were "worrying".
Less than one per cent of the borough's buildings in danger are registered for flood warnings.
The report does not include homes on higher land that could be swamped by surface water if heavy downpours block drains.
It means the true number of properties at risk could be far higher than the 563,783 figure.
Jeff Hook, Southwark council's executive member for the environment, said: "An incident involving a breach in our Thames flood defences could have a severe impact on the borough.
"The council has a tried and tested emergency scheme in operation and regularly trains and exercises with our emergency services partners."
About 1.25million people live in London's flood plain - an area of 57sqmiles which lies below the high-tide line.
Most of these homes are classed as low-risk, which means they could be flooded on average once every 200 years. The Environment Agency said defences such as the Thames Barrier helped reduce danger but could not eliminate the risk.
The barrier has been raised 114 times since the Eighties, but 75 of these have been since 2000.
In 2007/08, £29million was invested in improving the barrier and other flood defences, reducing the flood risk for 8,450 properties.
Reader views (11)
Joanne, I wouldn't rely on the BBC to publish all stories of importance. If London were to flood as predicted I wouldn't worry about home insurance - I'd move!
- Gill, Midlands, Tewkesbury, Gloucs., 02/03/2009 13:45
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So has Boris pre-installed a boat congestion charge for vessels that float into central London?
- Mark, Hong Kong, 27/02/2009 02:45
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Londoners really do ignore such things. The film 'Flood' gave a pretty accurate scenario. Strikes me as a touch of King Canute here, the readers that is! Wonder if the dismissers (if there is such a word) know as to how many times the Thames Barrier has been closed this year!
- Tony Islander, Herts, 26/02/2009 23:28
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If this is serious, how comes it's not been on the BBC news? I too live in Southwark and I've not heard about any warning signs from the councils. If the impact is going to be so big, why hasn't the borough councils done something to create greater awareness?? Is this just to make people increase home insurance and get those who haven't bought home insurance to buy??
- Joanne, London, 26/02/2009 22:25
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First I've heard of any warning service and I live in Southwark.
- Thalia, london UK, 26/02/2009 18:29
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Crash Gordon will say it is the fault of the USA economy or anything, but him!
- Steve, London, 26/02/2009 16:23
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Going by the image,London looks quite nice like that!
- Steve, London, 26/02/2009 15:23
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I got one of those leaflsts through my letter box but there is no way where I live there is any danger of flooding at all. While some people are at some risk, it's an exagerrated scare story by the same kinds of people who want to bring in ID cards on a false prospectus. They are just trying to frighten people to justify their salaries.
- Jf, Waltham Forest, 26/02/2009 15:20
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Not a helpful article. I live in Hammersmith, and would like to know if this is just scare mongering, as floods in this area have been known about for decades, or actually has some new facts to back it up. Perhaps a link to the report? A link to the warning sign up service? maybe explain why this warning is different from previous warnings? Perhaps just write more helpful articles, rather then big headlines!?
- Ben, London, 26/02/2009 14:11
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...so where's this report? Can't see it anywhere on the Environment agency website...
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall, 26/02/2009 13:35
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You only have to get a flood report or environmental report done to see most of the Thames area is a potential flood risk, its been known for years but as per they will wait for it to happen before anything is done.
- Mike, London England, 26/02/2009 11:40
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