Young people most likely to take deadly risks in a flood

• 18-34 year olds most likely to take life endangering risks during a flood
• Around 1,000 people are rescued from flood waters every year with around 170 rescued from inside or on top of a vehicle
• Driving through flood water is the number one cause of death during flooding, with storm selfies and wave watching also recorded as causes of death. 

Driving through flood water, taking storm selfies and wave watching during coastal flooding are some of the life endangering risks that young people would take in a flood, putting themselves and rescue services in extreme danger, according to the Environment Agency and National Fire Chiefs Council.

In addition to being the age group most likely to take life endangering risks during a flood, people aged 18-34 are also the least likely to know if they live in an areas at risk of flooding, or how to protect their homes if flooding was forecast.

According to Home Office statistics, Fire and Rescue Services in England attended around 15,000 flood related incidents in 2016/17, and rescued or evacuated around 1,000 people from flood waters. On average, around 170 people a year are rescued from inside or on top of a vehicle surrounded by water and research undertaken by the AA has revealed that driving through flood water is the number one cause of death during flooding.

Following the devastation caused by Storm Eva in Boxing Day 2015, firefighters across Greater Manchester found themselves wading waist-deep in freezing water for up to seven hours at a time.

Firefighters in Radcliffe waded into waist high water in the Riverside Drive and Selby Close areas to rescue pregnant women, children and vulnerable, elderly people in care homes. Just moments later, the town was rocked by a gas explosion when the bridge close to ASDA gave way, ripping a mains supply out which then set alight. Two care homes were also affected in Littleborough where residents were too vulnerable to be evacuated and firefighters moved them upstairs to safety.

Over the course of the day, people across Greater Manchester called 999 for fire service assistance more than 500 times with 300 of those incidents directly flood related.

With a wet stormy winter forecast, the Environment Agency and Fire and Rescue Services across the country are urging young people to find out how to keep themselves, their loved ones and their homes safe in a flood. And during this year’s Flood Action Campaign, the Environment Agency is encouraging people to look at its ‘Prepare Act Survive’ flood plan, which lists some simple steps to help stay safe in a flood.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: “Knowing what to do in a flood could save your life and keep the people that you care about safe. Taking some simple steps to prepare in advance could prevent thousands of pounds of damage to your home and your possessions.  We would really urge young people, wherever they live, whether that’s in their own home, in rented housing, student accommodation or at home with their parents, to look at the Prepare Act Survive plan and find out how to how to protect themselves and their homes.”

Dawn Whittaker, NFCC Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Lead said: “Unfortunately fire and rescue services are often called to incidents where people have just underestimated the risks posed by flood water. Floods can quickly turn into life-threatening situations so NFCC ask that people listen to advice and avoid entering flood water whether on foot or in a vehicle.”

To find out more about what to do in a flood visit what to do in a flood on Gov.uk.

The Environment Agency is spending more than £2.6billion to build flood schemes around the country as part of its current programme, which will better protect 300,000 homes by 2021. Ahead of this winter it has also invested in more temporary flood barriers and high volume pumps which can be deployed at short notice right across the country whilst also working more closely with partners such as the Fire & Rescue Service – further improving the Environment Agency’s rapid flood response.