A new online platform bringing together flood risk information, weather alerts and practical advice has been launched by the Environment Agency, alongside a government commitment to improve flood protection for 200,000 properties in England by March 2029.
Announced on 12 October to coincide with the start of Flood Action Week, Flood Action Online is intended to make it easier for households and businesses to assess their exposure to flooding and take preventative action.
The platform provides access to flood risk assessments, Environment Agency flood warnings and Met Office weather alerts, alongside guidance on preparing flood plans and installing property-level resilience measures.
The launch accompanies a £4.2 billion government investment programme, running from April 2025 to March 2029, to repair and replace existing flood defences and construct new infrastructure. Defra estimates that the programme will deliver £27.9 billion in economic benefits through avoided flood damage.
The government says that £2.65 billion spent on flood defences during its first two years in office has resulted in improved protection for almost 62,000 properties, exceeding its original target of 52,000.
Investment in maintenance and repairs has also helped stabilise the condition of existing flood defence infrastructure, according to Defra. At the end of March 2026, 93% of Environment Agency flood defence assets were at or above their required condition, following several years of decline. The government has set a target to increase this proportion to 93.5% by March 2029.
Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: “Climate change means that extreme weather can switch quickly, but we’re more prepared than ever before for the challenges posed by floods.”
She added that the investment in new and existing defences would help protect more communities, while the new Flood and Drought Resilience Taskforce would place businesses and communities at the centre of resilience planning.
The taskforce, announced on 11 October, is due to meet for the first time on 14 October. Bringing together representatives from more than 50 organisations, including the Environment Agency, Met Office, water industry, emergency services and local authorities, it will examine preparedness for extreme weather and opportunities for a more coordinated response to flooding and drought.
The initiative follows a period of contrasting weather extremes in England, with a wet winter followed by prolonged summer drought conditions.
Alongside longer-term infrastructure investment, the Environment Agency is maintaining its emergency response capabilities, including 260 mobile pumps, of which 17 are ultra-high-volume units, and 25 kilometres of temporary flood barriers. The agency also operates a round-the-clock emergency response system, with 600 personnel on call at any one time.
Caroline Douglass, the Environment Agency’s Executive Director for Floods, said the new website would make it easier for people to access guidance, while ongoing maintenance and investment would help ensure defences continued to protect vulnerable areas.
The government’s announcement also comes as work begins on a new system of Flood Performance Certificates, intended to provide standardised assessments of individual properties’ flood exposure and resilience.
Announced on 13 October, the certificates will be piloted by Flood Re, with assessments potentially incorporating measures such as flood barriers, self-closing air bricks and water-resistant flooring. The initiative aims to help householders understand their vulnerabilities and enable insurers and lenders to take resilience improvements into account.
Notes
[1] Defra, ‘New one stop shop for flood preparedness launched as we approach more weather whiplash’, 12 October 2026; [2] Defra, ‘New taskforce to boost Britain’s resilience to flooding and drought’, 11 October 2026; [3] Defra, ‘New pioneering certificates to help homeowners cut flood risk’, 13 October 2026.