Environment Agency tells Hereford why flood warnings were wrong

The Government agency, which has seen industrial action hugely impact on its ability to share flood warnings, said a six-metre flood would hit Hereford, but water peaked at 4.75 metres.

That meant that hard work from the residents of Greyfriars Avenue to move furniture, take carpets up and even move out of their homes was all in vain.

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Flood warden Colin Taylor heads up the avenue’s flood action group and warned on Saturday that it was about to be hit that evening by the second-highest flood on record, trumped only by February 2020’s 6.11-metre peak which flooded all but one home.

He said panic ensued when the Environment Agency’s scaled-backed flood warning system alerted them to the predicted peak on Saturday, a day after five homes in the street were flooded as the river peaked at 5.34 metres.

Flood warden Colin Taylor in Greyfriars Avenue, Hereford, which flooded on Friday (January 13)

Mr Taylor and his two fellow flood wardens were shattered by 11.30pm on Saturday evening once they’d helped avenue residents to prepare for the flood. One resident was even planning to fly back from Dubai, and five more were put up in a hotel by their landlord.

But with the peak so much lower and 12 hours later than predicted by the agency, Mr Taylor said the street was left frustrated and angry after initially being desperate to protect themselves, their homes and their belongings. The peak was so low that the floodwater just lapped the lowest kerb in the street.

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While they were relieved, it meant people had worked incredibly hard for no reason, he said.

He said he felt terrible because people broke down in tears when he told them of a potential six-metre flood, but praised the community spirit as everyone pulled together.

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Sparse information given in flood warnings has been blamed on industrial action, with staff striking over pay. Rob Davies, one of those workers on strike, said real-term pay has fallen by more than 25 per cent since 2010.

Environment Agency staff have been striking over pay. Picture: Rob Davies

In response to criticism over flood warnings, the Environment Agency said: “We recognise how distressing flooding is for communities and the importance of reliable information and forecasts.

“The Environment Agency issues forecasted peak river levels made using a model that gives the reasonable worst case scenario. This is to ensure communities are given the opportunity to take action against potential flooding.

“There are many variables to this model which can mean actual peaks being different to forecasted peaks. After every flood incident we look at ways that we can improve our modelling.”