UK to receive Google Flood Alerts

The UK has become one of the first countries in Europe where people will be able to receive flood alerts via the Google Public Alerts map.

It means that flood warnings, issued by the Environment Agency, will now appear on Google Search and the Google Public Alerts map with live alerts becoming visible on personal devices in a matter of seconds once they have been issued.

The warnings will also include vital information on steps people can take to keep themselves and their property safe when flooding is expected. The service has already been rolled out in the USA, South America and parts of Asia to alert residents to environmental emergencies such as earthquakes, wildfires and extreme temperatures.

John Curtin, executive director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency, said: “This pioneering service will ensure that our live flood warnings and safety advice reaches even more people when it is most needed, giving UK residents access to the first service of this kind in Europe. We are always looking to find innovative ways to give people advance warning of potential flood risk so they can take action to keep themselves and their property safe. We will continue to work closely with Google to explore ways in which we can further develop this fundamental public warning service.”

The Environment Agency already sends flood warnings and alerts to over 1.4 million properties in England which have signed up to a text, email and automated phone call service. There are three levels of flood warnings: Flood Alert, Flood Warning and Severe.