One in seven Welsh properties at flood risk: NRW sets out how to prepare

One in seven homes and businesses in Wales is at risk of flooding, Natural Resources Wales says as it launches its annual Be Flood Ready campaign. The campaign runs from 12 to 16 October and urges people to prepare after a summer of drought and wildfires. NRW asks residents to check their risk by postcode, sign up for its free warning service and know what they would do if flooding were forecast. Its message is about preparation before severe weather arrives.

A seasonal outlook is not an imminent flood warning

The release includes a Met Office outlook indicating a greater likelihood of wetter, windier and milder conditions than average in autumn and early winter. It also says dry and settled periods will still occur. A long-range outlook cannot specify the timing, location or severity of an individual storm. This announcement should not be read as a warning that every part of Wales is about to flood. Live warnings and local forecasts are separate checks.

Three checks to make now

Start with NRW’s postcode risk checker, then use its flood-warning signup service if your property is covered. Read its guidance on preparing a flood plan and what to do when flooding is forecast. The official links are provided below. The one-in-seven estimate includes homes and businesses across Wales. It is not the probability that any individual property will flood this winter, and a property that has not flooded before is not necessarily outside a risk area.

Defences reduce risk rather than remove it

NRW says flood defences cannot be built everywhere and cannot eliminate risk completely. It gives proposed tidal defences at Cardigan as an example: the scheme aims to reduce risk to around 90 properties, with a new wall, improvements along The Strand and intertidal habitat. Those are proposals, not a completed protection scheme. NRW also supports community flood plans, allowing residents to identify local risks and agree practical actions before an emergency.