England needs a single, trusted flood reporting and information service to stop families being “passed from pillar to post” when waters rise, a cross-party group of MPs has warned.
In a major report on flood resilience, the Environmental Audit Committee says public awareness of flood risk is “dangerously low” and responsibilities remain fragmented more than a decade after attempted reforms, undermining trust and slowing response on the ground.
The Committee urges government to launch a widely promoted national helpline and digital service by March 2026, building on Floodline and providing clear guidance for all types of flooding via phone, SMS and online.
It should be co-designed with flood-affected communities and delivered with local authorities, water companies and emergency services.
The MPs also want a national flood awareness campaign on the same timeline to boost sign-up to warnings, improve use of risk maps and embed flood education in schools and workplaces.
Local flood action groups are described as “indispensable” yet undervalued and inconsistently supported.
The report recommends a national framework by March 2026 to give groups core funding, formal recognition in local plans, standardised training and a toolkit for continuity, alongside action to address council capacity and skills gaps so statutory duties can be met.
The Committee highlights the human and economic toll of repeated flooding, including billions in damages, disruption to schools and healthcare and higher vulnerability for people in deprived areas.
It calls for investment to prioritise those facing the greatest hardship and repeated events, and for long-term, catchment-scale solutions such as nature-based measures and mandatory sustainable drainage in new developments.
Surface water flooding, now the most common source of flooding in England, is singled out as a “major gap” in national resilience that must be addressed through better planning, funding and public guidance.
Overall, the MPs say the system remains too reactive and lacks urgency and that clear national leadership and measurable targets are needed to embed resilience as climate risks escalate.
Committee chair Toby Perkins said victims deserve clarity and support from the first call, adding that a single national line and inclusive investment framework would help ensure “the state has their back” when they are most vulnerable.
MPs urge single national flood helpline to protect households appeared first on Energy Live News.