Over 10,000 homes in the Wey, Cut and Bournes river catchment area are in danger of flooding and could benefit from receiving flood warning messages.

From 10 March 2008 members of the Environment Agency’s flood incident management team will be out and about in Guildford, Godalming and Weybridge telling people what flood warning areas are and explaining changes to Floodline quickdial numbers for the county. They will also be providing people who are at risk from flooding with advice and information about how to protect themselves and their properties.

The Environment Agency is also trying to encourage sign-up to their flood warning service - Floodline Warnings Direct. From the end of March 2008, the organisation will automatically register people in the Wey, Cut and Bournes flood risk area, whose name, address and phone number can be obtained through public records. If this full information is unavailable, or if someone has chosen to be ex-directory, the Environment Agency will write to them instead to encourage them to register.

Letters have been sent to over 3,500 home owners in towns such as Chertsey, Farnham and Woking to encourage them to sign up. Last summer, the Environment Agency changed its flood warning service for residents in parts of Surrey to make sure that flood warnings specifically targeted communities in the River Wey, Cut and Bournes catchments, rather than encompassing long stretches of river without identifiable landmarks nearby.

John Cooper, from the flood incident management team at the Environment Agency said: "We are urging people to come along to the events to find out if they are at risk of flooding and to gain practical advice on the steps they can take to minimise risk to themselves and their property in the event of a flood.

“Anyone who is at risk will be able to sign up to the Floodline Warnings Direct service which issues flood warnings over the phone, fax, text message and email. Flood warnings can provide vital time to ensure that people protect their homes and valuables. Living in the floodplain is never without risk, so it is vital that residents and businesses have plans in place to minimise the damage and impact which flooding can cause”.