A news article is being run on the BBC website and the news bulletins this morning about the worries over flood insurance for vulnerable areas.

Tens of thousands of people who were flooded in 2007 may find it impossible to get cover for their homes and businesses unless the government and insurers reach a new agreement.

Campaigners say the government needs to act quickly as guarantees on vulnerable homes are due to end in June 2013.

The Association of British Insurers argues the agreement was a temporary measure and has distorted the market.

It wants the government to offer more help.

To put it simply, the insurance industry committed to keep flood insurance affordable for at risk communities so long as the Scottish and UK government, local authorities and agencies make progress on flood protection and prevention. The real concern is not enough or slow progress is being made for the insurance industry to recommit to such arrangements in the future.

A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers, speaking on BBC Breakfast, confirmed more commitment from government was required and hinted at the need for a government  subsidy so at risk communities can be provided with affordable flood coverage.

The ABI and the Scottish Government compiled “A Joint Statement on the Provision of Flood Insurance” back in December 2008.

Freuchie, Falkland and the Newton of Falkland have all been recognised by SEPA as areas at risk of flooding.

Following flooding in the West of Scotland over the last few days, Paul Hendy of the Scottish Flood Forum was interviewed by David MacKay on Scotland Tonight.

Do you agree or disagree with the comments made by Paul?

It is becoming increasingly clear that years of underinvestment by local authorities and Scottish Water need to be scrutinised from a flooding viewpoint. Both should and must do more in the coming years as the statutory duties of the Flood Risk Management Scotland Act 2009 come fully into force.

Our experience with Fife Council has seen a massive improvement in the way they deal with flooding over the last three years. The flood officers are taking their duties extremely seriously, working hard behind the scenes to do as much as possible. Unfortunately the budget they are given is no where near enough!

Many properties were built on sites where flooding was either not considered or the development was allowed to take place as long as it appeared to meet a 1 in 30 year flood return period. Thankfully the building standards of today insist on at least 1 in 200 years and it is now common for a Flood Risk Assessment to be performed in areas at risk of flooding.

SEPA has impressed FFAG over the last few years as they carefully consider flooding issues and planning applications. They’ve saved the community from worse flooding on more than one occasion.

Sad to see flooding occurring in Scotland following the torrential rain over the last few days.

BBC flood photos:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15943842

Abington Primary School pupils rescued from flooding:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15945986

Drivers stuck after rain causes flooding in Scotland:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-15922080

Here’s hoping no one has had their home flooded.

A flood alert is in force for Fife:

SEPA has issued a FLOOD ALERT for Fife.

Due to a continued period of prolonged and heavy rain which is forecast to continue throughout Wednesday, there is a risk of localised flooding, particularly from small watercourses, in the western areas of the region. The east of the region is not expected to experience the same degree of risk.
Intense periods of rainfall could result in some localised surface water issues in the west of the region, particularly in urban areas and on impermeable surfaces, such as the road network. Standing surface water may occur in these and other low lying areas.
SEPA will monitor the situation closely and provide further information when appropriate.

Remain vigilant and remember, it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property. Advice and information is available through Floodline on 0845 9881188. This FLOOD ALERT UPDATE is now in force until further notice. If you haven’t already signed up to receive free flood messages, please call Floodline or register online at sepa.org.uk/floodingsignup.

A severe weather warning has been issued by The Met Office -  from midnight tonight a “YELLOW ALERT OF RAIN” will be in place for 24 hours.

A period of heavy rain will affect parts of southern, central and eastern Scotland during Tuesday. The rain will tend to ease from the south during the afternoon. Timings and extent of rainfall remain subject to some uncertainty. The public should be aware that there may be disruption to travel in a few places with possible localised flooding.

The BBC Breakfast weather report is reporting the potential for 40 – 60mm in the east of Scotland.

Certainly a weather event we will be watching closely.

Sad news from Spain as an elderly couple are drowned in a flash flood.

Full story can be found here.

This story graphically illustrates the dangers from flash flood and the speed at which they can occur.

Freuchie experienced the most rainfall in a while yesterday. Approximately 24mm of rain fell in 9 hours, with most of the total falling in a 7 hour spell of moderate steady rainfall.

The culvert at Freuchie Mill rose considerably during this rainfall event. As has been previously highlighted, a rainfall rate of 3mm per hour will see the level of the Pitilock Burn rise to alarming levels incredibly quickly at Freuchie Mill.

Thankfully other watercourses in Freuchie tend to take longer or require more rainfall to raise the same level of alarm or lead onto flooding.

Thanks to Cockermouth Flood Action Group and others for their kind thoughts posted on our Facebook updates yesterday.

SEPA has informed us of the next step in the recent consultation.

Flooding in Scotland: A consultation on Potentially Vulnerable Areas and Local Plan Districts closed on Monday 15 August.  Thank you for taking time to consider and respond to this consultation.  SEPA has incorporated information and responses into the National Flood Risk Assessment and has reviewed Potentially Vulnerable Areas and Local Plan Districts based on responses and accompanying information provided during the consultation. 

Today, SEPA is submitting proposals for Potentially Vulnerable Areas and Local Plan Districts to Scottish Ministers.  This submission also includes a digest of the responses we received to the consultation and a summary of actions taken by SEPA.

A copy of the submission can be found on SEPA’s website.

Following SEPA’s submission to Scottish Ministers, a revised National Flood Risk Assessment will be published in December 2011.  The finalised set of Potentially Vulnerable Areas and Local Plan Districts will be published by SEPA and the Scottish Government in December 2011.

If you have any queries relating to the Flooding in Scotland consultation or Ministerial submission, please contact SEPA’s flood risk management planning team, floodactconsultation@sepa.org.uk or call 0131 273 7262.

Lots of information to digest for many flood affected and at risk communities!

FFAG will be looking through the proposals to evaluate the impact of the submissions made by Fife Council and ourselves.

With the last of the crops in fields around Freuchie being harvested, the impact of surface water run-off will become more significant over the coming month.

Here’s hoping for a dry autumn and winter.

Our thoughts are with those across the Atlantic who are suffering the worst effects of “Hurricane Irene” / “Tropical Storm Irene”.

The storm surge has already caused flooding, with further severe flooding being predicted along the east coast of the US.

Keep safe.

A Yellow (Be Aware) Severe Weather Warning has been issued by the Met Office:

Issued at – 26 Aug 2011, 12:42
Valid from – 26 Aug 2011, 12:00
Valid to – 26 Aug 2011, 21:00

Slow moving heavy rain, perhaps accompanied by thunder in places, will continue into this evening. The public should be aware that localised flooding from surface water is possible.

SEPA has issued a Flood Alert for Fife:

A FLOOD ALERT has been issued for Fife

from 26-08-2011 12:30 to 27-08-2011 12:30

A FLOOD ALERT has been issued for Fife.

Outbreaks of heavy rain, with some intense localised downpours, are expected to affect the area throughout Friday. The intensity of the rain may cause some surface water flooding, particularly in built up areas or on low lying roads. Flooding to low lying areas from small watercourses is also possible. Impacts are not expected to be widespread, but flooding may occur in localised areas where the rainfall is most intense. SEPA will continue to monitor the situation and further updates will be provided when new information becomes available. Conditions are expected to ease during Saturday.