In the past, some caravan sites throughout England and Wales have been severely affected during flood events. The floods in autumn 2000 caused around £15 million worth of damage to caravans.

Many of the parks were particularly vulnerable as they were situated close to rivers and the coast. It is essential that park owners understand how flood warnings are issued and what steps they should take to ensure the safety of visitors.

The Environment Agency’s new free practical guide, "Caravans and Flood Risk", produced in conjunction with the British Holiday & Home Park Association and Jardine Lloyd Thompson Leisure, contains practical information on what to do if your park is in a flood risk area.

The leaflet contains information on the Agency's flood warning service as well as advice on site safety and insurance issues.

Examples of practical advice to park owners include:

• Find out if your park is in a flood risk area and what the local flood warning arrangements are. It may be possible to provide warnings directly to you.
• Parks in flood risk areas should display permanent warning notices.
• Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of flooding, in the same way you would for a fire or any other potential hazard.
• Advise your insurers if your park is in a flood risk area. Failure to do so could result in a subsequent claim being refused.

Asghar Akhondi, regional flood warning officer, said the key message to caravan park owners was to ‘be prepared’. "If your site is in a flood risk area, it is important that you know the actions to take to safeguard yourself, your visitors and your business in the event of flooding," he said.

Continues Asghar: "Even if your park has never been flooded in the past, you should still know what precautions to take in the same way as you would take steps to guard against fire risk.”

"If you haven’t already done so, please contact the Environment Agency’s 24 hour Floodline 0845 988 1188 service to find out if your park is at risk of flooding, and what the local arrangements are - you may be able to receive a free advance warning of flooding. The more warning we can give you, the more time you will have to move people and their possessions to safety."

Copies of the guide "Caravans and Flood Risk" can be obtained by phoning the Floodline.