The Environment Agency is distributing a special calendar featuring tips on how to minimise the impact of flooding to homes in Devon.

The calendar shows recent photographs of flooding in Devon each month to act as a reminder of the danger. It also contains tips on how people can protect their property and their life.

Adele Needham from the Environment Agency said: "Over 32,000 homes and businesses are situated in floodplains in Devon and are at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea."

"We thought a calendar - which by its very nature people look at every day - was a good way to remind people of ways to minimise the dangers, hard work and heartache of flooding and its aftermath."

The free calendar is destined for those homes belonging to people who live in areas liable to flood who have registered to receive a flood warning directly from the Environment Agency’s Automatic Flood Warning service.

Despite such a large number of at-risk sites in the county, only around 1250 homes have registered with the flood warning service.

A recent survey showed that two thirds of households in the floodplain were unlikely to take measures to protect themselves and their property. The research also showed that one third of people in flood risk areas had not checked whether their buildings and contents insurance covers flood damage and two fifths admitted they would not know what to do in the event of a flood.

The tips are aimed at reducing the risk of flooding to property and lives including:

• Emergency action in the event of a flood
• Examples and ideas for flood protection products
• Advice on how to deal with farm animals and pets
• How to use flood boards and place sandbags correctly
• Insurance advice
• Explanation of the flood warning codes
• A template for designing your own Flood Protection Plan
• Personal safety

Around 500 free calendars are also available to anyone else that wants one. Please contact the Environment Agency at Exminster House, Sir John Moore House, Miller Way, Exminster, Exeter, EX6 8AS. Tel: 0870 8506506.