MP Harriett Baldwin has thanked Environment Agency staff working round the clock during the Christmas holidays to keep our communities safe. The MP was given a VIP tour of the Environment Agency’s local incident room which is used to monitor weather conditions and warn people who are at risk from flooding. The team also oversees dozens of permanent flood schemes and ensures temporary barriers are in place when high water threatens the county as well as reporting to the COBRA emergency committee when major incidents occur. The Prime Minister yesterday confirmed that up to 1000 troops are available to help with current flood relief efforts in Yorkshire. The Government is committed to spending £2.3 billion over the next six years to better protect 300,000 homes from flooding. Harriett said: “Many people in Worcestershire live in areas which could be at risk of flood so I was keen to come in and thank the people who act as our fourth emergency service. “The success of schemes like Upton are proof that the Agency’s work is invaluable – the flood wall and gate have protected the homes and businesses 12 times since they were constructed paying for themselves many times over. “However, it is important that we are not complacent. The rainfall levels that we have seen in the north of England would have overwhelmed many of our local defences so it is important that people stay registered for emergency alerts where necessary. “The incident room team play a crucial role monitoring conditions and providing early warning of potential flooding and helping those people at risk to take appropriate measures. “There are still areas which are at risk of flooding and we will all continue to see what can be done to secure better protection for areas like Callow End, Severn Stoke and Tenbury in my constituency. “The fact is that we live in a beautiful county which will, from time to time flood so we are hugely grateful to the Environment Agency for the work it does.” Photo: (l-r) Anthony Perry, Richard Stockdale, Harriett Baldwin MP, Rhys MacCarthy.