The telephone-based operation has been devised to target residents more effectively and significantly improves the increasingly ineffective flood warning siren system.
The new system does not mean that there is any increased threat of flooding in our area.
South Holland District Council has been working with its partners, the Environment Agency, Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire Police, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and the Internal Drainage Boards on the Lincolnshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF).
The LRF is currently running its "We're prepared for coastal flooding in Lincolnshire, are you?" campaign which urges people to take action to reduce their risk of flooding. The campaign is, in particular, encouraging local communities to work together to produce a Community Emergency and Flood Plan. SHDC will be supporting its communities in producing these plans.
In addition, the Environment Agency recently signed-up potentially vulnerable properties in the South Holland to its free Extended Direct Warnings flood warning service.
This means all homes and businesses at risk of flooding from main rivers or the sea that were not already registered to receive warnings from Floodline Warnings Direct will now do so unless they opt out. Recorded telephone messages were sent to tell people their phone number had been added to receive the service.
Councillor Roger Gambba-Jones, SHDC Executive Member for Operational Planning, said: "I hope residents and businesses see this as a very positive commitment to the well being of those who live and work in our district.
It is a significant improvement on a system that has served us well over many years, but one that has not been able to keep up with the strong growth our district has enjoyed in recent years."
Planning defences and other measures reduce the risk of flooding but are unable to prevent it in all circumstances and individuals and communities need to act to reduce their own risk.
By calling the Environment Agency's Floodline, they can make sure they are registered to receive the earliest possible warning if flooding is predicted.
Flood plans can also be made for individual homes, families or businesses. They are a key way that people can make sure they know what to do in a major flood.
For further information about the risk of coastal flooding and to download a personal flood plan, please visit www.lincolnshireprepared.co.uk.
The Environment Agency's Floodline service can be contacted on 0845 988 1188 or by visiting www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood to register for the Floodline Warnings Direct service.
