Sea level rise named as a threat to Dorset's landscape
Four in five people don't know how to prepare for "inevitable" floods
The risk of floods is growing in the UK with the British Red Cross announcing that we are “ill-prepared” for such an event.
Floods are the most common of all weather-related natural disasters and climate change is the main reason for this.
In the statement, the Red Cross found that two million people are living in areas at significant risk of flooding, with seaside towns being the most vulnerable.
Climate science expert, Luci Isaacson said Dorset’s greatest threat is surface water flooding, sea surges and sea level rise.
Extreme weather events are four times more likely than in 1970, according to the Red Cross. These 'flash floods' are an inevitability and happen quickly, so the Red Cross warns citizens to think about what actions they can take to be prepared.
She said: “unfortunately, a lot of people think I’m on top of a hill I’ll be fine, but actually they won’t be.
“We have atmospheric rivers so the more emissions to the atmosphere the more water vapours are being held and the more these rainfall events will increase by 500%, in frequency, between now and the end of the century.”
Climate change is happening at a much faster rate than it should be, Luci said: “If you imagine throwing things up in the air that’s what we’re doing with carbon emissions and that’s what’s causing flooding and heatwaves.”
The simple solution is to stop buying fuel, oil, petrol and diesel but Luci understands that isn’t easy for everyone.
Luci implores everyone to type long-term flood risks and be flood ready and enter their postcode to understand their flood risk and how they can adapt to the inevitable.