’There is much more we can do to help people prepare, reduce the damage and recover more quickly,’ says director of corporate affairs
Flood Re has unveiled plans to transform BeFloodReady into a national flood resilience platform, bringing together advice, support, research and innovation in a single hub designed to help people prepare for and recover from flooding.
Announced during Flood Action Week and backed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Floods Minister Emma Hardy MP, the initiative follows Flood Re’s acquisition of the BeFloodReady brand from Cornwall Council.
BeFloodReady originated as an Environment Agency Pathfinder project and will now be developed into a nationwide resource aimed at improving public understanding of flood resilience.
Flood Re said the platform will provide householders, businesses and communities with access to trusted guidance, practical tools, expert support and resilience solutions in one place. The goal is to help people move from simply understanding their flood risk to taking action to protect their properties and livelihoods.
Kelly Ostler-Coyle, director of corporate affairs at Flood Re, said: “Flooding can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, homes, businesses and communities. But while we cannot prevent every flood, there is much more we can do to help people prepare, reduce the damage and recover more quickly.
“BeFloodReady exists to make flood resilience easier to understand, easier to access and easier to act on. It’s about creating awareness and turning it into action. Our ambition is to create a trusted place where people can find practical guidance, expert support and clear information before, during and after flooding.”
’Simple steps’
The initiative comes as flood risk continues to increase across many parts of the UK due to climate change and more frequent extreme weather events.
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While flood resilience information already exists across various organisations, Flood Re said navigating those resources can be challenging for the public.
The new platform aims to simplify access to information and support, helping people better understand risks, prepare more effectively and recover more quickly following flooding incidents.
It also aims to support the development of Flood Performance Certificates, building skills and accreditation opportunities for resilience professionals and insurers, as well as creating access to trusted property flood resilience providers.
“By bringing together organisations from across the resilience community, we can help more people take simple steps that reduce damage, speed up recovery and build greater confidence for the future,” Ostler-Coyle said.
The next major milestone for BeFloodReady will be its inaugural conference, Preparing Today. Protecting Tomorrow, taking place on 22 April 2027.
His career began in 2019, when he joined a local north London newspaper after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a first-class honours degree in journalism.
He took up the position of deputy news editor at Insurance Times in March 2023, before being promoted to his current role in May 2024.View full Profile
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