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The government has today (19 November) announced that flood-hit homes and businesses will be able to receive up to £5,000 to help protect them from future flooding.

The grants, which will be made available through local authorities from the end of November onwards, will help homes and businesses to become more resilient to flooding by helping to pay for a range of property improvements. The funding will go towards the additional costs of installing fittings and materials that increase resistance to damage from water in the future, such as putting in flood doors and raising electrics off ground level.

The grants will be open to homes and businesses that have been seriously affected by flooding this autumn, including communities in South Yorkshire some of which experienced a month’s worth of rain in a single day during the week of 4 November.

This additional funding comes as Environment Agency teams continue to work across the country to reduce flood risk and to ensure that it is safe for people to move back into their homes.

Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said:

My thoughts go out to all those affected by the devastating flooding which has taken place over the last two weeks.

As we look ahead to the coming months, it is crucial that people are able to prepare for future flooding. That is why we are providing increased funding to enable people to make their homes more resilient and better protected if floods happen again.

With thousands of properties already safeguarded by flood defences, and work progressing on pumping away flood water, I would once again like to thank the commitment and dedication of our Environment Agency teams around the country, alongside our Emergency Services and Armed Forces.

This additional support for homes and businesses comes on top of grants worth up to £25,000 which will be made available to flood-hit farmers in northern England.

On Friday, 8 November, the government also activated the emergency Bellwin scheme. Under the scheme, local authorities dealing with the flooding can apply to have 100% of their eligible costs, above a threshold, reimbursed by the Government. Further support for homes and businesses was also announced on 15 November through immediate council tax and business rate relief for affected homes and businesses.

On 12 November 2019, the government also opened a Community Recovery Grant to support local councils with their efforts to get households on their feet, and a Business Recovery Grant for eligible small and medium-sized businesses.

People are advised to continue to check their flood risk and keep up to date with the latest situation on the Environment Agency’s flood warning’s page, or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.