Around 400,000 Scots homes at major risk of flooding within 50 years, says SEPA

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Around 400,000 Scots homes will be at major risk of flooding within 50 years thanks to climate change, an eco watchdog has warned.SEPA said the number of properties under threat of floods is projected to surge by 40 per cent, or 110,000, from current levels of around 284,000.It comes after a record number of flood alerts and flood warnings were issued to Scots this winter, with 720 notifications between September and February.Climate change is making downpours more frequent and extreme while rising seas threaten coastal areas.With greenhouse gases heating up the atmosphere, clouds are absorbing more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall.SEPA is now carrying out a review of Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) identified as at-risk of flooding, such as northeast seaside town Stonehaven which has repeatedly been battered by heavy rains.It also comes after Storm Babet last year devastated areas like Moray and Angus - with flood defences worth £16million in Brechin completely overwhelmed.PVA status - meaning there is a significant flood risk now or in the future - can help authorities prioritise investment and action in the areas to reduce the impacts of flooding on communities.Scotland’s PVAs are reviewed every six years, with that review now open for consultation to the public until June 2024.Siobhan McNulty, Flood Risk Planning Manager at SEPA, said: “Scotland is witnessing an increasing number of extreme weather events and flooding presents a growing threat to our communities.“It is vital we work together with partners and communities to identify the areas most at risk so we can work together to increase Scotland's resilience to flooding.