Flood Risk Rising: Camden & Neighbouring Residents Urged to Get Prepared
PRESS RELEASE
8 October 2025
Residents from across the London Borough of Camden are invited to attend a free Flood Resilience Open Evening hosted by the South Hampstead Flood Action Group, on Tuesday 28th October 2025, 6.30pm–8.00pm at Likewise Community Centre (NW6 3SG).
The event is being held to help residents in Camden, as well as neighbouring boroughs, understand their flood risk, explore practical measures to protect their homes, and learn how to prepare and recover should flooding occur in the future.
South Hampstead and the wider Camden area have long been vulnerable to flooding, with major surface water incidents recorded in 1975, 2002, and most recently in July 2021, when more than a month’s worth of rain fell in just two hours.
In 2021, thousands of homes and businesses across London were affected, leaving many residents homeless as sewage surged into their properties. The prevalence of lower ground floor flats across the capital makes the risk particularly acute.
The open evening will bring together expert organisations and speakers from across the flood risk sector, including:
Mary Long-Dhonau OBE (‘Flood Mary’) – one of the UK’s leading flood resilience and recovery advocates, who will share her personal experiences of being flooded and provide advice on preparedness, resilience and recoverability.
Watertight International – specialists in bespoke property flood resilience measures, who will showcase a wide variety of Property Flood Resilience (PFR) products and solutions. Watertight will also be offering free, no-obligation consultation for residents on Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th October (limited spaces available on a first come, first served basis).
The National Flood Forum – a national charity that supports communities affected by flooding, offering impartial advice and resources for residents at risk.
The Environment Agency - local representatives will be on hand to discuss flood risk in the Camden area, demonstrate online flood maps, and answer questions about local resilience and planning.
Camden Council – representatives from the council have been invited to attend to engage with residents and listen to community concerns.
Talks will begin at 6.45pm, with Flood Mary speaking at 7.00pm. Residents are welcome to attend for the whole evening or drop in at a time convenient to them to access information or speak directly with the experts on hand.
In addition to preparedness and resilience, the event will also highlight how small-scale, nature-based solutions can help to reduce surface water runoff, while building resilience at a household and community level, complementing measures outlined in the London Surface Water Strategy.
Joan Munro, a founding member of the South Hampstead Flood Action Group, said: “Flooding is not just something that happened in the past; it is a real and ongoing risk for residents in South Hampstead, across Camden and beyond.
“This event is about helping people understand that risk and giving them the knowledge and tools to be better prepared. We encourage everyone – especially those living in basement flats or other high-risk properties – to come along, ask questions and hear from independent experts. Attendees will be able to explore different perspectives and decide for themselves what steps may be most suitable for their own circumstances.
“We also warmly welcome members of other Flood Action Groups from across London, as this is a chance to share ideas, compare experiences and strengthen collaboration.”
Venue: Likewise (the former Crossfield Centre), 8 Fairhazel Gardens, South Hampstead, NW6 3SG
Date: Tuesday 28th October 2025
Time: 6.30pm–8.00pm (with talks from 6.45pm, Flood Mary at 7.00pm)
Notes: Refreshments available.
The event is free to attend and open to all Camden residents, as well as neighbouring boroughs and flood action groups from across London.
For more information, please contact: floodactionsouthhampstead@gmail.com.
