PEOPLE are being urged to learn how to protect themselves and help their communities when flooding hits - after research showed a lack of knowledge is putting them at risk.

The Environment Agency (EA) and British Red Cross say that 52 per cent of people in North Yorkshire would not know what to do if a flood warning was issued - and younger people are particularly at risk.

Currently, more than 7,000 homes in York are at risk of flooding in extreme weather.

EA flood risk manager, Neil Longden, said: “The EA estimates that there are approximately 7,200 York properties at risk of flooding in extreme storms. These are from a mixture of residential and business properties.

“According to our research at the Environment Agency, there are 3,860 properties at risk of flooding from the Ouse and 3,517 at risk from the Foss and other tributaries.”

Furthermore, people between the ages of 18-34 are least aware of the dangers of flooding.

The British Red Cross wants to create a national network of 10,000 community reserve volunteers who can be called upon in a crisis. The scheme would help teach people in flood warning areas how to prepare for a flood and reduce the damage to their properties. So far 5,000 people have signed up.

Pam Walker, flood warden for Acaster Malbis, helped set up a flood Facebook page to teach and warn people in the area about the 2015 York floods.

She said: “The scheme by British red cross could help reduce the damage to a lot of properties.

“When new neighbours arrive I talk to them about how best to protect their property and make sure they are signed up for free flood alerts and know where to get sandbags.

“I also keep a flood diary and records of local river levels, comparing peak levels to normal levels, working with the Environmental Agency and other flood wardens in the area to make sure people know about road closers and diverted routes.”

In a statement, Public Health England added that precautionary measures are vital as over a third of people who were flooded in 2014 suffered with depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress afterwards.