Oddly enough, flooding is something I've always been aware of when buying property. When I was married I bought property about 30 feet above the local river: the property I have now is at least the same above the river and about 10 feet above the canal. - I remember the canal bursting its banks in the late 70s. early 80s and the mess it caused.

Great idea, but another case of holding it when a big chunk of the population is at work: http://news.warwickshire.gov.uk/blog/2017/03/21/warwickshire-flood-summit-to-be-held-in-stratford/