A website has been launched aimed at providing advice, support and information to protect against flooding.

The government said that iomfloodhub.im is ’an important development in improving safety and protecting property from flooding across the island’.

Tynwald agreed in October to transfer responsibility for flood risk management to the Department of Infrastructure from Manx Utilities.

The government stated that the move is designed to ensure flood risk and coastal management comes under a single point of political leadership, delivering solutions more promptly, and is made in response to recommendations from the ARUP report into the 2019 flooding in Laxey.

Since the transfer was confirmed, a new flood management division has been created within the DoI.

Staff from the Met Office and Manx Utilities have joined to ensure a ’coordinated and cohesive’ approach.

The new division has a wide ranging brief, which includes publishing strategies and plans, carrying out surveys, maintaining and monitoring flood management infrastructure and watercourses, and providing guidance and information for the community.

The iomfloodhub website will assist by providing information on the risk of flooding from the sea, rivers and surface water in the form of an interactive map.

Site visitors can also report incidents of flooding to a system supported by existing response teams within the DoI.

In addition, the site features up-to-date weather forecasts, carries a range of information on flood types and causes, and explains the responsibilities placed on land owners in relation to river maintenance.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker MHK said: ’The website contains a great deal of important information for residents and businesses, and will be an effective tool for problems to be reported directly to the team who are responsible for taking action within the Department of Infrastructure.

’Website development will continue with more information being made available for communities to see what is being planned in relation to flood alleviation for their areas.

’Tying everything together in this way marks a great start for the flood management division, which will also share flood risk posts on the DoI’s popular social media platforms.’

The most recent and destructive flooding incident occurred in Laxey in September 2019, when Glen Road and several resident’s homes were completely flooded.

Another, less severe flash flood struck last August - and numerous residents have since called on the government for better coordinated flood defences, even forming a local Garff Flood Action Committee group.

Other towns have also been affected by major flooding incidents in past years, including Ramsey and Castletown.