Serious flooding in Wales is increasing

EA flood prevention officer John Mosedale told the BBC it was too late to think about flooding when the water was "lapping at your door".

The agency is urging all those who live on flood plains in Wales to be prepared for the worst.

The last few years have seen an increase in the number of properties badly hit by flooding in the Wales.

Mr Mosedale said: "The problem is a lot of people think that flooding is something that happens to others, but the reality is if you live on a flood plain at some time flooding is going to happen to you.

"Dreadful as that is there are a number of things people can do to help themselves."

The EA is launching an education campaign to make people more aware of the risks they face.

We've moved away from trying to prevent flooding and recognise that whatever we do, flooding will happen EA's John Mosedale

Mr Mosedale told the BBC's Good Morning Wales programme: "The key thing they need to realise is whether they are on a flood plain and whether they are at risk.

"We really have to get out of a state of denial and understand if you are at risk and then start to make plans to deal with it."

He added: "We've moved away from trying to prevent flooding and recognise that whatever we do, flooding will happen."

But Mr Mosedale said preparation could include simple measures like moving photographs and other irreplaceable possessions upstairs.

Melvyn and Anwyn Parry, from Trefriw in the Conwy Valley, have been the victims of flooding twice and have now had to rig their house with future risks in mind.

The Parrys were flooded for the second time in two years in January 2005 when the River Conwy burst its banks.

Mr Parry said he had installed "flood gates" on his exterior doors: "We've put a frame all around the three doors and we've bought marine ply and screw bolts with water seal caps."

The house had also been prepared in other ways, he said.

Inside walls have been painted with materials that dry quickly and electric points have been raised by three feet on the ground floor. Furniture downstairs is kept to a minimum.

The Environment Agency is warning people to be prepared

Mrs Parry added: "We've got plastic containers with all the dishes and all my kitchen equipment, so all we've got to do if the water does come in is pick them up and put them on the top.

"That's how we're living at the moment."

The couple are waiting to hear if their insurance company will agree to renew their policy when it expires later this year.

They have been forced to claim a total of £60,000 for damage caused by flooding since 2003.