PEOPLE living in County Durham's worst flood risk areas will be given mock warnings next week to test a new loud hailer system.
The Environment Agency is teaming up with Darlington Borough, Durham City and Durham County Councils next Thursday to test how they work together as a team during an emergency.
Exercise Deluge will test the agency's flood defence strategy on the Rivers Wear, Gaunless, Skerne and Tees.
During the day mock alerts will be issued in the South Church and West Auckland areas and people are being urged to let the agency know how effective they are.
Agency flood warning officer Lorraine Harrison said: "The object of the exercise is to look at the interaction between ourselves and others taking part to see how we work together as a unit, as well as testing our own contingency procedures.
"We have already sent information letters to householders in the South Church and West Auckland areas along with a questionnaire.
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