Less than half of homes deemed to be at risk from floods in Reading are signed up to the Environment Agency's (EA) flood warning service, new figures reveal.
The EA announced the findings as it launched a new online flood forecasting service on Tuesday following recommendations in the Pitt Review into the floods in July 2007.
Figures showed that of the 8,028 homes in Reading that have a one in 1,000 years risk of flooding only 3,525 were registered with Flood Warnings Direct (FWD).
In Wokingham borough there are 2,060 homes at risk with 1,737 signed-up, while in West Berkshire 4,156 are affected and 1,140 registered for FWD.
The new service on the EA website is updated daily and provides a three-day flood forecast for England and Wales, assessing the flood risk from rivers and the sea, and the potential for surface water flooding from intense rainfall.
Warnings to homes and businesses by phone and text message will now include more localised information about potential flood risk with clearer advice on actions to take to help safeguard lives and property.
The existing 'Flood Watch' – the lowest level of warning – is replaced by 'Flood Alert', with redesigned symbols to make them clearer and easier to understand.
'Flood Warning' means flooding is expected, urging people to take action to prepare, while 'Severe Flood Warning' will be issued when there is a danger to life.
Householders and businesses can also go online to monitor rising water levels during times of potential flooding at more than 1,700 river and coastal locations across England and Wales.
Thames regional director Howard Davidson said: "The recent devastating events in Cornwall remind us of the dangers of flooding and how being prepared is crucial.
"One in six homes in England and Wales are at risk of flooding. We urge everyone to check whether their property is at risk by visiting the Environment Agency's website and taking steps to prepare, such as looking at ways to make properties more flood-proof.