Floods could cost the north-east £4million every year unless action is taken to protect the most vulnerable communities.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned the region could be left with the hefty annual repair bill if towns and villages are hit by fresh floods in the coming years.
The warning – contained in the body’s new flood risk management strategy report – comes just weeks after heavy rain battered the region and left scores of homes and businesses under water.
Braemar, Ballater, Aboyne, Port Elphinstone, Ellon, Huntly, Pittulie and Turriff were badly affected by Storm Frank and its aftermath, and residents are in the process of counting the cost of the damage as they clear-up.
And now Sepa has revealed up to 1,850 homes across 17 communities are “potentially vulnerable” to flooding.
Their report – which highlights the risks and outlines what should be done over the next five years to alleviate them – estimates if each of the communities were to flood at the same time the bill for repairs could reach a staggering £4,249,500.
Terry A’Hearn, chief executive of Sepa, said flooding had already caused “devastation and misery” for many in recent weeks, adding their action plan was “more important than ever” because of this.
He said: “Across Scotland we now estimate 108,000 properties to be at risk, with the expected annual flood damage being in the region of £252million.
“We can expect these numbers to increase. Changes to the climate, how we live and how we use the land bring more and more people and property into flood risk.
“How we plan for and manage our flood risk has far reaching consequences for Scotland’s communities.”
The strategies proposed for the north-east cover Portgordon, Fraserburgh, Ballater, Heugh-head, Peterhead, Huntly, Stonehaven, Inverurie, Portsoy, Macduff, Newmill, Turriff, Insch, Methlick, Ellon, Banchory and Aboyne.
Repairs in Stonehaven alone – where 930 people have been deemed to be at risk from coastal and river flooding – could reach £890,000, the largest of any town or village covered in the strategy.
To avoid damage, Sepa has suggested new studies into Stonehaven’s surface water and new coastal protection works.
Peterhead, meanwhile, would be hit with a £580,000 bill for repairs if the town were to flood.
The Roanheads area of the town has been highlighted as a vulnerable area where coastal flooding could occur from waves crashing over the harbour wall – like it did in December 2012, when about 30 people had to be evacuated from their homes.
The environmental body has suggested new coastal protection works to lower the chance of the area flooding in addition to the work already being carried out to increase the size of the harbour wall.
And across the north-east, new flood warnings and forecasting systems are to be headed by Sepa.
It has meanwhile suggested that watercourses be cleared by the responsible authorities and repaired to “substantially reduce flood risks”.
All of the strategies will be supported by a government investment of £235million which was announced earlier this week.
Environment Minister Aileen McLeod MSP said she was “all too aware” of the devastation flooding could cause.
She said: “This shows exactly why Scotland’s first national flood plan is an important and necessary step forward. Our plan is designed to improve the way we tackle the risk of flooding across the country – protecting more homes, businesses, communities and livelihoods.
“For the first time, we have a nationwide plan, informed by local communities to tackle flooding. This will be at the heart of our efforts to prevent flooding and there is no doubt it will make a lasting contribution to flood risk management in Scotland.
“This plan has been achieved through partnership working and a shared commitment to prevent flooding and I would like to thank all those involved for their efforts in bringing these strategies together.”
Last night, a spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council said the authority had nothing to add to Sepa’s report.
The council is currently looking into how best to distribute the Scottish Government’s flood relief funding of £2million to locals.