A Severe flood warning has been issued for the River Severn at the Wharfage in Ironbridge.
The Environment Agency says there is a risk that the barriers will overtop posing a significant risk to life.
"Environment Agency staff will now evacuate the site. Residents must evacuate from behind the defences due to the risk."
"Our incident response staff are liaising with emergency services and checking defences. Please move possession and valuables off the ground or to safety and turn off gas, electricity and water."
Local residents are being asked to have a bag ready with vital items like medicines and insurance documents and activate any property flood protection products you may have, such as flood barriers and air brick covers.