There are fears there could be implications for emergency responses by Environment Agency staff if pay does not improve.
Unison members from the Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex branches of the union - including river inspectors, flood forecasters and coastal risk management officers - took to the picket line in Norwich on Wednesday.
They joined thousands of other staff from the public sector body across England in strike action over pay for the first time, with Unison saying there were severe staffing shortages fuelled by pay issues.
The union say salaries have fallen by more than 20% compared to inflation since 2010, and agency employees were only given a 2% pay rise for this financial year.
An emergency cover plan was put in place with agency managers ensuring officers would step in wherever there was a threat to life or property during strike action.
Rory Sanderson, Unison steward for Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex was among those outside Dragonfly House in Barrack Street, which houses staff from Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
He said: "It is about getting fair pay and recognition of the work the agency does to keep people safe from floods, ensure we have clean water to drink, clean soil to grow our food and clean air to breathe.
"Strike action is the last straw. We are passionate about protecting the environment but staff are struggling to make ends meet.
"Pre-covid 9pc of staff across England were using foodbanks and that would only have got worse.
"We are struggling as an organisation to recruit and retain staff. Some 30% of people leave within a year of starting. We are leaking experienced staff."
He added staff were in the same category as police officers and firefighters and were on call 24/7 all year round.
But since December 12, Mr Sanderson said the organisation had been taking part in six months' worth of action short of a strike in England which affected the service but reiterated a plan was in place for emergencies
He feared there "could be implications" on the service if the pay situation continues.
Mr Sanderson, who said the average pay for an agency worker is £30,000 a year, said: "The climate crisis is looming and Norfolk has the best environment."
An agency spokesperson said: “The agency remains bound by the pay policy of the government of the day.
"We have plans to minimise disruption."
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