The First Flood Forecasting Centre for the UK to be set up
The first ever flood forecasting centre is to be set up in the UK, to try and prevent the devastation of last Summer.
The 7.7 million flood forecasting centre is the main focus for the flood prevention package announced by the Government this week. Other improvements to help the UK to deal with flooding, include new rescue boats, that have been specially adapted to cope with the rising water levels.
Although many who suffered at the hands of last year's flooding are pleased with the steps to combat a repeat performance, Council’s have urged that more needs to be done to protect the 2.2 million people who are unaware that their homes are at the risk of flooding.
In 2007, 13 people died and 44,600 homes were ransacked by water. Since then a report was produced on the best way to avoid a recurrence - with the main factor for avoiding such devastation being identified as a lack of preparation for such an eventuality.
Hilary Benn, the Environment Secretary, said that £15 million would go to local councils to take the lead on flood management by implementing evacuation plans and arranging for water to be pumped out. However, Tory spokesman Peter Ainsworth accused the Government of passing the buck and not taking responsibility for putting national plans together first.
Benn also announced that there would be £5 million to help people to better protect their homes, by sourcing doors and bricks that do not allow the water to permeate and £2 million to better train firemen and other emergency services personnel, so that they are more qualified to deal with such situations.
The UK's first EVER flood early warning system will be set in London and will finally see the Environment Agency (who provide information on the most likely rivers to flood) working with the Met Office (who calculate rainfall figures). The two parties will be a force to be reckoned with as far as flooding is concerned and will be there to warn emergency services and local authorities of the immediacy of flooding.
With speed of reaction and preparation, of paramount when a flood is concerned, the joint venture will enable those at risk to be notified and helped quickly and easily.
Again, there has been some discussion over whether or not this will be enough and Paul Bettison, chairman of Local Government says that it will not be. With more than half of all councils insufficiently funded to deal with flooding, and further pressure on purse strings over the coming months, Bettison believes that this will stretch resources to breaking point.
According to a survey carried out by the Environment Agency, more than 50% of the 5 million people living in flood risk areas, are not aware and therefore will be ill prepared for such events. With this in mind, the Environment Agency were given 8.5 million to make sure that all ex-directory homes were contacted and notified. Voluntary agencies like the Red Cross were also given a role by Government to work alongside local authorities to help those who lose their homes.
Of the 17,000 families driven from their homes by the flooding during the Summer of 2007, around 1,000 of them, were either still living upstairs in their homes or in temporary accommodation. With this in mind, it is vital that the Government and local authorities work together to ensure that we do not see a repeat of 2007.
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