2007 summer floods
One year on – what have we done?
The summer 2007 floods brought to light how susceptible communities in England and Wales are to flooding, now and increasingly so in the future. One year on we have made good progress in improving our approach to flood risk management. This follows the internal review of our response to flooding, and the recommendations from the interim Pitt Report and Efra Select Committee Inquiry.
In June and July 2007, there were several periods of extreme rainfall which gave rise to widespread flooding in England and parts of Wales. We experienced the wettest May to July since 1766 when reliable records were first collected. Approximately 49,000 households and nearly 7,000 businesses were flooded. Major infrastructure such as transport links, schools, power and water supplies were disrupted.
Flooding was caused by drains, river channels and flood defences being overwhelmed by the extreme flows of water. This often happened very quickly and in these circumstances it is difficult to predict where flooding will occur.
River flooding was extensive in the rivers Don, Severn and Thames and their tributaries. It would have been worse but for the protection given by our flood schemes. Effective warnings went directly to over 34,000 homes to help them cope with the floods. Some locations – notably on the river Severn between Tewkesbury and Gloucester, the Thames upstream of Oxford, and South Yorkshire suffered record breaking flood levels. Many flood defences were just overwhelmed.
Many people who were flooded suffered trauma or lost irreplaceable personal belongings. Some are still living in temporary accommodation. We must not forget the victims of the floods, including those who died as a result of them.
Flood reviews
The extent of the flooding last year saw the Government, and the public's focus on flooding issues sharpen. Following the event two inquiries into the flooding were launched:
- The Pitt Review - Lessons learned from the 2007 summer floods
- Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee flooding inquiry
Our review
We also conducted an internal review of how we responded to the flooding. Our review is presented in two parts:
Our website contains over 100 pages of facts and information on the floods. Links to these can be found at the bottom of this page.
And a review describing the lessons identified and recommendations for action. A set of six case studies identifying strategic lessons and possible solutions accompanies the report.
So what have we done one year on?
We have been working on all fronts following last summer’s floods. In the past year we’ve:- Completed 34 new flood defences, increasing protection to more than 30,000 homes.
- Signed up 73,000 more people to our flood warning system
- Been working closely with emergency responders to provide them with earlier flood warnings, which will allow more time to take action
- Monitored and warned the public about possible flooding during tidal surges in November and March, and high river levels during January
- Inspected 8500km of flood defences which are distributed along 23,500km of rivers and 2000km of coast, and spent £5m on repairing those few that were damaged, including in Upton, Sedgeberrow and Grimsby
- Been working with the Met Office to develop an Extreme Rainfall Alert Service pilot for category one and two responders
- Moved ahead on an initiative to indicate areas that are naturally vulnerable to surface water flooding. We will provide this data to local authorities and utility companies to allow them to carry out detailed analysis on these areas.
- Carried out a review in each of the major places flooded
- Been talking with the water industry to produce a national protocol for data-sharing in order to tackle surface water flooding.
Our response to Sir Michael Pitt’s Interim Review into the 2007 summer floods pays particular attention to those recommendations we think urgent action is required. These areas of focus include:
- Clarifying the inland strategic overview role proposed by Government
- Securing the required resources to implement recommendations that are over and above current responsibilities
- Reviewing and updating legislation so that an integrated approach to flood risk management can be taken forward
- Recognising the need for Government and key utilities to put better protection of critical infrastructure higher on their list of priorities in the face of climate change.
Are you prepared for flooding?
There are many ways in which you can prepare for flooding.
Sign up for Floodline Warnings Direct
Although more people are becoming aware of the risk of flooding, there are still many more that need to check to see if they are at risk and sign up for Floodline Warnings Direct. Only 30% of people living in a flood risk area have signed up to receive flood warnings.
New flood advice guides
Take a look at our new flood advice guides which contain information and practical advice on what to do before, during and after flooding.
Surface water flooding
Much of the flooding last Summer was due to surface water, not to rivers flooding. Government and the Pitt Report have identified surface water flooding as a priority issue. We are already working to repond to this.
