They said > Talking about FRM Much has been said about flooding and flood risk, particularly following the 2007 floods and Sir Michael Pitt’s review. Here is a selection of viewpoints on the subject… “The floods of last year caused the country’s largest peacetime emergency since World War II. The impact of climate change means that the probabililty of events on a similar scale happening in future is increasing. So the Review calls for urgent and fundamental changes in the way the country is adapting to the likelihood of more frequent and intense periods of heavy rainfall. We have searched for practical solutions to highly complex problems and thought carefully about the public interest. Our recommendations are challenging and strong national leadership will be needed to make them a reality.” |
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“Local authorities have a vital role to play, and under the Agency’s overview they will be supported to take the lead on the ground. We are prepared if necessary to back this up by providing authorities with the powers to ensure that organisations and landowners responsible fulfil their obligations; for example by maintaining drains.”
Phil Woolas, Environment Minister
“Sir Michael’s report puts the spotlight back on the need for the country to be prepared and able to respond to the devastating impacts of flooding. He covers a wide range of topics – many directly related to our work – and all of which are essential to better protecting people and the environment from flooding into the future.”
Paul Leinster, Chief Executive, Environment Agency
“We agree on the need for more comprehensive and accurate information on the flood risk [in Scotland], especially from surface water flooding, and the need for a long-term investment strategy. The Committee rightly recognises the need for ensuring that flood vulnerable properties are more resilient to flooding.”
Justin Jacobs, the ABI's Assistant Director of Property Insurance
“We are in a strong position and, I would argue, a stronger position than England to move forward in adapting to climate change.”
Geraint Davies, chairman of Flood Risk Management Wales committee
“The cost of last year's floods to the UK insurance industry as a whole was around £3.4 billion, which reflects not only a huge financial burden that needs to be spread across insurance premiums, but also the tremendous suffering to policyholders that flooding causes. Prevention measures and increased investment could substantially reduce insurance claims and disruption to people's lives.”
David Williams, Managing Director Claims, AXA Insurance
“The UK Climate Impacts Programme’s new climate scenarios will allow us to make investment decisions with more confidence and implement flood management measures to a standard which will ensure the UK is well adapted for the flood events climate change will bring.”
Claire Barnett, Principal Consultant in Climate Change, Entec
“Traditional community level defences are not a viable answer to flooding in all areas, but individual householders can make a big difference themselves by protecting their properties. The Government wants to support people in making relatively simple changes which can nevertheless have a huge impact on a property’s resilience. Measures such as door-boards, air-brick covers, water-proof walls and floors, and raised electrics, can all reduce any potential damage caused by floodwater.”
Phil Woolas, Environment Minister
Recent flood events have highlighted the urgency of adapting to the potential effects of climate change to protect lives, property, the economy and the environment. It’s clear that we are going to face less predictable weather and more extreme events such as flash flooding. Investment in flood risk management should continue to rise to keep up with the changing climate.’
Paul Leinster, Chief Executive, Environment Agency
One year on, and the problems faced by families, businesses and communities continue in some areas. And my message to people still struggling with the aftermath of last summer’s floods is: You have not been forgotten, and we’re in this for the long haul like you.
John Healy, Floods Recovery Minister
“The events of last summer captured the nation’s attention. For many people it was the wake-up call that climate change and flooding is a threat to our way of life in the twenty-first century.”
Phil Rothwell, Head of Flood Risk Management Policy, Environment Agency
“Flood risk and the associated economic damage are likely to increase in Europe in the coming decades. Even if we are successful in limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, climate change will have serious impacts in Europe and elsewhere. The best way to reduce the costs of adapting to climate change is to take early action. The Flood Directive will help the European Union to do so.”
Stavros Dimas, EU Commissioner for the Environment
And from a slightly different perspective…
“In the struggle between stone and water, in time, the water wins.”
Chinese Proverb
“And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.”
God, speaking to Noah after the deluge had passed (Genesis, 9:11)
“No individual raindrop ever considers itself responsible for the flood.”
Anon
“We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one.”
Jacques Yves Cousteau
“In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes.”
Leonardo da Vinci
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