Water

Summer 2007 Flooding in England

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Lessons learned

Managing such a severe and sudden event will always be challenging and excellent work was done by those who responded including by local flood heroes.

An independent review of the 2007 flooding, led by Sir Michael Pitt, looked at its causes and subsequent management to see what lessons needed to be learned about how to manage and respond to this type of event in the future.  Sir Michael's final report was published on 25 June 2008. The Government will prepare a detailed response - with a prioritised action plan - in the Autumn.

Notable milestones in the review included:

  • April 2008 - Pitt review commentary on progress with the Urgent Recommendations
  • March 2008 - Recovery chapter of Pitt interim report
  • December 2007 - Pitt interim report

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee also held an inquiry into the flooding which contributed to the conclusions of the Pitt review.

Other organisations reports into the floods of note include:

  • March 2008 - Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser's review of the operational response by the Fire and Rescue Service
  • December 2007 - Environment Agency review of summer 2007 floods
  • November 2007 - Hull City Council's independent report into the Hull floods


Help for those affected

  • Defra is responsible for policy on managing flood risk, that is minimising the damage caused by flooding in the long term and leading on arrangements for immediate response to flooding events. Local Government Minister at Communities and Local Government, John Healey, is the Minister for Flood Recovery.  He is working to ensure effective coordinated support by central government departments and other national and regional bodies to the work of local authorities and others in helping communities return to normality.
  • To date a significant package has been made available to support areas affected by the flooding of June and July 2007. The main elements of the package can be found on the Department for Communities and Local Government website.

Background

Widespread and serious flooding affected many parts of England during June and July 2007. The weather conditions which gave rise to these events were exceptional, and certainly the most severe to have affected England as a whole since Autumn 2000 – an event then considered to be unprecedented in duration and extent. Figures from the Met Office show that this was the wettest May to July since the England and Wales Precipitation record began in 1766.

Ministers gave a number of statements to parliament and wrote to all MPs on 28 June and 27 July updating them on the position and what the Government is doing by way of response.


Further information

Page last modified: 25 June 2008
Page published: 12 September 2007

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs