Pitt Review: UK not prepared for summer floods

The UK was not as prepared as it should have been to meet the summer floods this year, according to an independent interim report commissioned by the government.

The Pitt Review – Learning Lessons from the 2007 Floods, headed by Sir Michael Pitt, said the government responded well to the emergencies with effective collaboration between departments and agencies.

However, it concluded that more needs to be done, and the Review makes 15 urgent recommendations covering:

• managing flood risk;
• groundwater monitoring;
• local and national planning and response;
• public information;
• and public preparedness.

With around two-thirds of the floods caused by surface water, there needs to be a new emphasis on guarding against this type of flooding, according to the report.

Sir Michael said that the Environment Agency is best placed to develop a national approach to managing surface water flood risk, including the development of surface water mapping and warning tools.

He also called for stronger local leadership and forward planning, recommending that upper-tier local authorities lead the planning for weather emergencies, and the police assume responsibility for co-ordinating the emergency response.

The Review draws 72 interim conclusions, which are awaiting further information and evidence before being put forward as firm recommendations in the final report to be published in summer 2008.

Sir Michael Pitt, Chairman of the South West Strategic Health Authority, was asked by Ministers in August to conduct an independent review of the flooding emergency that took place in June and July this year.

The interim findings have three main objectives: to identify issues requiring urgent action; to set out the direction for the remainder of the Review; and to provide a document for consultation prior to publication of the final report next summer.