17-12-2007
New report highlights flood warnings
A new report has highlighted the scale of flood damage that could be incurred by businesses and homes.
The independent review, which contains nearly 90 recommendations and 15 urgent proposals, said that flooding is going to be an increasing problem for commercial and residential properties.
One of these proposals is that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs establishes a national flood emergency framework.
Sir Michael Pitt, who headed an independent review, said: "I think we should put this on a par with the terrorism risk or an influenza pandemic.
"The changing natures of floods means we need to improve our flood warnings. Flood risk and events of this sort are here to stay."
Construction companies are warned not to erect non-flood resilient buildings in flood risk areas as this could increase business insurance premiums.
Gordon Brown recently thanked members of the emergency services who dealt with the floods in June and July.