Defra accepts urgent recommendations from Pitt interim review report on summer floods

His interim report was published on 17 December 2007. Secretary of State for the Environment Hilary Benn welcoming the report said "The Government agrees with all of the urgent recommendations and will work with all organisations involved in taking them forward as quickly as possible."
    The interim report contains 15 urgent recommendations which Sir Michael believes should be implemented in order to minimise the impact of any flooding in the near future. It also sets out the direction for the remainder of the Review and acts as a consultation document prior to publication of the final document in the summer of 2008. Additionally, the Review draws 72 interim conclusions, awaiting further information and evidence before being put forward in firm recommendations next summer (2008).
    The 15 “urgent recommendations” of the interim report are:
  • 1. More frequent and systematic monitoring of groundwater levels at times of high risk should be undertaken by the Environment Agency, which should begin as soon as possible to predict and mitigate further serious ground water flooding from this winter onwards.
  • 2. The Environment Agency, supported by local authorities and water companies, should urgently identify areas at highest risk from surface water flooding where known, inform Local Resilience Forums and take steps to identify remaining high risk areas over the coming months.
  • 3. The Environment Agency should urgently develop and implement a clear policy on the use of temporary and demountable defences.
  • 4. All Local Resilience Forums should urgently review their current local arrangements for water rescue to consider whether they are adequate in light of the summer’s events and their local community risk registers.
  • 5. All Local Resilience Forums should undertake an urgent review of designated rest centres and other major facilities to ensure either that they have the necessary levels of resilience to enable them to be used in the response to flooding and other major emergencies, or that alternative arrangements are put in place.
  • 6. The Cabinet Office, with other departments, should urgently consider the costs, benefits and feasibility of establishing arrangements for the urgent acquisition of supplies during a major emergency, including the use of call-off contracts or the creation of national or regional stockpiles of equipment and consumables.
  • 7. Department of Health guidance clarifying the role and accountabilities of organisations involved in providing scientific and technical advice during a major incident should be implemented as soon as possible and understood by Gold Commanders.
  • 8. Guidance currently under preparation by Cabinet Office to provide local responders with advice on the definition and identification of vulnerable people and on planning to support them in an emergency should be issued urgently.
  • 9. In order to effectively fulfil its Lead Department role for flood risk management and emergency response, Defra needs to urgently develop and share a national flood emergency framework.
  • 10. Category 1 responders should be urgently provided with a detailed assessment of critical infrastructure in their areas to enable them to assess its vulnerability to flooding.
  • 11. The Environment Agency should work urgently with telecommunications companies, consulting the Information Commissioner as necessary to facilitate the roll-out of ‘opt-out’ telephone flood warning schemes to all homes and businesses liable to flooding, including homes with ex-directory numbers.
  • 12. Local Resilience Forums urgently develop plans to enhance flood warnings through ‘door-knocking’ by local authorities based on an assessment of the post code areas likely to flood.
  • 13. Local Resilience Forums urgently make arrangements to involve local media representatives in the local preparedness and response to support their public information role.
  • 14. Members of the public make up a flood kit – including key personal documents, insurance policy, emergency contact numbers (including local council, emergency services and Floodline – 0845 988 1188), torch, battery or wind-up radio, mobile phone, rubber gloves, wet wipes or antibacterial hand gel, first aid kit and blankets.
  • 15. Members of the public increase their personal state of readiness and resilience to floods by following the Environment Agency’s practical advice.
    The Review report can be found on the Cabinet Office website (see link below)