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    Flooding

     Flooding in some parts of Britain (and the world) is perfectly normal and predictable. Flood plains are natural overflow areas which help to release flood water more gradually and avoid catastrophic destruction. Man-made protective devices include weirs, reservoirs, dams, sea walls and levees; a spectacular example is the Thames Barrier which has managed so far to limit flooding of London.

    Flooding is now a major concern as global warming causes higher sea levels and heavier rainfall. These effects are measurable and will increase year by year. Some countries are likely to be hit earlier than others; places like Bangladesh and some Pacific islands could lose large parts of their territory.

    But is this a real threat in the near future  ? Frankly, no.

    It would be better to ask this question : Are we creating enormous problems for our children and grandchildren ? The answer is : Yes

    The U.K. government's Environment Agency has told us some grim facts.

        The cost of the 2007 summer floods was £3.2 billion.

        More than half a million houses in Britain are at risk of flooding and the cost of protecting them will double to £1 billion a year in 25 years time.

        The average cost of being flooded is £20,000 to £30,000. (The average cost of being burgled is about £1,000.)

        Figures for annual damage from flooding could rise from the present level of £1 billion to about £25 billion in the worst case scenario.               
       
        The number of people at a high risk from flooding could rise from 1.5 million to 3.5 million.

        More effective land management will help reduce the risks in most scenarios. However, in the worst case scenario these are of little benefit and                 greater use of flood defences and coastal re-alignment will be required.       

The latest report tells us that :

        We must all play a part in reducing the amount of carbon we are burning, and so help to slow down the rate of climate change.

        We must spend more on flood and coastal defence to protect against the impacts of climate change.

        To avoid creating a huge problem for the future, we need tougher restrictions against building on floodplains now.

        We must make any new developments resilient against flooding.

    The insurance industry has warned that climate change will bring large increases in insurance premiums and some areas of Britain will become uninsurable. We are told that one in six homes in England and Wales are now at risk of flooding, mainly because many housing developments have been allowed on flood plains.