2 Winter floods relief effort
6. Numerous organisations and services
were involved in the response to the winter floods including the
Environment Agency, emergency services, local councils, highways
agencies, the military, public health, the national flood forum
and individual volunteers. Around 4,500 Environment Agency staff
worked to help flooded communities by running pumping stations,
erecting temporary barriers, clearing blockages from rivers and
issuing flood warnings.[7]
In various places across the country, the Environment Agency loaned
equipment (e.g. pumps and machinery) from local companies and
organisations, to help with the clean-up effort.
7. Following a visit to some of the
worst-affected areas in the South-West and the Thames Valley in
February, the Prime Minister made a statement thanking all the
Environment Agency staff, emergency services, local authorities
and local volunteers for their contribution to the relief effort
and saying that:
money is no object in this relief
effort. Whatever money is needed for it will be spent. We will
take whatever steps are necessary.[8]
8. The Secretary of State for Transport,
Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, later qualified this, saying that
the commitment was not a "blank cheque".[9]
However, Lord Smith of Finsbury, Chairman of the Environment Agency,
assured us that the additional funds allocated by the Government
as part of the response would enable the Environment Agency to
repair all its flood defence assets to 97% good condition following
the severe damage caused by the succession of storms over winter.[10]
In circumstances where the Environment Agency loans equipment
from a third party for the purposes of flood risk management or
repairs, it is important that the state of the equipment is documented
when it is first handed over.[11]
Any negotiations relating to the loan of equipment should be clearly
documented, including full contractual provision for repairs,
general upkeep and the return of equipment.
9. We commend the widespread help
provided to communities during the winter floods relief effort.
Repairing and replacing damaged flood defence assets following
the winter storms is an immediate concern, but longer-term issues
such as improving resilience to withstand future flooding events
must not be overlooked.
7 Environment Agency (XFL 0025) para 1.2 Back
8
David Cameron's statement on the UK storms and flooding, gov.uk
transcript of speech, 12 February 2014 Back
9
UK flooding: David Cameron's pledge is not a blank cheque, the
Guardian, 12 February 2014 Back
10
Q183 Back
11
See Q110 and Q111 Back
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