We must improve public awareness of flood risk and build resilience | Letter
Thorough reform of how flooding is managed is necessary to reconnect people to their watery environments, says Dr Ed Rollason. Plus a letter from Moira RobinsonJohn Harris correctly identifies that...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
Thorough reform of how flooding is managed is necessary to reconnect people to their watery environments, says Dr Ed Rollason . Plus a letter from Moira Robinson John Harris correctly identifies that the UK is hopelessly unprepared for flooding, but is wrong to suggest that the public is not told about the threat ( Flooded and forgotten: the UK’s waters are rising and we’re being kept in the dark, 16 November ). In fact, the UK has some of the most detailed and accurate flood-risk information in the world. The Environment Agency publishes comprehensive flood-risk maps and impact information that is searchable by address, and regularly undertakes public-information campaigns. The north-east of England has also pioneered community flood-resilience officers, whose sole purpose is to engage with at-risk communities and to encourage the development of “community resilience”, a model increasingly being mirrored in other regions. Continue reading...