Understanding the risks, empowering communities, building resilience

Transcription

1 Understanding the risks, empowering communities, building resilience National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England Summary strategy

2 Published by: Environment Agency Horizon House Deanery Road Bristol BS1 5AH Tel: In partnership with: Defra Nobel House 17 Smith Square London SW1P 3JR Tel: Environment Agency All rights reserved. This document may be reproduced with prior permission of the Environment Agency. GEHO0711BTZE-E-E July 2011

3 Co-operation and requesting information in flood and coastal erosion risk management: statutory guidance on the implementation of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 sections 13(1) and 14 in England Session: Unnumbered Act Paper Laid before Parliament 23/05/11 CORRECTION Correction required for the inside front page. The correction regards the power the guidance is issued under. A correction from: Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 13(1) and 14 of the Flood and Water Management Act A correction to: Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 7 of the Flood and Water Management Act September 2011 LONDON: THE STATIONERY OFFICE

4 About this summary Flooding and coastal erosion can have a devastating impact on communities. Whilst we cannot fully tame the forces of nature we can better understand the risks we face, and make ourselves more resilient as a society. Richard Benyon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State It s something I d never ever want to repeat again [... I] can t explain it, you just go through so many emotions, so many unknowns. Eyewitness from Cockermouth, flooded in (Source: Environment Agency Response to flooding TNS-BMRB report, July 2010) When flooding happens, or part of our coastline suddenly erodes, it is destructive and distressing. But we are not helpless. We can all play a role as individuals, or as part of a community or organisation, to manage these risks and lessen their impact. This document provides a summary of the National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England. It explains what the strategy is and which organisations need to work together to achieve its aims. It will also help you understand the issues, how the risks of flooding and coastal erosion will be managed in the future, and specifically what you can do in your local area (see section 5 and 6). National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary 3

5 1. What is the strategy? In England in 2009, around 5.2 million - that s one in six - residential and commercial properties were identified as being in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea and surface water. In addition, approximately 200 properties are vulnerable to coastal erosion at present, with 2,000 predicted to become vulnerable over the next 20 years. Around 1.1 million properties are in areas that would be at risk of flooding if a nearby reservoir failed. It is not possible to prevent all flooding or coastal erosion but, working with communities, together we can take action to manage these risks and reduce their impact. Evidence suggests that in future the damages caused by flooding and coastal erosion in England are likely to increase unless they are effectively managed. This could be, for example, because of climate change, sea-level rise and new development in areas at risk of flooding or erosion. The Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have published a National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England to ensure that government, the Environment Agency, local authorities, water companies, internal drainage boards and other organisations that have a role in flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) understand each others roles and co-ordinate how they manage these risks. This fulfils a requirement in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, which gave the Environment Agency a strategic overview of flood and coastal erosion risk management and in turn takes forward a recommendation from Sir Michael Pitt s inquiry into the 2007 floods. The term risk refers to a combination of the likelihood of floods or coastal erosion occurring and the consequences that can happen when they do occur. The national strategy sets out what needs to be done to manage these risks by improving our understanding of them, reducing the likelihood of incidents happening, as well as managing the potential consequences to people, businesses, infrastructure and services. Using the strategy, all the organisations listed above will work together with communities to: manage the risk of flooding and coastal erosion to people and their property. Over time, we will be able, where possible, to improve standards of protection. help householders, businesses and communities better understand and manage the flood and coastal erosion risks they face. respond better to flood incidents and during recovery, and to coastal erosion. move the focus from national government-funded activities towards a new approach that gives more power to local people, either at an individual, community or local authority level. Local innovations and solutions will be encouraged, too. invest in actions that benefit communities who face the greatest risk, but who are least able to afford to help themselves. put sustainability at the heart of the actions we take, so that we work with nature and benefit the environment, people and the economy. The strategy s overall aim is to ensure that flooding and coastal erosion risks are well-managed and co-ordinated, so that their impacts are minimised. 4 National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary

6 2. What does managing flood and coastal erosion risk mean? What can be done? What s in a name? The Act uses a few terms as shorthand when talking about groups of organisations or authorities who have similar roles or activities. We ve used them in this summary too. The main ones are: Risk management authorities This is a term used to describe the Environment Agency, lead local flood authorities, district councils, internal drainage boards, water companies and highways authorities. Lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) These are county councils or unitary authorities. We have said a bit more about their roles in section 7 of this document. Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs) Set up by the Environment Agency, these committees help develop and approve programmes of work in their local area. The Environment Agency also provides advice and expertise to help the committees in these decisions. The majority of members are lead local flood authority councillors who have been democratically elected. The chairs of each RFCC are appointed by the Secretary of State. RFCCs are able to raise money from local authorities to fund local priority projects and work. They also help to review local authority risk assessments, maps and plans. They will ensure plans are well co-ordinated with other FCERM authorities and, for example, take the expected impacts of climate change into consideration. The National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England stresses the need for risk to be managed in a co-ordinated way across river catchments and along the coast, embracing the full range of practical options and helping local decision-making. The strategy helps bring together government and the authorities who are responsible for managing these risks with the organisations, communities, and people who are at risk. In summary, the strategy encourages them to work together to: know when and where flooding and coastal erosion is likely to happen. Risk management authorities need to improve their understanding of the risks of flooding and coastal erosion. They particularly need to develop a better understanding of surface water and ground water flood risk. make sure that any flood and coastal risk management plans use the most up-to-date information and raise awareness of these risks among affected communities. reduce the chance of harm to people and damage to the economy, environment and society by building, maintaining and improving flood and coastal erosion management infrastructure and systems, where it is affordable to do so. National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary 5

7 help communities understand the risks and take action to manage them or reduce the consequences - for example, by making their properties more resilient or by adapting to coastal change. avoid inappropriate development in areas of flood and coastal erosion risk. improve the detection and forecasting of floods and how warnings are issued, so that people, businesses and public services can take action, plan for and coordinate a rapid response to flood emergencies and promote faster recovery from flooding. take opportunities to work with and enhance communities, services and the natural environment. There are many ways you can get involved too. Read section 5, What you can do to manage the risk of flood and coastal erosion where you live and work, for more information. Understand the risks Improve flood prediction, warning and post-flood recovery Manage the likelihood Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Prevent inappropriate development Help people to manage their own risk Managing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion Funding risk management In May 2011, Defra announced changes to the way flood and coastal defence projects would be funded. In essence, instead of meeting the full cost of a limited number of schemes, a new partnership approach to funding could make government money available to pay a share of any worthwhile scheme. The amount in each case will depend on the level of benefits the scheme provides. For example, the number of households protected, or the amount of damage that can be prevented. The level of government funding potentially available towards each scheme can be easily calculated. Local authorities and communities can then decide on priorities and what to do if full funding isn t available. Projects can still go ahead if costs can be reduced or other funding can be found locally. For more detailed information, please visit Defra s website: 6 National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary

8 3. What does the strategy cover? Floods can happen anywhere at any time, caused by rising groundwater levels, sudden rain running off hillsides and overwhelming drains, as well as flooding from rivers and the sea. Even if you live miles away from the coast or a river, there s still a chance flooding could affect you. The most common sources of flooding include: River flooding. This occurs when a river or stream cannot cope with the water draining into it from the surrounding land for example, when heavy rain falls on ground that is already waterlogged. Coastal flooding. This results when there are high tides and stormy conditions. If low atmospheric pressure coincides with a high tide, a tidal surge may happen causing higher than normal sea levels that may go over the top of defences. Surface water flooding. This occurs, for example, when rainwater does not drain away through the normal drainage system or soak into the ground, but lies on or flows over the ground instead. This type of flooding can be difficult to predict and pinpoint, much more so than river or coastal flooding. Sewer flooding. This can happen when sewers are overwhelmed by heavy rainfall or when they become blocked. The chance of flooding depends on the capacity of the local sewerage system and amount of rain that falls. Land and property can be flooded with water contaminated with raw sewage as a result. Rivers can also become polluted by sewers that overflow. The national strategy only covers sewer flooding when it is wholly or partially caused by rainwater. Groundwater flooding. This occurs when levels of water in the ground rise above the surface. It is most likely to happen in areas where the ground contains aquifers. These are permeable rocks that water can soak into or pass through. Reservoir flooding.some reservoirs hold large volumes of water above ground level, contained by walls or dams. Although the safety record for reservoirs in England is excellent, it is still possible that a dam could fail. This would result in a large volume of water being released very quickly. Coastal erosion is a natural process caused by wind and wave action wearing away the land. Tidal currents, winds and waves all wear the land away and carry sediment elsewhere, either further along the coast or offshore. Coastal erosion usually happens very slowly over time, but if a cliff becomes unstable, erosion can happen very suddenly. National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary 7

9 4. Who is taking action to manage these risks? Flood risk management If you are flooded, the last thing on your mind is what type of flooding you are experiencing or where the water has come from. However, different authorities are responsible for managing flood risk, depending on the source of the flooding and this is set out below. The national strategy seeks to bring together everyone responsible so that problems are tackled in a co-ordinated and effective way. Flooding from main rivers, estuaries, the sea and reservoirs 2.4m 2.4 million properties are at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea in England. There are also risks to national infrastructure, with over 55 per cent of water and sewage pumping stations, 20 per cent of railways, ten per cent of major roads, 14 per cent of electricity and 28 per cent of gas infrastructure located in areas at risk of flooding. (Source: Environment Agency, Flooding in England: a national assessment of flood risk) The Environment Agency is responsible for managing the flood risk from main rivers, estuaries and the sea. Main rivers are normally large river channels. Look at the Environment Agency s flood maps to see where the main rivers in your area are located. The Environment Agency is responsible for building flood defence schemes where funding is available, and works with LLFAs and local communities to identify local priorities and shape schemes accordingly. It also ensures that reservoirs with a storage capacity greater than 25,000m 3 are properly managed. The Environment Agency manages around 70 per cent (by length) of the defences used to reduce the risk of river and coastal flooding in England. The remaining 30 per cent (referred to as third party assets ) are managed by local authorities, Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs), individual land and property owners and businesses. Assets are structures used to reduce the likelihood of flooding or coastal erosion and include maintained river channels, raised embankments, floodwalls and seawalls, culverts and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Often a number of assets will be used together to manage risk in a particular area, working in combination within a risk management system. The Environment Agency uses its strategic overview role to encourage owners to maintain their assets well. If at any time there is a risk to the public from these assets, the Environment Agency can exercise its emergency powers and make sure repairs are completed. 8 National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary

10 Flooding from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses 3.8 million properties are susceptible to flooding from surface water (i.e. rainwater, including snow and other precipitation, which is on the surface of the ground and has not yet entered the watercourse, drainage system or public sewer). 3.8m (Source: Environment Agency, Flooding in England: a national assessment of flood risk) County and unitary authorities have been given a new role as LLFAs, to manage local flood risk (i.e. from surface water run-off, groundwater, and rivers or streams that are not main rivers). LLFAs must plan for how flood risk will be managed in their area. District councils have powers to manage flooding from ordinary watercourses (rivers or streams that are not considered to be main rivers). They may arrange for this management work to be carried out on their behalf by other organisations - for example, by IDBs (see section 7 for more information). Flooding from sewers and drains The ten water and sewerage companies in England are responsible for managing the risks of flooding from their surface water and foul or combined sewer systems. They do this by investing in their sewer systems to minimise the risk to communities. Sometimes they do this in partnership with others - for example, working with developers and landowners to reduce the amount of rain that can fall into sewers through water storage, and SuDS. Highways authorities have lead responsibility for providing and managing highway drainage and roadside ditches under the Highways Act 1980 (see section 7 for further information). National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary 9

11 Coastal erosion risk management 1,800km Of the 4,500km of coast in England, 1,800km is at risk of coastal erosion (340km of which is defended). It is estimated that 200 properties are currently vulnerable to coastal erosion but by 2029, up to 2,000 residential properties, and 15km of major road and railway may become vulnerable. (Source: Halcrow Group Ltd, 2009, Receptors vulnerable to coastal erosion. Environment Agency) Approximate figures. Work to tackle coastal erosion (and also the risk of sea flooding) is done by district or unitary councils in collaboration with the Environment Agency. They are known as coastal erosion risk management authorities. They also have powers to protect land against coastal erosion and to control third party activities on the coast. This includes constructing private defences or removing beach material. Coastal groups, comprising members from local authorities and other relevant organisations (such as Natural England, the Environment Agency, Network Rail and English Heritage) form partnerships to look at managing the coast from a more strategic perspective. They produce Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs), which assess the risks from coastal flooding and erosion and work out how to manage these risks over the short, medium and long term. 10 National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary

12 5. What can you do to manage the risk of flooding or coastal erosion where you live and work? I think if you haven t been flooded then you think it is not going to happen to us so you don t bother with it, but once you have been flooded then you do think about it happening in the future. (Cockermouth resident, quoted in the Environment Agency Response to flooding TNS-BMRB report, July 2010) If you live or work in an area at risk from either flooding or coastal erosion, it is important that you understand the risks and what you can do about them. Lead local flood authorities will carry out early assessments of flood risk in their area by December 2011, but here s what you can do to be better prepared. 1. Find out if you are at risk Being prepared for flooding could save your life and safeguard your property and possessions. View the Environment Agency s online flood map of rivers and the sea: Using your postcode, you will be able to view your exact location and the type of flood risk you face low, moderate or significant. Information on coastal erosion is available in the Shoreline Management Plan for your local area. The Environment Agency is working with local authorities to make erosion risk information available online via a single portal. National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary 11

13 2. Get prepared Take action and don t delay flooding can happen at any time. Find out if you can sign up for Floodline Warnings Direct. This is a free service provided by the Environment Agency in some areas. It provides automated flood warnings by telephone, mobile, , SMS text message or fax, whichever you prefer. Visit the Environment Agency website: or call Floodline on Make a flood plan. Flood plans help you think about the actions you can take to prepare your property and possessions for flooding. The Environment Agency has developed three templates to help you prepare your business, home and/or local community. You can download all three templates for free from the Environment Agency website: Prepare your property for flooding. It s impossible to completely flood-proof your home, but there are lots of things you can do to reduce flood damage. Visit the Environment Agency website: to download the leaflet, Prepare your property for flooding, for advice on what to do. There s also information about flood protection products and services. Check whether your insurance covers flood damage. Flood insurance is standard in most building and contents insurance policies, but make sure you know how much cover you have and whether any exclusions apply. Regular public meetings between floods helped promote flood resilience, both by delivering information and advice into the community and ensuring residents remained vigilant to flood risk. However, residents who had not been flooded before were unlikely to have attended public meetings. (Source: Environment Agency Response to flooding TNS-BMRB report, July 2010) 12 National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary

14 3. Get involved Create or join a local flood or coastal action group (see section 6). For information and support on how to set up your own flood action group, or to find out about others in your local area, visit the National Flood Forum website at or contact them on Flood action groups can collectively engage with the relevant authorities, help explain responsibilities and constraints to local communities and also express views to local MPs and councillors. Take part if your community is consulted on local plans or flood alleviation schemes. You could also form your own community flood action group and develop a community plan to share with your local council. This can then inform the council s own plans right from the beginning. Find out if your local authority has secured funding for ways of protecting properties (such as flood boards or air brick covers) by visiting the Environment Agency website. Seek opportunities to get involved in local initiatives to protect your community from flooding or help your community adapt to coastal change. (Visit Defra s website for more information on the new approach to funding, which encourages local or private contributions towards schemes so that more can be undertaken.) 4. Keep informed Once you have the information you need, don t forget to update your flood plan if you move home or business premises, or your household circumstances change for example, someone else joins your household, or someone becomes ill or disabled. And regularly check the websites listed above for updated information. National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary 13

15 6. What role can community flood and coastal groups play? Today, around 490,000 properties face a one in 75 or greater chance (in any given year) of flooding from rivers and the sea... by 2035 there may be an additional 350,000 properties [at risk]. (Source: Environment Agency, Investing in the future: flood and coastal risk management in England, a long-term investment strategy) 490, , There are many benefits in involving communities at risk in decisions about what is needed where and at what cost. The national strategy sets out this key role for community flood groups. Not only will they continue to be a voice for their local area, but they will be able to contribute directly to informing local FCERM strategies. Contributing to FCERM strategies and plans Community flood groups will be able to liaise with the national and local risk management authorities to help convey the community perspective of flooding and coastal erosion. They can do this by: taking part in any public consultations (for example, on any future local strategies) and otherwise working closely with local authorities to ensure local views and ideas inform their decisions (see section 5.3 Get involved ). making sure they are represented in local flood risk management partnerships (or equivalent) and community resilience initiatives, such as flood or coastal action groups, preparing community flood action plans, or promoting schemes to make properties more resilient to flooding, or helping the community adapt to coastal erosion. Raising awareness of FCERM within the community As a trusted source of advice, community groups can also play an important role to help local people and businesses understand and actively prepare for these risks. They can also encourage them to get involved in local decision-making or help get projects off the ground. Defra, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the Environment Agency, lead local flood authorities and coastal erosion risk management authorities intend to work with community groups to help raise awareness and promote the actions that people can take to reduce the impact that flooding and coastal erosion might have. 14 National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary

16 People can be encouraged to: carry out the actions outlined in section 5, What you can do to manage the risk of flooding or coastal erosion where you live and work ; take some practical steps such as putting up purpose-built flood boards in doorways to prevent water seeping into property and causing damage; check the condition of any local flood and coastal erosion defences and maintain any they own; maintain and look after rivers or streams where they own the adjoining land. National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary 15

17 7. Who does what? The strategy sets out in detail what government and certain authorities or organisations do. Given below is a useful summary. Government The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) develops FCERM policy and is the lead Government department for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England. New or revised policies are prepared with other parts of government such as the Treasury, the Cabinet Office (for emergency response planning) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (for land-use and planning policy). These national policies then form the basis of the Environment Agency s work. Environment Agency As national co-ordinator, the Environment Agency has a strategic overview of all sources of flooding and coastal erosion (as defined in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010). It is also responsible for flood and coastal erosion risk management activities on main rivers and the coast, regulating reservoir safety, and working in partnership with the Met Office to provide flood forecasts and warnings. It must also look for opportunities to maintain and improve the environment for people and wildlife while carrying out all of its duties. The Environment Agency s work includes: Developing long-term approaches to FCERM. This includes working with others to prepare and carry out sustainable Catchment Flood Management Plans (CFMPs) and Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs). CFMPs address flood risk in each river catchment. SMPs assess the risks of coastal flooding and erosion and propose ways to manage them. The Environment Agency also collates and reviews assessments, maps and plans for local flood risk management (normally undertaken by lead local flood authorities). Providing evidence and advice to support others. This includes national flood and coastal erosion risk information, data and tools to help other risk management authorities and inform government policy, and advice on planning and development issues. Working with others to share knowledge and the best ways of working. This includes work to develop FCERM skills and resources. The Environment Agency brings together local authorities, coastal groups and communities to share our combined knowledge, and develop a sustainable framework so that the right actions are decided for each community. Monitoring and reporting on flood and coastal erosion risk management. This includes reporting on how the national FCERM strategy is having an impact across the country. Lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) As local co-ordinators, the Flood and Water Management Act directs LLFAs to: prepare and maintain a strategy for local flood risk management in their areas, co-ordinating views and activity with other local bodies and communities through public consultation and scrutiny, and delivery planning. To do this they will need to work closely with Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs); maintain a register of assets these are physical features that have a significant effect on flooding in their area; establish approval bodies for design, building and operation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS); 16 National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary

18 issue consents for altering, removing or replacing certain structures or features on ordinary watercourses; play a lead role in emergency planning and recovery after a flood event. LLFAs will need to work very closely with the Environment Agency and ensure that the plans they are making link up with activity planned at a national level. An essential part of managing local flood risk will be taking account of new development in any plans or strategies. If a flood happens, all local authorities are category one responders under the Civil Contingencies Act. This means they must have plans in place to respond to emergencies, and control or reduce the impact of an emergency. LLFAs also have a new duty to investigate flood incidents to help understand how they happened, their impacts, and what action could help reduce future risks. By working in partnership with communities, LLFAs can raise awareness of flood and coastal erosion risks. Local flood action groups (and other organisations that represent those living and working in areas at risk of flooding) will be useful and trusted channels for sharing up-to-date information, guidance and support direct with the community. LLFAs will help local communities participate in FCERM. Depending on local circumstances, this could include developing and sharing good practice in risk management, training community volunteers so that they can raise awareness of flood risk in their community, and helping the community to prepare flood action plans. Coastal erosion risk management authorities Coastal local authorities will work alongside the Environment Agency to develop and maintain coastal flood and erosion risk information. This will contribute to national information maintained by the Environment Agency and promote understanding of these risks. This will enable them to be taken into account in planning how to protect and manage the coast. Water companies Water companies play a role in managing flood and coastal erosion risks, too. For example, they manage the risk of flooding to water supply and sewerage facilities. The main roles of water and sewerage companies in managing flood and coastal erosion risks are to: make sure their systems have the appropriate level of resilience to flooding, and maintain essential services during emergencies; maintain and manage their water supply and sewerage systems to manage the impact of flooding and pollution to the environment; provide advice to LLFAs on how water and sewerage company assets impact on local flood risk; work with developers, landowners and LLFAs to understand and manage risks - for example, by working to manage the amount of rainfall that enters sewerage systems; work with the Environment Agency, lead local flood authorities and district councils to co-ordinate the management of water supply and sewerage systems with other flood risk management work. They also need to have regard to FCERM plans in their own plans and work. National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary 17

19 Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) IDBs have an important role to play in flood risk management, and in creating and managing natural habitats. Each IDB operates within a defined area, known as a drainage district. They are made up of elected members who represent land occupiers, and others nominated by local authorities who represent the public and other interest groups. IDBs are independent public bodies responsible for managing water levels in low-lying areas. IDBs are the land drainage authority within their districts and their functions include supervising land drainage, and flood defence works on ordinary watercourses or other sources of flooding. This is primarily funded by drainage rates and levies from land occupiers and local authorities. By doing this, they closely manage water levels, both in watercourses and underground (groundwater), by improving and maintaining ordinary watercourses, drainage channels and pumping stations to reduce the risk of flooding. They are able to involve local people, encourage volunteering and raise funds from those who benefit from their work. Highways authorities Highways authorities (the Highways Agency and unitary/county councils) have the lead responsibility for providing and managing highway drainage and roadside ditches under the Highways Act The owners of land adjoining a highway also have a common-law duty to maintain ditches to prevent them causing a nuisance to road users. To manage these risks as set out in the national strategy, highways authorities will need to work effectively with the Environment Agency, LLFAs and district councils to ensure their flood management activities are well co-ordinated. 18 National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary

20 8. Further reading and information The national strategy Understanding the risks, empowering communities, building resilience: the national flood and coastal risk management strategy for England describes what needs to be done by all the risk management authorities to reduce the risk of flooding and coastal erosion, and to manage its consequences. Available to view or download from the Official Documents website: Flood risk strategies and plans for your area visit the Environment Agency website to view FCERM activity in your area. Future funding of flood and coastal erosion risk management in England visit Defra s website for more detailed information about the changes to funding. The Pitt Review this review of the 2007 floods by Sir Michael Pitt identified the lessons learned, focusing on the needs of people living and working in areas at risk. The review made 92 recommendations, focusing on six key aspects of flood risk management and has also led to a greater focus on surface water flooding - a main cause of damage in the 2007 floods. Available to view or download from the Environment Agency website: Flooding in England our national assessment of flood risk for England sets out the current level of risk from rivers and the sea and what the Environment Agency is doing to manage it. Available to view or download from the Environment Agency website: Investing for the future. Flood and coastal risk management in England a long term investment strategy. The latest climate change predictions indicate that flooding and coastal erosion are likely to increase in the future. The long-term investment strategy sets out the scale of the investment needed to meet this challenge over the next 25 years. Available to view or download from the Environment Agency website: The Foresight Future Flooding Report How climate change will affect us in 30 to 100 years time. Available to view or download from the Environment Agency website: National Flood Forum supports and represents communities and individuals that are at risk of flooding, to prepare for and deal with issues they face when it occurs. It brings together individuals and communities with those responsible for managing flood risk. It also provides learning and training programmes to agencies, authorities and communities, and highlights flood risk issues to government. Visit the National Flood Forum website. National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary 19

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