a personal perspective on managing a natural disaster: the somerset floods of 2014 harvey siggs...
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A personal perspective on managing a natural disaster: The Somerset floods of
2014
Harvey SiggsSomerset County Council
What I will cover
• The Somerset Floods of 2014
• Local Government’s role in response and recovery
• Learning:
• Communication and the role of Social Media
• Volunteers
• Insurance
• Influencing European thinking on disaster management
The Somerset Levels
•Approximately 160,000 acres (650km2)
•Inhabited since Palaeolithic times
•Many attempts to manage water over the centuries, monasteries were responsible in the Middle Ages
•Several significant flood events over the centuries
•Managed landscape; artificial watercourses created to help manage water
•Severn Estuary has high tidal range and combined with stormy weather can cause flooding
• The area is rich in biodiversity • Complicated system – many different opinions on
how to manage the area• Water levels managed by the Internal Drainage
Boards
• Environment Agency responsible for the main rivers
The 2014 flood was more extreme than had been experienced for a generation
11,000 hectares of agricultural land floodedOver 200 homes under water, some for months
• Provider of a wide range of services such as social care, education, transport, highways, waste disposal and much more
• Key role as part of the emergency response
• Lead role on recovery
• Coordinator of the Flood Action Plan for the Somerset Levels and Moors on behalf of a number of organisations
Somerset County Council’s roles
Late December – heavy rain, first flooding including closure of one of the main routes into the Southwest of England
The Event
Our ResponseEmergency road closures DiversionsLandslidesClearing fallen treesCommunications
Early January – storm surge combined with high tidesInland flooding continued, village of Muchelney cut off to all vehicles. Local residents and volunteers using social media
The Event
Our ResponseContinued highways response and rail cut off into whole southwest
SCC provide humanitarian support boat. Needed for nearly ten weeks.
Throughout January storms continued to sweep in from the Atlantic with prolonged heavy rain. Homes flooded. More communities cut off Major Incident declared 24th January.
The Event
Our Response
School and public transport, caring for people made vulnerable by flooding
Staff on the ground working with volunteers
February – More rain, further high tides, more floodingPress and political interest remains high March – Waters receding moving towards recovery
The Event
Our Response
SCC working 24/7Still responding but preparing for recovery
Recovery
Recovery• Cleaning up – getting rid of the waste
• Financial help – utilities, council tax
• Getting people home
• Supporting businesses to recover – promoting Somerset
• Insurance issues – lobbying Government
• Mental health issues
• Donations
• Volunteers
• Repairing infrastructure – roads, rail, telephones etc
Learning - Communications
• Communication via mobile phones, social media is now instant
• Government at all levels can no longer control the flow of information in a disaster
• digital communications can help Government bodies get information from those affected and can help get messages back out
• In Somerset, many volunteers were engaged via social media
Learning - Volunteers
Issue to consider:
•Coordination
•Storage and distribution of donations
Played a significant role in responding and in assisting with recovery. Not just local people but a national response with donations and people travelling from across the country
Local farmers
SCC Boat
Burnham Rescue boat
BV 206s
Wessex 4x4
Argocat
Red Cross Unimog
Learning - Insurance
• Post flooding, many of those affected have struggled to obtain affordable insurance and this impacts on the community
• Engaging with insurance companies and the national government to ensure that all households and businesses can obtain affordable insurance has been a priority in Somerset
• Further work is needed to ensure that the insurance industry recognises that building resilience in infrastructure and transport at the outset is the most effective way to minimise risks and reduce long-term costs
Disaster ResilienceSharing our learning with European Partners
In April I was asked to be rapporteur for the European Committee of the Regions in relation to developing an opinion on the Post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
The opinion suggests:
•that worldwide between 2002 and 2012, disasters were responsible for more than 80,000 deaths and the economic cost was as high as €95bn;
• that nations should take more steps to build resilience against disasters and should place regional and local authorities at the centre of their plans;
• Local authorities are on the front line dealing with disasters but they often lack the necessary resources;
• that local bodies must be sufficiently prepared and resourced;
• local authorities have three key roles: preparing through improved resilience, reacting with improved co-ordination, and dealing with the impact after disasters;
Disaster ResilienceSharing our learning with European Partners
• improving communication and making the most of new technologies such as social media;
• highlights the role of insurance companies and argues that building resilience in infrastructure and transport is the most effective way to minimise risks and reduce long-term costs;
Disaster ResilienceSharing our learning with European Partners
• more training and education is essential;
• recognises the critical role that voluntary and civil society plays in preparing for future problems
SPARE SLIDES
Highways Overview
• During the major incident:– Had to maintain the rest of the 6,500km road network in
Somerset– Delivered thousands of sandbags – 8000 in one day,
14000 deployed in one operation– 6750 defects identified across the whole network – Emptied 25,000 gullies– 150 road closure applications– Provide winter gritting service– Damage to diversionary routes due to increased use
Somerset Levels & Moors Flood Action Plan
1. Reduce frequency, depth and duration of flooding
2. Maintain access for communities and businesses
3. Increase resilience to flooding
4. Make the most of the special characteristics of the Somerset Levels and Moors
5. Ensure strategic transport connectivity, both within Somerset and through the county to the South West peninsula
6. Promote business confidence and growth
Key outcomes:
• Has attracted significant funding (over £30m so far)
• Good momentum, lots of activities being progressed
• Physical infrastructure works (e.g. dredging, road raising) have commenced and are ongoing
• Partners working well together through a Leaders Implementation Group and Programme Board
Somerset Levels & Moors Flood Action Plan