We must act now to avert devastation from flooding
UK at serious risk from climate-linked weather events, conference hears
Wednesday 4 June 2008
Devastation wrought by climate change is not just an issue for people overseas, the UK Faculty of Public Health's annual conference will hear today. Of the many public health risks associated with rising temperatures in the UK – increased incidences of communicable diseases, food poisoning, skin cancer and respiratory illness to name just a few – perhaps the most potentially devastating is that posed by extreme weather events like flooding.
The destruction caused by last year's floods in the UK not only had a huge financial and emotional cost, it was a stark warning of the risks of being unprepared for what could become a regular – and ever-worsening – problem. Decisive action is needed not only to address the causes of climate change, but to put the correct measures and warning systems in place to deal with floods and other extreme weather events.
‘The country was not well prepared for the degree of flooding which took place last summer, but there are many things that can be done to improve our effectiveness in adapting to climate change and more intensive periods of rainfall,' said Sir Michael Pitt, Chair of the South West Strategic Health Authority and author of the forthcoming ‘Pitt Review' report into last year's floods. ‘We are looking for closer collaboration between the Met Office and the Environment Agency to improve the effectiveness and timeliness of warnings given to residents and business owners – a large number of property owners did not receive a warning prior to the flooding.'
The threat posed by flooding is on the increase, with around 5 million people in England and Wales at risk.[1] Sir Michael said, ‘Thousands of families are still not back in their homes after last summer and are living in temporary accommodation, and the cost was immense – insurers alone paid out over £3bn.'
The interim ‘Pitt Review' published at the end of last year contained a number of recommendations including better flood risk management, a tougher approach on the part of planning authorities and better joint working between organisations. Action is now being taken by agencies to address the situation, however more concerted effort is needed to avert devastation on a similar scale or worse.
‘A large number of organisations have already responded to the recommendations in the interim report that we published last December, and we are encouraged by the conversations that we've been having with the private and public sector across the board,' said Sir Michael. ‘There's a willingness to invest and to give critical infrastructure higher levels of protection, so we are already seeing good progress in the right direction, but much more needs to be done.'
The final report of the ‘Pitt Review', A review of the lessons learned from the floods of 2007, will be published in the coming weeks.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- For further information on this event or to set up an interview with Sir Michael Pitt in relation to this speech contact Chloe Parkin on 07717 000 681 or Anna Humphries on 07791 008276.
For all other information on the Pitt review please call 020 7276 5300.
- The interim Pitt Review was published on 17th December 2007.
- The UK Faculty of Public Health annual conference attracts over 400 public health professionals from across the UK and internationally. This year it is being held in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and will be an opportunity to look at public health practice in Wales , the rest of the UK and internationally.
For more information on the programme please visit our conference website -
The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is the leading professional body for public health specialists in the UK. It aims to promote and protect the health of the population, and improve health services, by maintaining professional and educational standards, advocating on key public health issues, and providing practical information and guidance for public health professionals.
- Public health is about improving and protecting the health of groups of people, rather than about treating individual patients. Public health professionals must look at the bigger picture and then take action to promote health lifestyles, prevent disease, protect and improve general health, and improve healthcare services. The ‘population' they are working for could be a rural community, an entire city, or the global population, but the principles remain the same.