A personal perspective on managing a natural disaster: The Somerset floods of 2014

1. A personal perspective on managing a natural disaster: The Somerset floods of 2014 Harvey Siggs Somerset County Council

2. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Somerset County Council’s roles • 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

7. The Event Late December – heavy rain, first flooding including closure of one of the main routes into the Southwest of England Our Response Emergency road closures Diversions Landslides Clearing fallen trees Communications

8. The Event Early January – storm surge combined with high tides Inland flooding continued, village of Muchelney cut off to all vehicles. Local residents and volunteers using social media Our Response Continued highways response and rail cut off into whole southwest SCC provide humanitarian support boat. Needed for nearly ten weeks.

9. The Event Throughout Januarystorms continued to sweep in from the Atlantic with prolonged heavy rain. Homes flooded. More communities cut off Major Incident declared 24th January. Our Response School and public transport, caring for people made vulnerable by flooding Staff on the ground working with volunteers

10. The Event February – More rain, further high tides, more flooding Press and political interest remains high March – Waters receding moving towards recovery Our Response SCC working 24/7 Still responding but preparing for recovery

11. Recovery

12. 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

13. 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

14. Learning - Volunteers 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 Issue to consider: • Coordination • Storage and distribution of donations

15. SCC Boat Local farmers Burnham Rescue boat Argocat BV 206s Wessex 4x4 Red Cross Unimog

16. 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

17. 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;

18. Disaster ResilienceSharing our learning with European Partners • 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;

19. 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; • more training and education is essential; • recognises the critical role that voluntary and civil society plays in preparing for future problems

20. Questions? Harvey Siggs hxsiggs@somerset.gov.uk PH

21. SPARE SLIDES

22. 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

24. Somerset Levels & Moors Flood Action Plan Key outcomes: • Reduce frequency, depth and duration of flooding • Maintain access for communities and businesses • Increase resilience to flooding • Make the most of the special characteristics of the Somerset Levels and Moors • Ensure strategic transport connectivity, both within Somerset and through the county to the South West peninsula • Promote business confidence and growth

25. Somerset Levels & Moors Flood Action Plan • 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