UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called an emergency COBR (Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms) meeting, taking place today (November 12), to discuss the government’s response to floods that have hit South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire.
An ITV report said the meeting announcement was made following Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s letter in which he urged Johnson to take personal charge of how the flooding is addressed.
“We need full assurance from the government that every resource is being utilised to aid those that need it and protect against future potential floods,” ITV quoted Corbyn as stating in his letter addressed to the Prime Minister.
“With dozens of flood warnings still in place, I have to disagree with your assessment from the weekend that this is not a national emergency. If this had happened in Surrey, not Yorkshire or the East Midlands, it seems far more likely that a national emergency would have been declared.”
Corbyn also asserted: “Every year we don’t act means higher flood waters, more homes ruined, and more lives at risk due to climate change.”
Meanwhile insurers and brokers in the UK are ready to assist those impacted by the floods. In addition, the Environment Agency is continuing to work round-the-clock to reduce flood risk and keep communities safe by clearing debris from rivers, operating flood storage areas, and pumping away water.
The situation comes hot on the heels of the launch of the National Flood Forum’s (NFF) Flood Risk Communities’ Charter, which was developed from a series of ‘Let’s Talk about Flooding’ regional events jointly run by the NFF and Flood Re.
According to Flood Re, more than a quarter of a million homes in Britain have benefitted since it was created by the government and the insurance industry to help reduce the cost of coverage for those greatly at risk.
“Flooding devastates communities across the UK and is only set to get worse due to climate change,” said Flood Re chief executive Andy Bord last week. “The recent very wet weather is a reminder that Flood Re continues to ensure that affordable home insurance is available to those families living in high flood risk areas.”
