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Report to attack flood protection Flooding plan 'needs improvement'
(about 1 hour later)
The government and local authorities should take flood protection more seriously, the official report on last summer's flooding is expected to say. The government and local authorities should take flood protection more seriously, the official report on last summer's flooding will say.
The independent review by Sir Michael Pitt, commissioned by ministers, is set to contain more than 70 proposals.The independent review by Sir Michael Pitt, commissioned by ministers, is set to contain more than 70 proposals.
Last December, in his interim report into lessons learned, he said the UK was not properly prepared for floods.Last December, in his interim report into lessons learned, he said the UK was not properly prepared for floods.
The 2007 deluge left 13 dead and saw 44,600 homes flooded, with Yorkshire and the Midlands among the worst hit.The 2007 deluge left 13 dead and saw 44,600 homes flooded, with Yorkshire and the Midlands among the worst hit.
Left homelessLeft homeless
The Humber and south west England were also severely affected by the wet weather. The Humber and southwest England were also severely affected by the wet weather.
BBC Environment Correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said: "Sir Michael is also said to be exercised by the fact that thousands of people are still out of their homes a year after the floods. He thinks this is unacceptable."BBC Environment Correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said: "Sir Michael is also said to be exercised by the fact that thousands of people are still out of their homes a year after the floods. He thinks this is unacceptable."
She added that he is likely to say councils, housing associations and insurers should make sure that these houses are "properly flood-proofed" before people return to them.Advertisement She added that he is likely to say councils, housing associations and insurers should make sure that these houses are "properly flood-proofed" before people return to them.
Sir Michael told the BBC the performance of insurers had generally been good following the floods, although there was "something like a 20% level of dissatisfaction with the performance of both loss adjusters and insurance companies".
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Scenes of flooding around the UK in the summer of 2007Scenes of flooding around the UK in the summer of 2007
The report is expected to concentrate on a few main topics, such as the fact that urban drainage systems were overwhelmed last year. The report will also say:
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  • Local authorities should create a definitive map of all drainage ditches and streams in their area, making clear who is responsible for maintaining them.
He may suggest flood prevention organisations need to work more closely together.
  • A nerve centre should be set up jointly by the Met Office and the Environment Agency to pool information and issue more accurate flood warnings.
    • But it is not just authorities who are likely to be criticised in the report.
  • New building regulations should be introduced for flood-prone areas, recommending appropriate construction materials and drainage systems.
    • Laser system
  • A greater onus should be placed on utility companies to protect key infrastructure sites. Sir Michael said some had previously been "quite secretive" about their sites.
    • Sir Michael is expected to say some members of the public did not take flood warnings seriously enough. Sir Michael said most of the recommendations were "not expensive" and could be achieved within the government's existing £800m-a-year flood defence budget for 2010 to 2011.
    However, he is also set to say that future warnings should be made in clear language that is easy to understand. But he said: "Implementing these recommendations will need powerful, Cabinet-level leadership.
    "We can be much better prepared. In fact, we are already better prepared now than a year ago."
    Clearer warnings
    It is not just authorities who are likely to be criticised in the report.
    Sir Michael said some members of the public did not take flood warnings seriously enough.
    They should be registered with the Environment Agency's Flood Line to receive up-to-the-minute advice and should have an emergency kit in their homes, he added. We do not welcome building on flood plains, but in some parts of the country there is very little or no choice Sir Michael Pitt
    However, he said flood warnings last year were "given in very technical terms" and must be made easier to understand in future.
    Earlier this month, a report by the Fire Brigades Union revealed that fire crews are going without flood equipment such as lifejackets, waterproofs and boots, one year on from the summer deluge.Earlier this month, a report by the Fire Brigades Union revealed that fire crews are going without flood equipment such as lifejackets, waterproofs and boots, one year on from the summer deluge.
    But the government said it had spent £200m on specialist equipment.But the government said it had spent £200m on specialist equipment.
    And the Environment Agency recently said a national effort was needed to tackle the vulnerability of buildings such as power stations and hospitals to flooding.And the Environment Agency recently said a national effort was needed to tackle the vulnerability of buildings such as power stations and hospitals to flooding.
    It warned that ministers, councils and utility firms need to act.It warned that ministers, councils and utility firms need to act.
    It also said it had completed 34 flood defences, helping more than 30,000 homes, since last year's downpour.It also said it had completed 34 flood defences, helping more than 30,000 homes, since last year's downpour.
    It is mapping the country using a new laser system to identify in detail those areas most at risk.It is mapping the country using a new laser system to identify in detail those areas most at risk.
    Sir Michael said: "We do not welcome building on flood plains, but in some parts of the country there is very little or no choice."