A range of appeals to support affected communities have been set up following the heavy rainfall that affected Cumbria and Lancashire earlier this month. Money raised will help with clean-up costs emergency repairs, clothing, food and drink, heating and the replacement of basic furniture.
Speaking on Friday, chancellor George Osborne said: “The government is determined to stand by the communities affected by these devastating floods. That is why I am today doubling our pledge to match the money raised by local flood appeals to up to £2m.
“That’s in addition to the £51m of support I announced on Wednesday [9 December], with £5,000 for every affected household to repair and renew and £2,500 for every business.”
Meanwhile, work to identify additional flood protection measures in Cumbria will also get underway.
A new Cumbrian Floods Partnership group, chaired by floods minister and Cumbria MP Rory Stewart, will publish an action plan next summer.
Announcing the set up of the group, environment secretary Liz Truss said: “After seeing first hand the impact of the flooding in the North of England it is clear that the growing threat from more extreme weather events means we must reassure ourselves, and those communities at risk, that our defences, our modelling and our future plans are robust.”
A National Flood Resilience Review was also announced yesterday to take a fresh look at how flood risk is calculated and update ‘worst-case scenario’ planning.
The review will be led by chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster Oliver Letwin, and include the chief scientist Professor Sir Mark Walport, Environment Agency chief executive Sir James Bevan and the departments of environment, food and rural affairs, energy and climate change, communities and local government and the Treasury.
It will also publish its proposals next summer.
Bevan said: “The National Flood Resilience Review and the Cumbria Floods Partnership give government, the Environment Agency and community groups the forums to review and ensure we are directing our resources to protect people most effectively.”
