Book Description

Flood and coastal erosion risk in England is expected to increase due to climate change and development in areas at risk. It is not possible to prevent all flooding or coastal erosion, but there are actions that can be taken to manage these risks and reduce the impacts on communities. This strategy builds on existing approaches to flood and coastal risk management and promotes the use of a wide range of measures to manage risk. Risk should be managed in a co-ordinated way within catchments and along the coast and balance the needs of communities, the economy and the environment. This strategy will form the framework within which communities have a greater role in local risk management decisions and sets out the Environment Agency's strategic overview role in flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM). The strategy encourages more effective risk management by enabling people, communities, business, infrastructure operators and the public sector to work together to: ensure a clear understanding of the risks of flooding and coastal erosion, nationally and locally; set out clear and consistent plans for risk management; manage flood and coastal erosion risks in an appropriate way, taking account of the needs of communities and the environment; ensure that emergency plans and responses to flood incidents are effective and that communities are able to respond effectively to flood forecasts, warnings and advice; help communities to recover more quickly and effectively after incidents.