Flood Risk Management
Although our business is diverse, flooding has always been a big issue for us and we spend over half of our entire annual budget on Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management. Not to mention spending time and resources informing and educating people; warning people; delivering and managing flood defences; working with nature to improve habitats; as well as assisting during emergencies. It's a strategy that already prevents about £3.4 billion of flood damage each year and protects and improves the environment.
We look after 24,000 miles of walls and embankments, and over 46,000 structures like sluices, weirs and pumping stations - and continue to build around 200 new defence schemes each year. We're constantly improving our flood risk maps and 24-hour flood warning systems, so that the five million people at risk have up-to-date, accurate information.
Following the severe flooding during the Summer of 2007 and the subsequent independent review of its effects; which resulted in the Pitt Report, new challenges have been set for the Environment Agency. Our flood and coastal erosion risk management budget figure for 2008 is now approaching £600m and is programmed to reach £800m by 2011 to continue the work we are doing to combat flooding.
The Pitt Report looked into the causes and future actions relating to the Summer 2007 floods and has broadened the scope of Environment Agency's remit in providing warnings and helping to minimise the impact of future surface water flooding. In achieving these targets, we are required to work closely with Local Authorities around England and Wales as well as the utility companies and emergency services in helping to minimise the flood risks to essential assets such as substations, water treatment works and fire/police stations. Also as part of our new coastal management overview powers, we are now responsible for producing the coastal erosion maps for the whole country.
With sea levels now around 10 centimetres higher than they were in 1900, we are planning for a further 100cm rise over the next 100 years. We are tackling challenges such as this head on and are making a huge difference - we're already planning how to protect the 2.2 million homes and 185,000 businesses currently at risk from flooding.
We have some ambitious plans in place and a powerful, long-term vision. If you want a career of national importance - this is it.
For more information on the areas within Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management, click on the links below.
-Flood Risk Mapping and Data Management
This team respond to flood risk related enquiries, developing and managing a programme of data collection and managing and maintaining accurate data.
-Flood Forecasting
This team provides a 24/7 monitoring and forecasting service across the Regions to ensure flood warnings are issued in a timely and reliable manner, using advanced technology, forecasting systems and mathematical models.
-Flood Incident Management (FIM)
FIM involves issuing flood warnings to the public, and taking all necessary measures to prepare residents, businesses and the emergency services to respond to floods. They ensure the public understand how to take precautions against flooding and help them to cope with flooding when it happens.
-Operations Delivery
This team provides an efficient and effective response to flooding and environmental incidents. It operates our flood defences during flood events and manages flood risk by planned and preventative maintenance of assets and watercourses. This team delivers maintenance and construction programmes using an in-house workforce and contractors.
-Flood Asset System Management & Enforcement
Setting the strategic direction for the management of our assets, this team ensures that flood risk is not compromised by developments or alterations to river channels, flood plains or flood defences. This is the technical side of flood risk management - involving engineering, economics and hydrology.
-Operations Delivery Technical Support Teams
This team provide support by developing, maintaining and updating the area programme. This includes system performance specification, developing options, design and cost solutions, and producing flood response plans.
-Strategic and Development Planning
Ensuring that adequate consideration to flooding and the environment is made in any future proposals, this team focus on building strong working relationships to ensure that development in flood risk areas is avoided. Other activity includes developing strategies and management plans that provide the framework for future actions and investment.
-Asset Investment & Planning
The focus of this team is to direct asset management planning and make sound investment decisions. Some of the bigger issues include ensuring performance against Government targets and securing the long term funding needs of each region.
-National Capital Programme Management Service (NCPMS)
This nationally managed service delivers the programme of major projects, including construction projects. Project Managers work with the public, consultants and contractors from feasibility studies right through to completion and handover.
Other activities
The Environment Agency employs staff with a wide variety of skills and disciplines in specialist and supporting roles. Engineers work alongside Hydrologists, Ecologists and other scientific and environmental experts. Financial, Legal, Estates and Public Relations Advisors also provide support. Most work involves a multi-disciplinary approach, with opportunity to gain experience and develop diverse skills.
