Flood Risk from Extreme Events

There is increasing evidence that more frequent flooding resulting from increases in the frequency and intensity of storms are likely to be one consequence of anthropogenic climate change in many parts of the world including the United Kingdom. Flooding in the UK is currently a major and costly environmental hazard with annual damage from floods of around £1 billion at present levels of protection. In the autumn of 2000 up to 11,000 properties were flooded, and the financial cost was in excess of £1.3 billion. Recent figures from Defra show that the UK’s assets at risk from flooding by the sea are valued at £132.2 billion, from fluvial flooding valued at £81.7 billion and from coastal erosion at £7.8 billion.