In Deep Water
Sunday 18 March 2001
Reporter David Lomax
Producer Ken Kirby
Assistant Producer Esella Hawkey

Hundreds of families in Yorkshire and elsewhere are still living in temporary accommodation, four months after last year's floods. Their wrecked houses are humming with de-humidifiers, possessions are in skips outside. In many cases there is no prospect of being able to move back in again for more than a year.

According to the Environment Agency millions of pounds need to be spent on maintenance, restoration and new capital schemes nationally. 5 million people live in areas, which are at future flooding risk.

Thousands of homes were wrecked as many of Britain's flood defences failed last year. Panorama investigates whether underfunding and neglect are to blame.

Geoff Mance, Director of Water Management at the Environment Agency, answered your questions on the state of Britain's flood defences.

Over five million people are now living or working in flood risk areas in England and Wales.

John and Ros Amor were forced out of their home when their house on the Wainhomes estate flooded on 4th November.

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