In a detailed investigation into the causes, impact and legacy of this summer's wide-scale flooding in England and Wales, the Environment Agency has identified a range of conclusions and recommendations.
It's a complicated mixture of divided responsibilities, unprecedented demand and inadequate resources.
The review also contains a plethora of facts and figures.
Here are some of them.
More than 55,000
homes and businesses flooded.
No early-warning system for 35,000
of them.
Nearly £3 billion
insured losses.
Only 41% (276,000)
of people eligible for free flood warnings are registered to receive them.
Highest river levels for 60
years.
Wettest May to July for 250
years.
About half the 1,016km
(630miles) of flood defences tested by the floods were overwhelmed.
Less than 0.2%
physically failed or suffered a breakdown or power failure that prevented them working properly.
Two-thirds
of flooded properties were the result of overwhelmed drains and sewers.
More than 1,000
people evacuated from homes in South Yorkshire as a result of damage to the Ulley reservoir and flooding from the River Rother.
FLOODED PROPERTIES AND BUSINESSES
Estimated totals, summer 2007
|
Region
|
Households
|
Businesses
|
Total
|
|
East Midlands
|
4,581
|
290
|
4,871
|
|
London
|
1,108
|
302
|
1,410
|
|
South East
|
5,896
|
129
|
6,025
|
|
South West
|
4,915
|
1,000
|
5,915
|
|
Welsh Ass
|
32
|
4
|
36
|
|
West Midlands
|
8,450
|
1,453
|
9,903
|
|
Yorks/ Humberside
|
23,479
|
3,718
|
27,197
|
|
Total
|
48,461
|
6,896
|
55,357
|
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