The Environment Secretary, Thérèse Coffey, has faced criticism for her department’s handling of Storm Babet, which brought unprecedented rainfall to parts of England. Coffey told the Commons Environment Committee that the damage done by the storm was harder to predict because the rain came from an unusual direction, the east. This unexpected development forced Coffey to acknowledge that her department’s forecasting methods may not be as reliable as previously thought.
The Environment Agency reported that at least seven people died during the storm, with hundreds left homeless and approximately 1,250 properties in England flooded. Coffey’s remarks to the committee prompted the Liberal Democrats to urge her to “get a grip” and “stop blaming everyone else for her failings”. Tim Farron, the party’s environmental spokesperson, criticized Coffey’s response, saying it was “almost comical” how she blamed the wind for the government’s failure to protect homes from flooding. The statement sparked an outburst from Farron, who accused Coffey of being “complacent” in dealing with water companies.
Coffey’s defense of her department’s forecasting methods highlighted the limitations of its current approach. She explained that the Environment Agency is skilled at predicting weather patterns from the west, with the Met Office and the agency’s flood forecasting center working together to predict weather events. However, this expertise is limited when rain comes from an unusual direction, as was the case with Storm Babet. Coffey acknowledged that the Environment Agency had relocated assets to Yorkshire and the north-east in an attempt to mitigate the effects of the storm, but conceded that some areas may have required additional pumps to prevent flooding.
Storm BabetThe Environment Secretary also revealed that £5.2 billion had been allocated to protect homes and businesses from flooding between 2021 and 2027. However, she acknowledged that the department may not meet its target of protecting 336,000 properties by 2027. Coffey committed to conducting a “rapid review” into the incident, citing concerns that some UK communities affected by flooding felt they could have been given more pumps to prevent them from becoming submerged.
The backlash against Coffey’s comments has underscored the need for improvement in flood forecasting and the handling of natural disasters. The Environment Secretary’s attempt to shift the blame for the government’s failings has been met with scorn by critics, who argue that it is the duty of her department to ensure the safety and well-being of the public. As the UK continues to face the challenges of climate change, it is essential that the Environment Secretary and her department prioritize transparency, accountability, and effective crisis management.