How do you solve a problem like flooding?

It’s true the climate is changing – I’m no scientist but still a firm believer that the state of things aren’t as they should be and that we are all to blame for it.

However, let us leave that discussion aside and concentrate on what can actually be done to protect more people and businesses from the misery called flooding. I am not a hydrologist, so my views on river dredging are just assumptions.

To dredge or not to dredge?

Dredging makes sense, but can only be part of the total solution. There are so many other variables to consider.

Urban developments play a crucial role and we need to implement more sustainable SUDS type of material when planning our infrastructure. Basically, less tarmac – more nature.

We need to sacrifice some areas and let them flood, to make space for water. It’s sad in many ways, but it would save a lot of properties and – at least the birds will thank us.

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But meanwhile, back at the flood scene, something needs to be done, right now.

Whatever the long term solution is, there will always be a need for emergency response to flooding and this is where I feel so much more could be done.

What we need is a national, retained flood brigade, coupled with more spending on temporary flood defences.

In an ideal world, we would all be protected by nice, aesthetically pleasing permanent flood defences.

However, we all know, this won’t happen for a very long time, if ever.

Humble sandbags

Meanwhile, the humble sandbags are getting an outing every time we flood and local volunteers help out, to fill, carry and deploy these.

Now, imagine if these volunteers could be organized locally, regionally, nationally and if they could be given access to local depots of temporary barriers and other similar products.

Barriers of various sizes can be deployed a lot easier and quicker and make for an effective protection without involving sand, which often gets polluted by sewage.

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The volunteers would have to be trained by the manufacturers and function a bit like the retained fire brigade does today.

You sign up, you get trained, you drop your day job if you are on duty – and you help out.

Local people have a great deal of knowledge about where vulnerable people live, which roads to avoid and how the flooding usually affects their neighbours.

It is such a waste of man- (and woman!)- power, to spend time and energy on a task which could be done so much quicker.

Temporary barriers

Another important aspect of emergency response is the fact that temporary barriers can be deployed in water.

Therefore, critical infrastructure or properties, hospitals, schools that have already been flooded can be surrounded by a barrier and pumped dry.

This is how, after a Cobra meeting decision, our barrier was deployed – and saved – National Grid’s switching station Walham in Gloucester, in 2007.

Home owners, neighbourhoods, businesses, critical infrastructure… they can all keep the water at bay. It’s never too late.

We can do something – a lot quicker. We just need to be better organized and get more funding for temporary flood barriers.

Britt Warg is a flood defence consultant.