In the wake of devastating floods caused by Storm Bert over the past weekend, Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales, has voiced the urgent need for improved flood warning systems. The intense weather conditions resulted in significant damage to both homes and local businesses, provoking widespread concern regarding the efficacy of existing flood alert mechanisms administered by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Met Office.
Morgan indicated her intention to address these issues, particularly following reports that residents were often unaware of the flooding until they were alerted by their neighbors. Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies highlighted in the Senedd that the flood warnings were insufficient, which may have led to missed opportunities for preventative actions. He suggested that an earlier and more robust warning system could have potentially mitigated the impact of the flooding.
The situation was further complicated when Morgan faced requests from Plaid Cymru for additional funding to enhance coal tip safety measures, particularly after a significant landslip incident in Cwmtillery. Despite the pressure for increased financial assistance, Morgan responded, stating it would be challenging to surpass the £25 million already requested for safety enhancements. In light of this, she expressed optimism that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would support additional funding.
In her announcements, Morgan pledged financial aid to affected households, specifically £1,000 for those without insurance and £500 for those insured. Additionally, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is offering relief grants of £1,000 to small and medium-sized enterprises, along with residents who have been impacted by the flooding.
On the operational front, NRW, under Morgan’s jurisdiction, acknowledged the complaints regarding the timing of their alerts. The agency indicated that a thorough investigation would take place regarding the criticisms raised by the public. Morgan defended the actions taken by NRW, noting that they had issued 131 alerts and warnings, which included two severe flood warnings that reached over 95,000 individuals.
While Morgan asserted that NRW had indeed done considerable work in communicating alerts, the critical question remained as to whether they could have performed better. During ongoing discussions in the Senedd, she committed to bettering the flood warning processes, emphasizing the need for collaboration with NRW and the Met Office. A meeting scheduled for the following week was intended to facilitate these discussions.
Reflecting on Wales’ flood defense history, Morgan highlighted the government’s measures since the impact of Storm Dennis in 2020. She noted how rainfall and river levels fluctuated, leading to lesser impacts compared to previous floods. However, concerns were raised from Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth regarding the adequacy of funds being proposed for coal tip safety after the Cwmtillery landslip, which he estimates could require £600 million over the next decade or so.
Morgan noted the historical context, emphasizing that the previous Conservative administration had failed to provide significant support for flood safety for four years. She expressed a degree of satisfaction regarding the Labour government’s responsiveness to their requests and reiterated her confidence in receiving more funding, attributing this belief to the cooperation witnessed during previous requests.
However, she did caution that even if funds were released, logistical limits concerning available expertise and equipment could hinder their effective use. She recognized the complexities involved in implementing a comprehensive safety plan for coal tips, suggesting a long-term, multi-year commitment to ensure safety and stability in vulnerable regions. Overall, the broad consensus among leaders is the pressing need to bolster Wales’ flood preparedness and response frameworks to prevent future occurrences of such overwhelming devastation.
