The costs of the summer 2007 floods in England
This study assessed the full economic effects of the floods, covering both direct financial losses and indirect costs such as distress and disruption.
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Exceptionally heavy rainfall in the summer of 2007 caused extensive flooding in parts of England, especially in:
- South and East Yorkshire
- Worcestershire
- Gloucestershire
- Oxfordshire
As a result the number of properties flooded was higher than ever before, and the floods also affected infrastructure in some areas. The disruption, economic loss and social distress that resulted turned the summer 2007 floods into a national catastrophe.
This study aimed to produce a full and transparent estimate of the total economic cost of the summer 2007 flood events. It covers all the known economic costs and consequences of the floods, including:
- the effects on households and businesses
- disruption to power and water services and communications
- damage to infrastructure and farming
- the effects on the emergency services - including the Environment Agency
The research also looks at the effects on public health, disruption to education and the long-term consequences of severe flooding.
The project was started in 2007 and completed in 2010.