Major incident declared while more than 100 areas remain at risk of flooding

The environment secretary has been asked to review ‘incompetence’ at the Met Office that led to a ‘clear underestimation’ of Storm Bert’s impact.

Alex Barros-Curtis told Steve Reed that warnings should have been ‘amber or red’.

Hundreds of homes were left under water, roads were turned into rivers and winds of more than 80mph were recorded across parts of the UK.

More than 130 flood warnings and 160 alerts remained in place across the UK on Monday.

Mr Barros-Curtis asked the Commons earlier today: ‘Can I ask that the Secretary of State speak to his Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) colleagues to carefully look into the role of the Met Office here?

‘It is clear that their response was slow and that there was a clear underestimation of the impact of Storm Bert.

‘They put it yellow rather than amber or red. Our constituents have been let down by this incompetence before, and it cannot keep happening.’

Mr Reed replied: “‘In most parts of the countries that were affected, warnings were given with adequate time for people to prepare and I would encourage people to sign up on the Defra website, or the Environment Agency website for warnings and alerts if they live in an area that could be affected by flooding.

‘I’m aware of the particular concern that he mentions regarding the Met Office, and I will indeed be speaking to colleagues in DSIT as they review the circumstances of that and look at how the situation can be improved for future events of this kind.’

A Met Office spokesperson said: ‘Storm Bert was well forecast, with first signs of disruptive weather signalled a week ahead and the first warnings issued on Wednesday November 20.

‘A number of warnings were in place ahead of the system reaching the UK.

‘We work closely with partners to assess the potential risks of extreme weather and warnings covering Wales highlighted the potential for homes and businesses to flood with fast flowing or deep floodwater possible, causing a danger to life.

‘Observed rainfall totals were broadly in line with the forecast and the severe weather warnings issued in advance.’

The environment secretary said that more flooding this week is ‘likely’ but its impact ‘should be less severe’ than has been seen.

He said: ‘Around 28,000 properties are being protected by Environment Agency flood defences.

‘Unfortunately, an estimated 107 properties have flooded across England, principally from river and surface water flooding.’

Mr Reed also described the flood defences they inherited from the previous government as being ‘in the worst condition on record following years of underinvestment’.

He added: ‘Over 3,000 of our key flood defences are below an acceptable standard.

‘That is why we are investing £2.4billion over the next two years to build and maintain flood defences.’