The costs and impacts of the winter 2013/14 floods in England and Wales

Abstract

Between December 2013 and March 2014, the UK witnessed heavy and prolonged rainfall, including the wettest January on record in parts of the country and around twice the average monthly rainfall in other locations. The East Coast was also affected by the largest coastal surge since 1953. These events resulted in significant coastal damage and prolonged fluvial and groundwater flooding affecting a large expanse of England and Wales. During this period many properties, crucial transport infrastructure and farmland were flooded. This study for the UK Environment Agency, led by Risk & Policy Analysts (RPA) in association with HaskoningDHV UK, John Chatterton Associates and Morris Resource Economics, reviewed more than 500 documents, articles and reports and requested information from more than 640 individuals and organisations. Through careful consideration of the reliability of each and every piece of data, we were able to calculate a best estimate for the economic costs of the winter 2013/14 floods (in 2014 values) of €1.7 billion, with uncertainty resulting in a range of between €1.3 billion to €1.9 billion. Residential properties suffered the greatest proportion of damages, with 25% of total damages (best estimate of €410 million incurred by 10,465 properties).