UK national and local authorities should ensure businesses are
better equipped to deal with the increasing threat of flooding.
A review led by Michael Pitt following last years severe floods
said that the risk continued to escalate. He urged authorities to
improve resilience in the UK.
Flooding is one of the fastest growing threats to business
continuity. A report by IT security supplier
SunGard Availability Services shows that the proportion of
flooding incidents had quadrupled in the past five years compared
with the period from 1998 to 2002.
The Pitt review calls for UK authorities to ensure their
business continuity planning conforms to the guidelines set by the
BS25999 British Standard.
The review says government should extend the duty to undertake
business continuity planning beyond local authorities and emergency
services to include
utility
suppliers.
It also recommends that as part of their obligations under the
Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to promote business continuity, local
authories should encourage businesses to make their buildings more
resistant to flooding.
The review highlighted criticism from business that they were
not given enough advance flood warning from authorities.
Pitt recommends that the government implements telephone flood
warning systems and sets up a campaign to provide flood prevention
and mitigation advice.