Criticism Regarding Storm Warning Severity and Issuance Timing

Public figures and inhabitants in south Wales have expressed strong criticism regarding what they perceive as inadequate readiness and insufficient alerts for Storm Bert, which resulted in severe flooding. Andrew Morgan, who leads Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council, stated he was “amazed” by the issuance of only a yellow weather warning, reiterating his view that the Met Office ought to have escalated it to amber or red. Sir Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, along with Heledd Fychan, Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales Central, also raised concerns about when the warnings were issued. However, First Minister Eluned Morgan cautioned that due to climate change, safeguarding some Welsh residences from inundation is unfeasible. The Met Office announced its intention to carry out a comprehensive evaluation, but maintained that the storm had been “well forecast” ahead of time, with multiple warnings disseminated. Ms Morgan noted that following millions of pounds invested in storm defences and culverts since Storm Dennis, “there will be lessons we need to learn.” She added, “We’ve put a huge amount of investment in and it has supported a lot of people, and they have withstood the flooding this time. But clearly there will come a point where, with climate change, it will be difficult to protect every home and every business in Wales.” Speaking to Newyddion S4C, Andrew Morgan confirmed that RCT council plans to allocate between £1m and £2m from emergency funds to individuals and enterprises impacted by Storm Bert. He stated that an initial £1,000 would be provided to all residents and businesses, with further funding accessible for businesses to implement long-term modifications, like elevating electricity sockets. He also expressed that he was “happy” with the authority’s overall response, considering the information they possessed. In Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, local inhabitants commented that previous lessons from Storm Dennis, which submerged a significant portion of the town in 2020, had not been applied. Resident John Pockett remarked: “The one thing I think is appalling in this is: where was the warning? Nobody had heard anything at all.” The clean-up efforts persisted on Monday, with 30 schools, primarily in Caerphilly and Monmouthshire, remaining shut, and flood alerts still active. This encompassed two severe flood warnings, indicating a substantial danger to life and community disruption, close to the River Monnow in Osbaston and Skenfrith in Monmouthshire; however, these have since been rescinded. Welsh Water issued a “boil water” notice impacting 12,000 customers across 10 regions, advising that tap water might be tainted. Network Rail reported that a landslip near Pontypool, Torfaen, caused the Newport to Shrewsbury train line to close. In the former mining community of Cwmtillery, Blaenau Gwent, another landslip resulted in buildings being covered in deep sludge and mud as water flowed down what seemed to be a street. Consequently, some residences were evacuated, and resident Wayne Green mentioned he was cared for in a leisure centre until housing was secured around 01:30 GMT. Firefighters were required to evacuate a family from their residence near Wrexham after a tree broke through the house’s wall because of floodwater. Trevor Baters of Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog Community Council described the scene as “devastating to see.” Morgan indicated that discussions were ongoing regarding potential emergency funding. She stated, “The severity and frequency of these events is something we all need to be aware of,” and further mentioned that “hundreds of millions of pounds have been put into flood defences in Wales over the past few years.” Bryant reported that residents in his constituency, encompassing Pontypridd, were “utterly miserable” and expressed his confusion as to why a more severe alert had not been issued on Saturday evening. Mims Davies, Conservative Shadow Welsh Secretary, urged the UK and Welsh Labour governments to accelerate assistance for communities affected by flooding. She asserted, “It’s now abundantly clear that there was a lack of preparedness.” In the House of Commons, UK government Environment Secretary Steve Reed stated that Westminster has “offered additional support to our colleagues in Wales if and when it is required.” Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, raised doubts about the adequacy of the warning given that the “forecast was so dire.” He commented: “Given that these areas, such as Pontypridd, were so badly impacted in 2020, we have to ask why lessons have not been learnt.” This followed council leader Morgan’s statement that he was “surprised” a red warning had not been issued for Storm Bert. He recalled, “During Storm Dennis we did see an amber warning well in advance, and a red warning issued in the early hours.” Rhondda Cynon Taf council reported that 200 properties were impacted, with rainfall equivalent to over a month’s worth occurring within a brief timeframe. The most significant expense for the council is anticipated to be a bridge in Abercynon that was entirely swept away. This bridge, which was in the process of being built, had been replaced previously after sustaining damage during Storm Dennis. Sian Williams of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) stated that the governmental organization would “absolutely” investigate grievances regarding delayed warnings. NRW oversees river levels, and Ms Williams noted that initial flood alerts for each river were disseminated on Saturday evening. She informed BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, “We completely understand people’s frustration, but we do need to look into why that was and what could have been done differently, and how we can improve on that in the future.” Fychan asserted that the warnings arrived “far too late” and predicted numerous inquiries into why lessons from 2020 had not been assimilated. She remarked, “It’s just by luck that it wasn’t worse this time.” Paula Williams, whose residence is on Sion Street in Pontypridd adjacent to the River Taff, recounted that she became aware of the flooding on Sunday morning only after a neighbor alerted her. She claimed that NRW disregarded warnings from residents during the previous flooding incident. The floodwaters also overflowed the banks of the Taff, depositing brown water into the pools at the grade II-listed Lido Ponty, located in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park. The sports court railings have been flattened, and the tennis courts resemble a swamp, coated in dense, dark silt. The River Taff’s bank in the town’s Ynysangharad Park, a customary spot for observing the water, is strewn with miscellaneous items. One might observe a tyre, trees and branches, and a traffic cone positioned along a path thoroughly soaked with water. Rhondda Cynon Taf council announced the pool’s closure until Tuesday “to assess storm damage and carry out clear-up works.” It had previously been closed for a year and required significant repairs after Storm Dennis delivered a month’s worth of rain within 48 hours in February 2020. “This time, there’s only about four inches of water come in but it’s in exactly the same place that we told NRW about last time,” she stated. “They’ve tried to convince everybody that the flood defences worked. I have got videos proving the flood defences don’t work.” She attributed the less severe flooding compared to 2020 to the community’s efforts in safeguarding homes. In another part of Wales, Connor Turner, the proprietor of the Vine Tree in Crickhowell, Powys, had just completed redecorating the pub days prior. The establishment, situated on the Usk’s south bank, had undergone a complete renovation. On Sunday, they were compelled to close the restaurant due to the flooding and cancel all reservations. “For some reason it has become a normality. There needs to be a permanent solution,” he expressed. He further mentioned his uncertainty about where to direct his anger. “People are saying we have just got to be resilient. Surely there is a permanent solution, that is the annoyance here.” Devon Eason, club manager of Blackwood Rugby Club, Caerphilly, conveyed his “devastated” feelings after the club’s premises and grounds suffered flood damage. He had invested thousands in refurbishing the facilities only a few months prior, and the club has been forced to cancel multiple events while attempting to reconstruct them. “We finished the function room about two months ago, with all new carpets, tables, chairs and toilets. So I am absolutely gutted,” he stated. Mr Eason noted that 50 to 60 community members arrived with water vacuums and sandbags. Newport High School Old Boys Rugby Club also experienced flooding. Sir Keir Starmer, in a post on X, extended his gratitude to the emergency services for safeguarding communities. The Welsh government issued a statement: “Our thoughts are with those who have suffered flooding to their homes and businesses. The trauma and upset this causes should never be underestimated.” Simon Brown, services director at the Met Office, commented: “As always with a named storm, a full assessment of the forecast and warning strategy will take place with our partners. I would expect this to take place over the coming days.” The warnings issued for Wales emphasized the possibility of homes and businesses being inundated by fast-flowing or deep floodwater, posing a risk to life. Additional reporting was contributed by Oscar Edwards, James McCarthy, and Charlie Buckland. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. 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