Flood defences projects win funding

Three projects investigating how the UK's flood defences could be improved are set to receive £4 million funding between them, it has been announced.

Many families in the UK have recently been forced to contact their home insurance providers due to the effects of flooding. To this end, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) said the money would help fund projects that could change the way we prepare for, and respond to floods.

A team of researchers at Newcastle University will investigate flood scenarios caused by clusters of extreme weather striking vulnerable areas, urban regions, businesses and communities.

The researchers hope their findings will lead to better flood resilience and an improvement in how resources are allocated when it comes to responding to flooding.

At the University of Nottingham, researchers will look at two-way communication and how communities, businesses and local authorities can work more closely together in response to flooding.

Finally, a team of researchers at Durham University will look at designing at a computer modelling system allowing all emergency response units, local authorities and businesses to interact in the aftermath of a flood.

Once complete, the results from all three projects will lead to the creation of a unified framework of how organisations and communities prepare for and overcome flooding.

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