Biscuit shortage?

Sorry, but I had not even noticed that we are supposed to have a shortage of biscuits on the shelves of UK shops as a result of floods in Cumbria. Perhaps we don't buy that many.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-35696027 .

Floods

As I write this, Storm Desmond is dropping record quantities of rain over northern England and Scotland.  I can imagine little worse than having your home or business flooded out, especially at this time of the year.  My heart bleeds for those affected, who may be without homes for months and even when they get back there is the ongoing threat of it all happening again.  There is also the worry over insurance. No, flooding is going to become a major issue in the years ahead.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35019021 .

Flood defences

The government today revealed how it intends to distribute £2.3bn in flood defence measures. My younger son very narrowly missed being flooded last winter in Kent. I hope they will be OK this coming winter and spring. This is, I believe, money that was originally earmarked but was never spent earlier in the life of the government. My son was given sandbags but thankfully his house escaped, but it was a close thing.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30282701.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environment_Agency .

Floating homes?

One possible measure to ease the problems of rising sea levels and inland flooding are homes that float. This is not a new idea: such homes have been a common site in Holland for many years. It has even been suggested that entire cities should be made that float. By the end of this century London and New York could both be regularly, or even permanently, flooded.

For ideas see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27425225 .