Flood research by numbers
19 October 2018 by Sylvie Kruiniger
NERC flood science saves lives, homes and businesses. Here are a few fast facts on some of our successes.
years
How long NERC-funded scientists have been researching UK sea levels, river basins, storm surges, aquifers and surface flows
NERC invests each year in flood research in the UK and internationally
60,000Homes flooded in summer 2007 in the UK
6,000Homes flooded in winter 2013-14 - even though the floods were more severe than 2007, 50,000 were protected thanks to better forecasting systems
The amount saved in insurance payouts for winter 2013-14 compared with summer 2007
days
warning
We can now predict certain types of floods further in advance
Earlier warnings protect farmland and infrastructure, benefitting the UK by millions each year
NERC tide and storm-surge information used by the Thames Barrier protects people on the London floodplain, along with £200bn of property
The Thames Barrier was closed an unprecedented number of times between 6 December 2013 and 12 February 2014
Saved each day in lost working thanks to the Thames Barrier
Find out more about these facts, and other NERC science successes, in our Impact Reports.