Great sensible blog from BBC Weatherman Paul Hudson relating to the rolling media coverage and southern bias:
The pictures of extensive flooding in Somerset, and the battering our coast has received, particularly in Cornwall, have been breath-taking.
But it is worth putting the current flood in context, and as distressing as it is to be flooded, the number of properties affected in the south of the UK is tiny compared to other floods in previous years.
For example, up until this weekend the total number of properties affected by floodwater in Somerset in the last few weeks is 40.
But during the coastal surge in early December last year, 688 properties were flooded along the Yorkshire coast alone, and according to the Environment Agency, flood defences protected 66,000 properties in the Yorkshire and Humber area at that time.
Since last week, between 800 and 900 properties have flooded in the UK, primarily in southern Britain.
Although this number may rise significantly in the next few days, particularly with the Thames now at record levels in relatively highly populated parts of Berkshire and Surrey, it is still comparatively small compared to the last big flood to hit the UK.
That was In June 2007 and far more people were affected; in the Yorkshire and Humber region alone, a staggering 23,479 homes were flooded, along with 3,718 businesses.
With your post which proceeded the article you quoted ,I assumed that you were in agreement or sympathy with the said article, as would normally be concluded when someone posts with an attachment or link.
so apologies for misunderstanding.
Having said that , I do somewhat agree with the focus on the Berkshire, Surrey areas suddenly being given more air time than Cornwall and Somerset areas, and considering the later was not really covered to any great degree on BBC, until after Bonnie Prince Charlie had visited and had followed up with a call to our Prime Minister, the previous 2 months of their traumas had definitely been overlooked. Once the Thames was at such a dangerous level, focus shifted and although that seemed biased, I dare say, had the Thames broken it's banks, the situation would have been a great disaster.
Yes, I noted the comment about BBC at the bottom of my link and as such it would appear that they too are controlled as to what is broadcast.
I also noted that the information provided by the Met Office to the EA was conclusive that climate change would mean dryer winters.
That leads to a point that the EA don't necessarily have the correct information on which they make their (informed?) decisions, which in turn has to make us wonder if all the decisions the EA take on our behalf, are correct !! (e.g.Fracking
That was put in , just to wind you up Gibbo
)
