Better flood warnings needed, Wales FM says

The archetypal curate says that Wales needs amended flood warnings aft Storm Bert devastated homes and businesses astatine the weekend.

Eluned Morgan said she would rise the contented pursuing complaints astir alerts issued by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Met Office.

In the Senedd she promised payments to households of £1,000 for the uninsured, and £500 for the insured.

She faced calls from Plaid Cymru for much currency for ember extremity information from Labour colleagues successful Westminster pursuing the landslip successful Cwmtillery, but the archetypal curate said it would beryllium "difficult" to walk much than the £25m she had asked for.

NRW, which is overseen by Morgan's Welsh government, said connected Monday that it would look into complaints that warnings had came excessively late.

Welsh Conservative Senedd person Andrew RT Davies told the Senedd that if determination was a "greater warning, past determination could person been much preventative measures enactment successful place".

He echoed concerns from Labour Rhondda Cynon Taf assembly person Andrew Morgan astir the yellowish Met Office upwind informing that had been issued.

He said successful immoderate of the astir severely affected areas successful Pontypridd that the archetypal residents realised determination was flooding "was erstwhile neighbours were going from location to house, banging connected the doors".

First Minister Eluned Morgan said Natural Resources Wales issued 131 alerts and warnings, "including 2 terrible flood warnings with implicit 95,000 messages sent", reaching 46,000 people.

"So they did rather a lot. The question is, could they person done more?"

Later, successful effect to Plaid Cymru person Rhun ap Iorwerth, she added: "I judge that radical request amended warning, and that is thing intelligibly that volition request to beryllium discussed with NRW and the Met Office."

A gathering volition instrumentality spot adjacent week with NRW and councils, Morgan said.

The archetypal curate defended the Welsh government's grounds connected flood defence, 4 years aft Storm Dennis had deed Wales.

She said the rainfall had been much predominant and aggravated successful parts, and stream levels higher, but acold less homes were affected than successful 2020.

Plaid Cymru's ap Iorwerth criticised the £25m promised by the UK authorities for ember extremity safety, pursuing Sunday's landslip astatine Cwmtillery.

Estimates helium said suggested it could outgo £600m implicit 10 to 15 years. "These tips request to beryllium made harmless and urgently," helium said.

Morgan said thing had been forthcoming from the erstwhile Conservative authorities "for 4 years".

She said she was "really pleased that the archetypal Labour authorities answered our petition for £25m, which is what we asked for, due to the fact that we recognise this is simply a 10 to 15 twelvemonth project".

"There volition beryllium limits of being capable to sorb further money, due to the fact that determination volition beryllium limits successful presumption of expertise [and] equipment.

"If they gave america the money, it would beryllium precise hard to usage it each up due to the fact that of the deficiency of expertise that we request to physique up."

But she said the Welsh authorities volition inquire for much cash. "I americium precise assured that helium volition beryllium forthcoming, arsenic helium was past time".