NORTH NORFOLK DISTRICT COUNCIL
HOLT ROAD CROMER NORFOLK NR27 9EN
Telephone 01263 516242
Fax 01263 515042
tom.fitzpatrick@north-norfolk.gov.uk
www.northnorfolk.org
7 January 2014
Dear Sir/Madam
Please find enclosed a pack of information which the Council has put together
for MP’s and Central Government, in order to gain an understanding of the
impact on our communities, residents and businesses, relating to the impact
of the storm surge of 5 December 2013 on North Norfolk’s 45 miles of
coastline. I hope this will prove useful in helping you appreciate both the
human and physical impact of this natural event, which has had catastrophic
consequences not only for individuals but also for whole communities.
Enclosed you will find the following:
• Summary of the flooding event in North Norfolk including key statistics
• Initial estimates of storm damage to North Norfolk District Council’s
properties and coastal assets including sea defences
• A map detailing the impact in each of our affected communities;
• A map depicting the Environment Agency flood area prior to the event
(Bacton and Walcott)
• A map depicting the initial estimate of the area affected following the
storm surge on 5 December (Bacton and Walcott)
• A dossier of photographs showing the storm event itself and the
immediate aftermath
The District Council was swift to mobilise contractors to commence the clearup operation. Supported by volunteers, community groups, utility companies
and Parish and Town Councils the response was outstanding from all those
involved and demonstrated both the resilience of our communities as well as
the ‘Big Society’ being alive and well in North Norfolk.
In addition, there was a groundswell of local support following the
comprehensive and sensitive reporting of the event in our regional newspaper
the Eastern Daily Press with donations rapidly coming from both individuals
and companies to help those affected. The response from the region has
been staggering and with the on-going support of the EDP and Norfolk
Community Foundation we are administering an appeal fund which is getting
help direct to individuals.
It was essential that the necessary and costly work of the clear-up operation
commenced without delay in support of our communities and the vital tourism
infrastructure upon which so many jobs and livelihoods depend. Repairs to
coastal infrastructure including sea defences could not be delayed and neither
could the costly repairs to properties and assets, including the iconic Cromer
Pier. We estimate that the total cost of the storm surge to NNDC will be over
£3 million and we have already committed over £0.5million for which we had
no planned budget. This will have to be financed in the short term from our
general reserves, but this will be insufficient to meet all of the uninsured costs
and without extra funding this will leave the Council severely financially
damaged.
We need central government help and assistance to rebuild and strengthen
our defences and protect our local economy. Whilst prudent financial
management has enabled us to respond swiftly, our reserves will quickly be
depleted. Without additional financial support a longer term adverse impact
will be felt across the District as we try to meet the final cost.
I hope you find this useful in gaining an appreciation of the District Council’s
approach to securing a better outcome for the residents of North Norfolk.
Yours faithfully
Tom FitzPatrick
Leader, North Norfolk District Council
NORTH NORFOLK TIDAL SURGE AND ASSOCIATED COASTAL FLOODING EVENT –
DECEMBER 2013
As a result of a combination of a high spring tide, low atmospheric pressure and strong northerly wind,
the North Norfolk coastline suffered a tidal surge with resultant flooding across 5/6 December 2013.
Water levels in some areas were higher than those experienced in the Great Flood of 1953 and whilst,
owing to pre-planning and forewarnings, there was no loss of life or injury, significant damage was
caused to both sea defences and property in towns and villages almost all the way along North Norfolk’s
45 miles of coastline.
This pack is designed to inform interested stakeholders of the extent of the damage sustained and of the
resultant losses suffered by local communities. Initial estimates of costs are also included for loss,
damage and the emergency response incurred by North Norfolk District Council as a result of this very
significant event.
As a primary responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, the Council has significant responsibilities for
emergency planning in respect of coastal flooding. In the run up to this event, our tactical flood plan was
put into action and all 107 of our Community Flood Wardens were placed on standby in preparation for
potential warning and informing activity. As the detail of the predicted affected areas became known, the
decision was made to evacuate the 164 properties within the area predicted to flood from Environment
Agency information. In some areas, flood wardens also took local decisions to evacuate wider than the
predicted area as a precautionary measure.
In the event some areas which had not been predicted to flood did suffer damage and 152 houses and
businesses were flooded and/or damaged as a direct result of the tidal surge, with over 200 households
evacuated. Many of these took refuge with friends and relatives in safe areas whilst others were held at
evacuation and rest centres. 30 residents across 20 households were provided with emergency
accommodation.
Sea defences (managed in different areas by the Environment Agency and North Norfolk District
Council) were severely damaged in some areas and emergency work commenced on Council sea
defence assets immediately after the event, in order to prevent further loss of both sea defences and
property assets and infrastructure protected by them.
In respect of domestic and business property affected by the event, the Council has ensured that the
assessment and disposal of damaged goods and property has been made as easy as possible for all
those affected to prevent environmental pollution and to minimise health risks to members of the public.
In addition, community and volunteer groups have been effectively managed to provide basic level
humanitarian assistance to those for whom it is required.
The Council’s own property assets along the coastline have also been affected and again, works were
commenced immediately after the event to ensure that these were repaired and brought back into use as
soon as was reasonably practicable.
Initial estimates put the total cost to the Council at approximately £3 million with, potentially, £1.6 million
of this cost being recoverable from insurers. Where possible, the Council will apply to the government’s
Bellwin Scheme for compensation.
Overall, the event has stretched the Council’s civil contingencies response almost to its limit, and whilst
the significant levels of planning undertaken beforehand have ensured that all those who needed it were
evacuated, there has still been significant damage to sea defence infrastructure which is of greatest
concern to the Council. Recovery works are on-going to enable local residents and businesses to move
forward as soon as possible and the Council is working with all of its partners to ensure that any lessons
to improve future responses to similar events can be learnt and implemented. Certainly, with similar
water levels having been experienced a number of times since 1953, albeit not always with such strong
winds, tidal surges such as this can no longer be seen as a one in 500 year event.
3 January 2014
NORTH NORFOLK TIDAL SURGE AND ASSOCIATED COASTAL FLOODING EVENT – DECEMBER
2013
KEY STATISTICS
Total premises affected by flooding
Total 152
 116 residential
 36 businesses
Number of households displaced and
seeking help/advice on housing
60
Number of households provided with
temporary accommodation by the Council
20
Length of Council managed sea defence
damaged
665 metres
Length of promenade and other seafront
infrastructure damaged
3,000 metres
Number of chalets/beach huts damaged
NNDC chalets lost
 40 on Cromer West beach
NNDC chalets damaged
 Cromer East 36
 Cromer West 24
NNDC huts lost
 1 Cromer East
Number of privately owned huts lost or
severely damaged
 Cromer East
53
 Cromer West
17
 Overstrand
37
 Sheringham
12
Waste and damaged property
collected from Walcott and Bacton
40 tonnes
INITIAL ESTIMATES OF STORM DAMAGE 5/6 DECEMBER 2013
Storm Damage - NNDC NNDC
Property
Property (These are insurable costs)
Location
CROMER
Asset
Pier
Chalets
Rocket House
Public Conveniences
Cafés
MUNDESLEY
Café and PC
SHERINGHAM
Café and PC
OTHER
Detail
The pier structure, theatre, and
associated buildings
Approximately 80% of those in
Cromer either damaged or
destroyed.
The restaurant and museum.
Relatively minor damage.
Three PCs affected
One of the sea front cafes has been
damaged
Café and public conveniences
damage
Café and public conveniences
damage
Relatively minor damage to other
PCs along the coast.
Sub Total
Initial Estimate of Costs £
Property ests 18-12-13
263,000
875,000
30,000
159,000
80,000
96,000
97,000
10,000
1,610,000
Insurance Excess (estimate)
96,000
1,706,000
Storm Damage - Coastal Assets (sea defences, promenades infrastructure - lighting, pathways, roadways, steps,
ramps and railing) (These are uninsurable costs)
Location
SHERINGHAM
Detail
Promenade/seawall/slopes - circa
60 metres seawall and promenade,
40 metres of slope and sundry 30
metres seawall nosings
Consultant's fees
SS Handrailing 1,000m@ £125/m
Initial Estimate of Costs £
Updated 18-12-13
260,000
26,000
125,000
THE RUNTONS
Handrailing - 50m @ £40/m
CROMER
Cliff slips/parapet wall 45 metres
85,000
Handrailing 520m @ £125/m
Pier decking - see property
schedule
Consultant's fees
65,000
OVERSTRAND
Minor concrete repairs
Handrailing 600m @ £40/m
15,000
24,000
VALE ROAD
Reinstate lower road
60,000
MUNDESLEY
BACTON TO OSTEND
Promenaded/seawall /slopes - circa
100 metres seawall and
promenade, 40 metres of slope
undermined
Handrail 430m @ £125/m
Various handrailing and steps
Reinstate precast seawall blocks
2,000
10,000
160,000
53,750
30,000
300,000
Consultant's fees
HAPPISBURGH
Demolish a dangerous clifftop
property - to be partly offset by
demolition grant
VARIOUS
Revetment repairs
Sub Total
24,000
9,000
100,000
1,348,750
Note - no contingency has been factored in at this time.
Other Costs - including response
Initial Estimate of Costs £
Emergency housing provision
Emergency cleansing and waste disposal
10,000
20,000
Additional staffing for response - Environmental
Health, Property and Housing teams
30,000
Sub Total
50,000
TOTAL
3,104,750