Last month the government's chief scientist warned that flash floods will be one of the biggest problems caused by climate change in the UK, and within a week much of the country had first-hand experience and knew exactly what he meant.

This will be the norm, and flooding that has previously been expected once in a 100 years may soon be once every three or four years.

Global heating puts more energy into the atmosphere and makes weather systems more extreme. It is simple: warmer air holds more water vapour.

It can be substantial and there will be seven per cent more water vapour in the air for every degree increase in the world's temperature. When this condenses into rain it unleashes uncontrolled energy, making hydrogen bombs seem insignificant, and the intensity of the rainfall can be extreme.

The words "stair-rods" and "cats and dogs" are not adequate when just one inch of rainfall over one square mile produces 18 million gallons of water that has to go somewhere. There are many notable examples such as the world record of 37in of rain in 24 hours in Mumbai in 2005, and the Lynmouth disaster in Devon in 1952 followed 9in in 24 hours.

Three years ago television showed the horror of Boscastle's main street with cars being swept into the sea, and recently the village suffered another flash flood with over one inch of rain in an hour. Closer to home Helmsley was flooded in 2005 and south Yorkshire has been inundated this summer.

It is certainly becoming more serious partly because of the increase in intensity of rainfall but also because of some of our habits. We have increased the hard surfaces in our cities, with new buildings and car parks as well as paving over front gardens. The result is increased run-off that goes straight into the drains and rivers and then into houses.

There is a need for massive investment in a bigger main drain system, and the water companies have started, but it would be better if we could slow down the water entering the drains in the first place, and there is scope for holding lagoons, and ponds in fields, and woodlands on the flood plains where trees suck up thousands of gallons of water into the air daily.

It would also help if all those who live near rivers used the flood warning service offered by the Environment Agency - they ring to give warnings that allow furniture to be moved and sandbags put in place. Less than half those at risk have registered and a phone call to the Floodline (0845 988 1188) may save damage and stress in the future.

There are more than two million properties that could be in danger, and as the cost of flooding is reckoned to be 30 times worse than a burglary, updating the house insurance is recommended.