http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/11/uk-floods-government-got-grip-minister.
The prime minister, who returned to the flooded West Country on Monday, was said to be exasperated by the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, who attacked the competence of the EA on Sunday and apologised for the policy decisions taken by the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, who is recuperating from eye surgery.
Cameron is continuing his tour of flood-hit areas of the south-west on Tuesday while thousands of properties in the Thames Valley are at risk of flooding on Wednesday.
Amid anger about the speed of the response to the crisis, Hammond told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The government has got a grip on this. The emergency services are in the lead and they are properly organised, the military have been mobilised to provide additional support [and] additional money has been available, equipment has been brought in …
"We're dealing with an enormous force of nature here, vast quantities of water and an unprecedented weather pattern."
Asked whether he backs Lord Smith, the head of the EA, Hammond said: "This is not the time for recriminations or for discussions of who did what when. We can do that afterwards."
A sorry tale indeed.