If we've been burgled, we call the police. If someone is hurt, we ask for an ambulance. And if there's a fire, it's obvious that someone with a ladder and hose might be best placed to deal with it. But who do you call when there's a flash flood?

That was the problem facing hundreds of Worcester people last week when they found their streets, homes and businesses under water.

Many of them, understandably, turned to Worcester City Council, which politely informed them that there was nothing it could do short of cleaning up afterwards and providing emergency housing to those flooded out of their homes.

Since then, council chiefs have decided that maybe there is more they could do and are drawing up an emergency plan for the next time flash flooding hits the city.

This seems sensible. After all, the weather experts tell us that, as global warming takes hold, the kind of extreme weather that caused last week's flooding is likely to become more common.

And while the recent deluge was no one's fault and city staff did all they could in the circumstances, the council has an important role to play.

Primarily, this means co-ordinating the response to any future emergency - it could even stockpile sandbags and distribute them to the worst-hit areas.

It also has a strategic function in areas within its remit, such as planning and transport. For example, in future, houses could be built with higher foundations, while road designs could channel water away more effectively.

It would be good to know that the next time the water comes, Worcester would be able to cope a little better.