When the east coast was hit by a storm-driven tidal surge early in December 2013, North Norfolk DC was ready to take action.

Working with a 45-mile coastline, much of it vulnerable salt-marsh, sand dune or soft low cliff, has meant this remote, rural district is highly experienced in working with the coast and the small, sometimes vulnerable communities dotted along its length.

In 1953, a very similar storm surge caused significant loss of life and huge damage. December's surge was higher still, but no lives were lost and while there was certainly damage and personal loss, it was far less.

Which raises the question – why?  Following a number of years of building up community resilience and self-help capabilities – including a committed and knowledgeable team of volunteer flood wardens – the Environment Agency advance warning system worked.

Communities themselves were informed and had already taken action.

Floodgates were closed, local authority evacuation and rest centres were equipped and manned by staff and volunteers, and people who needed to, were moving well before the top of the tide arrived.

Thoughts were turning to recovery even during the course of immediate response, so housing officers were identifying the availability of temporary accommodation and speaking to evacuated households as they arrived in the centres.

Coastal officers, as well as undertaking rescues, were also monitoring the damage and putting contractors on standby for the clear-up – as soon as one was possible.

In the event, with good governance and controlled delegation removing any bureaucratic delays, recovery was in motion within 24 hours.

The estimated cost to the council of the event is over £3m, with £1.7m of uninsured assets such as sea defences. Prudent financial management has enabled the council to commit the funds from its own reserves, but we hope not to eventually be penalised for having this financial foresight.

A presence on-site was crucial, and strong leadership from the council, supported by local councillors from the three tiers of local government, helped to reassure residents that the incident was under control.

Coastal, property and housing officers remained visible and active during the event and every day for up to two weeks afterwards – visiting and revisiting affected households.

Partner authorities, police, the fire service and the county council all pulled their considerable weight. There were no secrets or surprises; communications, through both traditional means and social media, were established before the surge arrived; daily updates on damage, repair and recovery were issued to the media, town and parish councils, members and council staff on a daily basis for four weeks, and continue on a weekly basis even now, two months on.

Reassuring the wider world that North Norfolk was ‘open for business' was also vital to a district highly dependent on year-round tourism.

Great efforts were made to clear Cromer's and other promenades of hundreds of tons of sand, gravel and accumulated debris including 20-foot long solid concrete toppings from badly beaten-up sea defences.

And, despite fears that the splintered decking of Cromer Pier would take months to repair, the traditional end-of-pier show was up and running again within a week, bringing a letter of copious thanks from the theatre management and a round of applause for council and contract workers from the Thursday matinee audience.

North Norfolk is a tight-knit community and immediately after the event offers of help came rolling in, from an inland boutique bed and breakfast offering free accommodation and a gift of 30 frozen turkeys to compensate for lost Christmas dinners, to an incredible crew of highly skilled London fire fighters.

These were co-ordinated from the council's temporary base in the most affected village, Walcott. Supported by North Norfolk DC and local residents, the Eastern Daily Press set up a flood appeal, with money being distributed to affected households within two weeks of the event.

But what if the tide had been higher still, or there had been more than one inundation, or the wind had been in a slightly different direction, or the sea defences hadn't held as well as they did and more communities had been inundated?

The simple answer to all of these is that as things stood, this small district council would itself have been overwhelmed.  So, efforts are now under way to formulate a mutually supportive ‘buddy' system through the Norfolk Resilience Forum and to build local community resilience and associated capabilities still further, promoting self-reliance and reducing dependence on statutory bodies.

And, we would have liked to have been confident that central government financial support was there, without having to fear for the future of the district's finances.

Cllr Tom Fitzpatrick is leader of North Norfolk DC