Confidence in the West Sussex economy could be shattered unless more cash is spent on flood defences, according to the county council.
The council launched a major review after last winter's widespread flood damage across the county.
Now West Sussex is joining forces with other local authorities to urge the Government to spend more money protecting homes and businesses.
A report to councillors says: "The Government should provide substantial additional resources to address the long term under-investment in flood defences that has occurred on a national scale over many years.
"Confidence in the viability of the local economy as a whole may be dependent on a good standard of flood defence in the area."
The county council will argue that apart from public safety there is now a pressing need to cut the growing bill which the public and private sector have to pay for emergency planning during severe weather and for mopping up after floods.
County secretary Mike Kendall says there is also a case for giving counties like West Sussex a bigger role in flood defence matters.
He said: "The current arrangements tend to confuse some members of the public when they are trying to identify which organisation is responsible for a particular flood defence or other flooding or coastal erosion issue."
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