Alex Nickson, policy and programmes manager, climate change adaptation and water Community Flood Planning in London
Mar 28, 2015
Alex Nickson, policy and programmes manager, climate change adaptation and water
Community Flood Planning in London
What is a Community Flood Plan?
A Community Flood Plan is a process that:• creates a plan that is developed and owned by the community• uses local knowledge and experience• identifies and prioritises local assets and vulnerable members• provides a link between the community and borough / blue light emergency personnel• raises local awareness, empowers and builds capacity to act
Why do we need community flood plans ?
• A significant number of properties in London are at ‘medium’ or ‘significant’ risk of flooding
• Many of these properties may not be able to be protected from flooding
• Many areas may not be able to demonstrate sufficient cost benefit for flood protection
• Many of these properties will have less than three hours warning of a potential flood
• Flood defences can fail…
1.3 million homes in London are at risk of flooding - 80,000 of these are at significant risk of flooding
Communities working on flood Communities working on flood plansplans
What should a flood plan do ?
• Bring together a ‘core group’ of people to develop, maintain and own the plan
• Identify local flood sources and pathways• Identify who and what is at risk, prioritising local
assets and vulnerable members• Set out what activities are expected of community
and borough• Collate and record local information • Determine actions that should be taken by the
community before, during and after a flood. • Determine the ‘triggers’ to initiate and escalate
the plan
Brackley Square, Redbridge
Purley Community Flood Plan
• First for London. • Launched 28 March 2012• Endorsed by Croydon Borough Council• Took 18 months to develop• Funded by Drain London Programme. • Cost £18k (including equipment)• Developed by the community
Purley Community Flood Plan 2
Created a core team and flood warden team• Core team
– Led the development of the plan– Plan exercises to test and revise the plan– Act as liaison between the community &
Borough– In case of isolation, coordinate actions to support
the community – Work with emergency services and insurers to
facilitate recovery– Maintain an issues log and identify lessons learnt
Purley Community Flood Plan 3
Flood wardens• Actively monitor and disseminate weather info• Provide early warning• Liaise with the police re road closures• Know the location of sandbags & other resources• Encourage residents and businesses to consider
flood risk and make appropriate plans• If deployed, inform and liaise with core team and
Croydon Council Emergency Planning Officer• Fill in situation report and keep a log of actions• Represent the local community in flood related
matters.
Benefits of the Purley CFP
• Sense of shared ownership of local flood risk
• Reporting poor maintenance of drains• Committed to report incidents of
impermeable paving• Looking for funding for resilience
measures• Considering other ‘resilience’ issues
Potential activities during a floodPotential activities during a flood
Never put yourself at risk, never enter flood water
Coordinate activity between core group, flood volunteers and emergency responders
Let the authorities know where the vulnerable people are
Is there any help or support available e.g. rest centres away from the flooding
Arranging for flood barriers / pumps
Potential activities after a floodPotential activities after a flood
Flooding is traumatic! Seeing you could be a relief.
Supply people with list of contractors
Organise a community clean up and skips
Provide advice & progress facilitation with insurers etc