Grassroot flood action_groups

THE NATIONAL FLOOD FORUM ***

‘Flood Action Groups’ Grassroots Empowerment

Heather Shepherd Flood Community & Recovery Support

01743 741725 [email protected]

‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’ 1

What is ‘The National Flood Forum’?

Help people to prepare

for flooding

Help them to recover

their lives when they

have been flooded

Campaign and work to

ensure that flood risk

communities are at the

centre of policy making

and operational

delivery

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The National Flood Forum is a national

charity dedicated to supporting and

representing communities and

individuals at risk of flooding. It helps

people to prepare for flooding, helps

people to recover their lives once they

have been flooded, and advises and

supports on all the issues that people

are confronted with when at flood risk.

It works on behalf of flood risk

communities to highlight National

concerns and works with government

and agencies to ensure that they

develop a community perspective.

‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’

Website with a wealth of

information such as flood risk maps,

latest news & announcements,

how to keep safe & prepare

Telephone helpline for all issues

regarding flooding and flood risk,

including insurance and visit support to

start a dedicated flood group

Our website & telephone helpline

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‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’

We have been part of recovery partnerships

since 2005 in Carlisle, The Yorkshire & Midland floods of 2007, The

Cumbria floods of 2009 where we there for 16

months. In 2012 we were in West Sussex,

Lancashire, Manchester, West Yorkshire & Wales, and continue to work in

the long term in Calderdale in West

Yorkshire & West Sussex. The trailer provides

respite and a listening empathetic ear, advise

and information.

How we help with Recovery

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‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’

Flood exhibition surgeries

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Copy right National Flood Forum

National Flood forum

Copy right National Flood Forum

A show case of resistant products alongside appertaining information and an independent guide, general & insurance advise, and a wealth of knowledge & experience

Aim for a resilient community

‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’

Like the yellow

pages but with flood

protection

manufacturers and

flood help products and services

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NFF Services

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Flood Awareness Trailer - An outreach vehicle to take information/messages to communities Flood property level protection exhibitions Flood surgeries for targeted areas ideal for flood protection grant schemes and flood awareness. Community engagement - going into the heart the community, bringing them together to form a core group. The National Flood Forum provides training for flood group volunteers & different authorities and organisations. Recovery – Supporting Environment Agency and Local Authorities all over the country to cope with flood recovery advising on the likely issues and supporting the community for the long term.

C National Flood Forum

Supporting at grassroots

‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’

Pro-active Informed Resilient

The National Flood Forum

The National Flood Forum

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• The bulk of the National Flood Forums work is spent supporting communities across England & Wales with Scottish Flood Forum covering Scotland.

What is it like to flood?

When the flood water comes in: …

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Why a flood action group?

Brings the community together

Enables them to work in partnership with those collectively that work with flood risk

Supports how they can prepare to reduce the impact on their home & community

Working with local voluntary groups to support flood action groups in instigating and supporting community emergency flood plans.

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Supporting each other to lessen the effect – community plan

‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’

Think of the vulnerable

What if you are away?

Are you signed up to

Environment Agency flood

warnings?

Is there a voluntary group

who could help your

community? (Churches

Together, The Rotary, The

Lions)

Practice using products when the weather is dry

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• With support & guidance from the National Flood Forum Buckingham has formed a group of flood affected people and uses the voluntary group ‘Churches Together’ to support their plan.

• They formed a core group from willing community members and have named the group FA4B flood action 4 Buckingham. This group works on a rolling action plan with the Agencies & Authorities collectively. Messages /information/discussions are fed into the group and they take responsibility to ensure that the wider community is kept informed.

• Once this was underway they made an emergency plan for the community alongside the Voluntary Charity ‘Churches together’ to ensure community help in any subsequent event, reduce the impact and support recovery.

• ‘Churches Together’ use non-flooded members and implement the plan when required, supporting those that do flood.

• To date FAB has organised a dry-run of their plan, held a flood fair for the Town to enable residents to gain information, learn more about the plan, speak of concerns, and view a platform of home protection products, with appertaining information through the National Flood Forum. They are about to embark on a flood training day for all their volunteers again through the National Flood Forum’s training programme, and have planned to hold yearly flood information and dry run events.

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Published on Thursday 22 November 2012 10:35 Buckingham’s flood action group has sprung into action in the face of an impending flood. Heavy rainfall has resulted in high water levels in the Great Ouse in the Buckingham area. A flood warning was received from the Environment Agency at about 10.30pm last night, Wednesday, and a reception centre was opened at St Peter and St Paul Church at about 11.30pm by the volunteers of ‘Churches together’ Steve Hallett, who heads the voluntary group for ‘Flood Action 4 Buckingham’, said: “We were up till about 2am last night supporting residents and feeding up information to the various agencies.

Flood action group springs into action as flood warning received

And in November Buckingham were prepared!

Affiliated Flood Action groups in Essex

‘Supporting and Representing Flood Risk Communities’

Abridge flood action group has worked tirelessly since 2000 an now has defences planned for the summer through the Environment Agency. They have set up a Maintenance management company to ensure the reliability of the defence in the future. South Woodham Ferrers Floodwatch are a group of volunteers from the community yacht club. They promote public awareness to the potential risk of flooding and offer a data collection service to Chelmsford BC giving actual water heights at the two club gauges. Should overtopping of the sea walls occur they make available manned rowing boats as a back up rescue resource. Stanstead FAG an arm of the Parish Council that includes flooded residents that has formed an emergency flood volunteer group

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Copy right National Flood Forum

We can help and support you all the way

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Copy right National Flood Forum