Rapid Response Project – helping communities become more resilient to flooding Tony Leney Community Engagement Officer – Rapid Response Project Environment.

Rapid Response Project – helping communities become more resilient to flooding

Tony LeneyCommunity Engagement Officer – Rapid Response Project

Environment Agency

Aim

To introduce the Rapid Response Project

Brief outline of flood risk in Torbay

Offer support to community partnerships to help develop a community flood plan

Rapid Response Project

Flash flooding

Flooding in Torbay

Community Flood Plans

Next steps

RAPID RESPONSE CATCHMENTS – EXTREME FLASH FLOODING

Bruton 1917

Cannington 1924

Lynmouth 1952

Martinstown 1955

Chew Valley 1968

Chulmleigh 1982Polperro 1993

Boscastle 2004

Ottery St Mary 2008

St Ives 2009

Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. © Crown copyright and database right 2010. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100026380. © Environment Agency.

EXTREME FLASH FLOODING - Definition

Short lead time and short duration – flashy

Heavy intense rainfall

Volume and velocity of water involved

Potential to cause material damage

Urgent threat to life

‘Hazard’ not a ‘risk’ – probability not taken into account

WHERE ARE THE RAPID RESPONSE CATCHMENTS

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE

Communities at risk know they are at risk

Communities are prepared

Communities can respond

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE

1. Communities know they are risk

Preference:

Parish Councils (or equivalent) are aware and they have communicated it to the community via newsletters etc.

Fallback:

Alternatively we can write to the householders in the at risk communities (current proposal for Torbay)

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE

2. Communities are prepared

There is a community owned flood plan in place which details who, what, where and when.

Produced by the community for use by the community.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE

3. Communities can respond

We (The Environment Agency / Torbay Council) can (if required) provide triggers to activate the flood plan

Triggers depend on time it takes to carry out flood plan actions

Understanding confidence of severe impact v lead time to flooding

“The warnings work according to the river levels whereas actually weought to maybe be giving people warning when we’re expecting excessive

rainfall”

David Cameron, 19th November 2010 (BBC Cornwall website)

Rainfall Triggers

Pathfinder Project

Flash flooding

Flooding in Torbay

Community Flood Plans

Next steps

Sources of flooding in Torbay

Coastal

Rivers and streams

Surface water

Groundwater

Areas at risk from surface water flooding

Brixham 1,675 properties

Galmpton 150

Paignton 4,168

Torquay 3,908

Based on information from Torbay PFRA

Rapid Response Catchments

Higher and Lower Brixham Watercourses

Galmpton

Occombe Valley (Preston)

Clennon Valley

Cockington Stream

Torre Valley

River Fleet

Rapid Response Project

Flash flooding

Flooding in Torbay

Community Flood Plans

Next steps

Provide information and support

What to do before, during and after a flood.

Specific flash flood messages for RRC communities (currently being developed)

Three day flood risk forecast and rivers and sea levels online.

Riparian responsibilities.

Talk to communities about their flood risk.

Provide guidance and support to develop flood plans and flood groups.

Community Flood Plans

It provides practical advice and information about what to do if it floods.

Clarifies roles and responsibilities during a flood.

Templates and guidance available

Support communities to develop and test plansTraining for community volunteers

Community Flood Plans

It provides practical advice and information about what to do if it floods.

Clarifies roles and responsibilities during a flood.

Rapid Response Project

Flash flooding

Flooding in Torbay

Community Flood Plans

Next steps

Next steps

Consider if you want to develop a flood plan for your community

Request community flood plan pack from the Environment Agency

Environment Agency and Torbay Council (Dave Stewart) can attend meetings with individual Community Partnerships