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