PROJECT FOSTERFlood Workshop 1

The uncertain world of flooding: a workshop for local authority stakeholders

Carolyn Roberts and Lindsey McEwenUniversity of Oxford and University of

Gloucestershire

Part 1: Flood management is a wicked problem

Photographs provided by The Environment Agency

‘350,000 people without mains water for up to 17 days…42,000 people without power for up to 24 hours…10,000 people trapped

on the M5…thousands of people homeless’

‘In terms of scale, complexity and duration, this is simply the largest peacetime emergency we’ve seen’

Chief Constable of Gloucestershire, Tim Brain

FOSTER Workshop 1

• Introductions and Workshop etiquette

• Project FOSTER – two way talk• Flood basics in the Severn and Avon

region• What causes floods?• How do we measure the water?• Coffee• What is a floodplain?• How do we forecast floods?

Purpose, Introductions and Workshop Etiquette

In pairs, please introduce yourself to your neighbour in not more than two sentences, and explain why you are here

2 minutes

Now introduce your neighbour to members of an adjacent pair

4 minutes

Why are you here?

• Flooding influences the way I perform part of my job

• Flood management responsibilities will affect my role in future

• I’m concerned about flooding• I need to know more• My boss told me to come…• It’s a morning out of the office, isn’t it?…

Etiquette

• Flooding is traumatic, and wrecks lives. People may die. Recognise that we are talking about an emotional issue, but that as professionals we need to be as rational as possible in our approach. We may also be amused at times.

• Ask questions – participate• Talk to new people• Discuss everything• Make notes if you wish. Handouts

will be available • No mobiles or BlackBerries, please!

‘Wicked’ problems…• Are poorly formulated and complex • With interconnected physical/scientific and human/sociological

dimensions…• Where what happens in one place and time affects what

happens somewhere else, at a different time• Involving many different stakeholders… • Who don’t agree about what is important…• And who use the terminology in different ways…• And who cannot agree if the problem has been solved

Solutions are usually ‘better’ or ‘worse’ rather than absolute, and yet decisions must nevertheless be made in the light of uncertainty. ‘Wicked problems’ defy traditional linear solutions, requiring more adaptable ways of thinking.

Based on Rittel and Webber, 1973

Flood Basics

• Take a look at the following images

• On the template, jot down various ways in which the flood problem illustrated is ‘wicked’

The basic unit is a catchment, such as Horsbere Brook, Gloucester

Severn/Avon Catchment

What happened in July 2007?

Types of flooding

• While you watch the video ‘Real People Real Lives’ complete the accompanying activity sheet.