Emergency Planning for Floods – Devon’s approach Richard Horne Emergency Planning Manager Devon County Council

GLOUCESTERSHIRE HULL SHEFFIELD DONCASTER BERKSHIRE SUMMER 2007

Gloucestershire

Sheffield

Hull

Berkshire

Pitt Review

Risk Management Flood Prevention Warning and Informing Rescue and emergency care Recovery

Some results ……. Flood and Water Bill – consultative document National Flood Emergency Framework –National Flood Forecasting Centre –Changing the flood warnings –Guidance for emergency planners –Clarifying the role of Government departments

Our local experience ….

East Devon Floods 2008 Severe storm over the Otter valley, centred on the town of Ottery St Mary 5 – 8” of rain in 24 hours, with a severe hail storm! No advanced warnings of the severity! Fragmented response Over 300 properties inundated, across 20+ small communities Many people still out of their houses – 6 months later

Otter St Mary

Aftermath Flood Seminar Multi-agency de-brief Recovery Group – led by East Devon District Council Incident not on the scale of Gloucestershire – but first hand experience of what it means Heightened local awareness of requirement for flood prevention and emergency planning

Flood Emergency Planning Work with our local resilience forum (LRF) – legislation has laid down that emergency planners meet to discuss and agree local arrangements

LRF Chair – Devon & Cornwall Police Covers the south west peninsular of England, including Devon, Cornwall, Plymouth, Torbay and the Isles of Scilly Representatives from emergency services, local authorities, government agencies Responsible for guiding and directing local emergency planning work, including risk assessment Work programme undertaken by a number of sub-groups

Flooding – risk assessment Fluvial -VERY HIGH Coastal / Tidal-VERY HIGH Rapid inundation-VERY HIGH Surface Water-MEDIUM

HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS LRF STRATEGIC PLAN COUNTY PLAN Devon COUNTY PLAN Cornwall COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLANS COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLANS

HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS LRF STRATEGIC PLAN COUNTY PLAN COMMUNITY PLANS COMMUNITY PLANS Introduction Aim & Objectives Ownership and Audience Risk of Flooding and Risk Assessment Related and Inter-dependent Plans Command and Control Plan Activation – Trigger Thresholds and response levels Actions, Roles & Responsibilities Vulnerable People Key Infrastructure Recovery Training and Exercising

HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS LRF STRATEGIC PLAN COUNTY PLAN COMMUNITY PLANS COMMUNITY PLANS Introduction Aim & Objectives Ownership and Audience Risk of Flooding and Risk Assessment Related and Interdependent Plans Command and Control Communication Plan Plan Activation – Trigger Thresholds and response levels Vulnerable People Key Infrastructure Recovery

HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS LRF STRATEGIC PLAN COUNTY PLAN Devon COUNTY PLAN Cornwall COMMUNITY PLANS COMMUNITY PLANS Community Flood Risk Summary Description and known issues Flooding history Flood defences / alleviation measures Warning and Informing Communications, including local radio Evacuation protocols Rest Centre locations Key public service points Vulnerable people and settings Command and control locations Traffic management plan Community links Validation arrangements

HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS LRF STRATEGIC PLAN COUNTY PLAN Devon COUNTY PLAN Cornwall COMMUNITY PLANS COMMUNITY PLANS Introduction Aim & Objectives Ownership and Audience Risk Assessment – general risks Related and Interdependent Plans Emergency committee construct Plan Activation – Trigger Thresholds and response levels Actions, Roles & Responsibilities Vulnerable People Key Infrastructure

HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS HIGH RISK COMMUNITY PLANS LRF STRATEGIC PLAN COUNTY PLAN Devon COUNTY PLAN Cornwall COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLANS COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLANS

Multi-agency flood plan (for a high risk community) Local plan Directs emergency response For use at command posts –Silver –Bronze Includes local details: –Command locations –Emergency rest centres –Traffic management plan –Vulnerable people and settings –Critical local assets, eg utilities

NEXT TIME WE WILL BE BETTER PREPARED!!