Communities in Scotland have moved away from trying to defend themselves against floods to a position that accepts them as inevitable and finds ways of coping with them, according to research presented at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) conference this week in Edinburgh.
In his presentation ‘Learning to live with floods" - how to make it happen at the community level", Professor Alan Werritty of the University of Dundee said:
"Things have changed radically since 2009 and the passage of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act away from excessive reliance on engineering-based defences to a much broader package of measures, including enhanced flood warning, greater public awareness and individual and community action."
The research was conducted in conjunction with Paul Hendy of the Scottish Flood Forum, which was set up in 2008 to support flooded communities, something delivered by developing community flood groups.
Professor Werritty continued:
"These groups can develop a flood-warden service and help the emergency services to identify the most vulnerable who may need evacuation. They can also offer advice on how to reduce the risk of future damage from flooding.
"What has proved much more challenging is sustaining the groups, particularly some years after the ‘big flood' as time passes and the memory, interest and commitment fade."
Examples of where these Groups have tended to work well include when they have broadened their scope to include community response to all types of severe weather - for example ice and snow, or where they have aligned with other community-based initiatives.
Professor Werritty concluded that as Scotland moves towards the development of Local Flood Risk Management Plans by 2015 the Scottish Flood Forum is emerging as a key player in promoting what individuals and communities must do. His presentation ‘Learning to live with floods" - how to make it happen at the community level is part of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)'s annual international conference in Edinburgh.
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