Flood Risk Management - EU Directive
Content Table
Introduction
Between 1998 and 2004, Europe suffered over 100 major damaging floods, including the catastrophic floods along the Danube and Elbe rivers in summer 2002. Severe floods in 2005 further reinforced the need for concerted action. Since 1998 floods in Europe have caused some 700 deaths, the displacement of about half a million people and at least €25 billion in insured economic losses.
The value of assets at risk of flooding can be enormous.More than 10 million people live in the areas at risk of extreme floods along the Rhine, and the potential damage from floods amounts to € 165 billion. Coastal areas are also at risk of flooding. The total value of economic assets located within 500 metres of the European coastline, including beaches, agricultural land and industrial facilities, is currently estimated at € 500 to 1,000 billion (EUrosion). The consequences for the environment can also be devastating.
Floods are natural phenomena which cannot be prevented. However, human activity is contributing to an increase in the likelihood and adverse impacts of extreme flood events: clearing of forests in the upper catchment area, straightening of rivers and suppression of natural flood plains, inadequate drainage practices, and so on.
Flood Risk Management
Flood risk management aims to reduce the likelihood and/or the impact of floods. Experience has shown that the most effective approach is through the development of flood risk management programmes incorporating the following elements:
- Prevention: preventing damage caused by floods by avoiding construction of houses and industries in present and future flood-prone areas; by adapting future developments to the risk of flooding; and by promoting appropriate land-use, agricultural and forestry practices;
- Protection: taking measures, both structural and non-structural, to reduce the likelihood of floods and/or the impact of floods in a specific location;
- Preparedness: informing the population about flood risks and what to do in the event of a flood;
- Emergency response: developing emergency response plans in the case of a flood;
- Recovery and lessons learned: returning to normal conditions as soon as possible and mitigating both the social and economic impacts on the affected population.
Flood risk management is an integral part of integrated river basin management.
EU Floods DIrective
The Directive 2007/60/EC was proposed by the European Commission on 18/01/2006, and was finally published in the Official Journal on 6 November 2007.
Its aim is to reduce and manage the risks that floods pose to human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity. The Directive applies to all kinds of floods (river, lakes, flash floods, urban floods, coastal floods, including storm surges and tsunamis) on all of the EU territory.
The Directive requires Member States to approach flood risk management in a three stage proces:
1) Preliminary assessment to identify the river basins and associated coastal areas at risk of flooding - by 2011.
2) Where real risks of flood damage exist, flood risk maps will be developed - by 2013.
3) Establish flood risk management plans focused on prevention, protection and preparedness - by 2015. Due to the nature of flooding, much flexibility on objectives and measures are left to the Member States in view of subsidiarity.
A detailed timeline of the implementation of the EU Floods Directive is available here.
Related Articles
Flood and Coastal Risk Management - Case Study England
References
European Commission - Flood Risk Management
