Flood Risk Communications Public Dialogue Project

Flooding is an increasingly serious problem in the UK. In England nearly 1 in every 6 properties is at risk of flooding.

The impact of flooding on individuals, businesses and communities is often devastating, however many people at serious risk of being affected by flooding are not aware of the extent of that risk.

Many others are not aware of what they can do to reduce the effects of flooding, if it does occur.

It is therefore very important to increase public awareness of the risk of flooding and make sure people have the information they need to reduce the impact of flooding on themselves, their family, their home and their community.

This project was designed to work with members of the public and through a process of dialogue, create new and practical tools to help specialist agencies communicate flood risk, and what people should do in the event of flooding, as effectively as possible.

Partners

The Welsh Government is the devolved Government for Wales, working to help improve the lives of people in Wales and make the nation a better place in which to live and work. Its devolved responsibilities cover most key areas of public life including health, education and the environment.

www.wales.gov.uk/

The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. The University places strong emphasis on its relationship with society, including concern for sustainability and the environment and the contribution it can make through the application of knowledge.

www.cam.ac.uk/

Public Health England’s mission is to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities. Its responsibilities include preparing for public health emergencies and sharing information and expertise with local authorities.

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england/about

Northumbria University, in Newcastle upon Tyne, is an expanding multicultural learning community, with excellent links with further and higher education, industry and commerce throughout the UK, Europe and beyond. Renowned for the excellence of its teaching, as well as for preparing students for the world of work, Northumbria also provides research opportunities for professional reflective practice.

www.northumbria.ac.uk/

Lancaster University is a world-class centre for teaching and research and is located on a beautiful campus in the North West of England. It places great emphasis on a strong student experience and employability and gives students access to academics who are experts in their field.

www.lancaster.ac.uk/

Hampshire County Council is responsible for its Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, managing the risk of future flooding from: groundwater from heavy or prolonged rainfall, surface water (rainfall) runoff, and ordinary watercourses. It has powers to carry out works to manage groundwater and surface water flood risk, and to oversee the management of flood risk from ordinary watercourses by the owners of the land through which the water flows.

www.hants.gov.uk/

The Government Office for Science ensures that government policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence and strategic long-term thinking. It is responsible for giving scientific advice to the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet, through a programme of projects that reflect the priorities of the Government Chief Scientific Advisor.

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-office-for-science/about/

As a Lead Local Flood Authority, under the Flood and Water Management Act 2012, Gloucestershire County Council has responsibilities for investigating and reporting flooding incidents, managing flood risk from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses, producing a local flood risk management strategy, and enforcing works on ordinary water courses.

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk

The British Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. It enables vulnerable people at home and overseas to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their own communities.

www.redcross.org.uk/

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is the UK government department responsible for policy and regulations on environmental, food and rural issues. Its priorities are to grow the rural economy, improve the environment and safeguard animal and plant health.

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs/about

The Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) is a partnership between the Environment Agency and the Met Office, combining their meteorology and hydrology expertise into a specialised hydrometeorology service. The centre forecasts for all natural forms of flooding - river, surface water, tidal/coastal and groundwater.

www.ffc-environment-agency.metoffice.gov.uk/

The National Flood Forum is a national charity dedicated to supporting and representing communities and individuals at risk of flooding.

www.nationalfloodforum.org.uk

The Environment Agency is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Its principal aims are to protect and improve the environment, and to promote sustainable development. It plays a central role in delivering the environmental priorities of central government through our functions and roles.

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency

The Cabinet Office supports the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, and ensures the effective running of government. We are also the corporate headquarters for government, in partnership with HM Treasury, and we take the lead in certain critical policy areas.

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office

Sciencewise is the UK’s national centre for public dialogue in policy making involving science and technology issues. Sciencewise brings together members of the public, policy makers, scientists and other expert stakeholders to deliberate and come to conclusions on national public policy issues involving science and technology.

www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk

The Met Office is the UK's National Weather Service. It is one of the world's most accurate forecasters, using more than 10 million weather observations a day, an advanced atmospheric model and a high performance supercomputer to create 3,000 tailored forecasts and briefings a day. The Public Weather Service, which is part of the Met Office, provides forecasts for the public to help them make informed decisions about their day-to-day activities. The National Severe Weather Warning Service is also a part of this, providing advance notice of weather which could affect public safety.