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Northamptonshire Community Resilience Pathfinder Project. September 2014 Josie Bateman – Flood and Water Manager. Northamptonshire Context. Two-tier County Ten neighbouring LLFAs Seven District Authorities Three water companies Four RFCC One IDB.
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NorthamptonshireCommunity Resilience Pathfinder Project September 2014 Josie Bateman – Flood and Water Manager
Northamptonshire Context • Two-tier County • Ten neighbouring LLFAs • Seven District Authorities • Three water companies • Four RFCC • One IDB
Nature of Flood Risk in Northamptonshire • Extremely varied and widespread risk • Significantly affected in the Easter 1998 floods • Sources of recent flooding: • Surface Water • Agricultural Runoff • Ordinary Watercourses • Groundwater • Main River
The Widespread Risk......... Data captured since January 2011 Collated from a wide variety of sources Updated instantly
Northamptonshire Pathfinder Project • One of only thirteen local authorities to secure Defra funding • To establish Pathfinder Projects aimed at supporting communities “to help themselves” in tackling the risk of flooding • The County Council secured £300,000. • This two year project ends in April 2015 • Evaluation is an essential part of the project • Legacy is the key requirement
Pathfinder Vision and Objectives Vision • For Communities in Northamptonshire to actively improve their flood resilience. Objectives • To identify important information, activities and tools that will assist communities in achieving flood resilience – ‘helping them to help themselves’.
Pathfinder Aims • To create, pilot, evaluate and promote an online toolkit which facilitates community-led improvements in resilience and preparedness. • To encourage and provide 15 pilot communities at risk of flooding with the tools to ‘help themselves’.
What tools are available? • Community Flood Risk Reports • Community Flood Risk and Mitigation Investigations • Community Rain Gauge Warning Systems • School Education Resources • Community Flood Stores • Property Level Protection Surveys • Community Emergency Plans • Community Flood Forums/Wardens
Community Rain Gauge Warning Systems • Compact package • Telemetry intelligence • Located in schools • Records rainfall • Raises alerts/warnings • Allows for action before a flood
School Education Resources • Provides educational materials and activities for primary aged children - targets year 6 • Explores extreme weather and flooding - how to respond in an emergency and how to help reduce flooding • Links to the curriculum • Available to all on the online toolkit • Promotes schools to undertake their own flood resilience measures: saving rain water, rain gardens, tree planting etc. • Legacy – through Anglian Water/Environment Agency
Community Flood Stores • Purchase equipment - £3k • Used by communities during heavy rainfall/ potential flood events • To mitigate and reduce impacts • To clean up after a flood • Empowering a community response • Store contents will be made available through the online-toolkit
Community Emergency Plans • Support communities in their desire to write a community emergency plan • Ownership/responsibilities • Vulnerable areas/people • Communities encouraged to record their learning – what works well and what doesn't
Funding Opportunities Audience Measures Funding Mechanisms Tool Property Level Protection £££ £££ Individuals £££ £££ Flood Investigations £££ Communities £££ £££ £££ Maintenance £££ Businesses £££ Infrastructure £££ Case Studies £££
Lessons Learnt • Each community is different – not interested unless directly affected by flooding • Advertise awareness events far and wide • General lack of understanding of the different types of flood risk • Key questions that need answering: • Who’s responsible for maintenance ?, Who’s responsible for flooding ?, How do I report flooding? How is this development going to affect my flood risk? • Single point of contact for each community • On-the-ground survey timings • PLP surveys not popular – what are the catches? • Educating children ensures the next generation are flood aware - the messages do get taken home