Flood Action Group Meeting 11th October 2017 Welcome and Introductions Objectives Flood risk and events in Hillingdon How community flood groups can improve local resilience and how the Local Authority and EA can help Workshop – starting a community flood group Workshop Feedback Close
Objectives What we want to achieve today: By the end of the meeting attendees will: • understand the flood risk in the area • understand how community flood groups work to improve residents’ resilience • understand their roles and responsibilities and those of the relevant agencies • know what the next steps are to set up your groups
Objectives Although we won’t be able to cover all issues you wish to discuss today, there are updates in the form of handouts on: ● River Pinn Flood Alleviation Scheme ● Maintenance issues ● River Level Monitoring Any detailed questions you have about this and the issues below we will gather at the end to follow up afterwards.
Key Flood Risk Locations August 1977 May 1988 December 2013 - Feb 2014 June 2014 28th July 2014 26th August 2015 23rd June 2016 and many more….. Flood Investigtations and information can be found on: http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/29022/Flood-risk-investigation All this information collected is informing the Council's next steps and the areas that we need to prioritise to investigate ways of reducing the risk
Community flood groups can… Increase the resilience of local communities to flooding by: ● Provide a single point of contact for communications with the local authority and Environment Agency ● Improve communication between residents ● Improve knowledge and develop plans to ensure the local community knows what to do in the event of a flood ● Reduce stress and increase support from neighbours during an emergency ● Share information on flood products ● Help shape mitigation schemes
Example group structure Ideal size = 1 group per Chair 20-25 residents Deputy Deputy Flood group Flood group Flood group member member member Other local residents ● A chair would normally lead the group, organise/chair meetings etc and be the main contact with the EA/LA. ● Deputies provide cover and assistance for the chair. Ideally the chair or one of deputies will be outside flood zones. ● Flood group member – help out with other tasks. Varies between 3-4 members ● Some people may just want to receive information and not be involved in the group. ● Useful to make sure people are involved who are not flooded, so they can support during an event.
Tasks in the group ● Set up local social media groups/mailing list ● Hand out flood advice materials to residents ● Advertise the group’s work to other local residents/recruit other volunteers ● Organise and chair meetings ● Write the group flood plan ● Write a Constitution ● Write a time line of actions ● Assign roles
How do they work before, during and after a flood Before When a flood is possible ● Initiate your community flood plan – talk through what a community plan entails triggers, contacts, evacuation centres etc ● Report and prevent blockages in rivers to the EA – call 0800 80 70 60 ● Help ensure residents are aware of flood risk in the area – door knocking or phone tree, Floodline, weather reports ● help vulnerable individuals who may need assistance or information ● Help neighbours install property flood protection equipment
During ● Follow your community flood plan ● Collect and share information about where flooding has occurred with the EA and Local Authority ● Continue to share information with other residents ● Share information inc plan with and follow instructions of the Emergency services if on site ● Don’t put yourself at risk
After Can we ● Submit information collected about the flood – this helps us build an help? accurate picture of what happened and we can check the levels at which any flood warnings and alerts are issued. ● Help to relay information to and from the local community ● Support the recovery of your local community - help clear up and return to business as usual. ● Attend flood review meetings with EA/LA ● Review any flood plan you may have.
Health and Safety • Never put yourself at risk • Don’t drive through flood water • Avoid walking through flood water in case of submerged hazards
Health and Safety • Wear gloves and wash hands if you come into contact with flood water • If a life is in danger, call 999
How can the Environment Agency help? • The Environment Agency have different teams working on aspects of flooding such as Flood Resilience Team, Planning and Strategic Overview and Operations. • They can and will: ○ Help local residents set up a group ○ Provide advice on writing a community flood plan ○ Issue flood alerts and warnings ○ Information on maintenance of main rivers and assets ○ Provide updates on any flood alleviation schemes
How can Hillingdon help? In addition to organising today: ● Help local residents set up a group - we may be able to provide meeting space. ● We will continue to raise your concerns with other organisations on your behalf. ● Provide support for residents to lobby responsible parties ● Provide updates to residents on Flood Alleviation Schemes. ● Share where funding streams may become available to you ● We will continue to apply for further funding to develop schemes in order of those most affected ● Created a new webpage page to update residents on events and flood alleviation schemes, and funding streams http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/32782/Flood-risk-management-projects-an d-events
Workshop Discussion 1. Who will be the chair of the group? 2. How will you get other residents involved? e.g social media/email/leaflet/street champion 3. When and where will you try to hold your first flood group meeting? 4. What would you need to discuss in that first meeting? e.g who will do what within the group? How often will you meet? 5. Would you benefit from working with the other flood groups in Ruislip and how? 6. Provide the Council with your plans
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