International gathering announces new flood guidance

Few countries worldwide nowadays are unaffected by extreme weather events including resultant flooding, and while each country has its own particular circumstances influencing their response, much is to be gained from the sharing of knowledge. HR Wallingford have played a pivotal role in the FloodProBE project (flood protection of the built environment) and on the International Levee Handbook (ILH), the event bringing together key stakeholders from USA, UK, France, The Netherlands and other European countries to discuss the outcomes and potential for further research, development and international collaboration.

Together with its partner organisations, HR Wallingford has spent five years developing the ILH (coordinated by CIRIA). They were also a major partner in the FloodProBE project aimed at providing cost-effective means for flood protection and damage mitigation in urban areas: this four-year project coordinated by Deltares.

Both areas of research are reflective of increasing global awareness, and need to respond, to the effects of rising sea levels, climate change and extreme weather events. Floods are considered the major natural hazard in the EU in terms of risk to people and assets, more than €40bn currently is being spent annually on flood mitigation and recovery including compensation of flood damage. More than 75% of flood damage in the EU occurs in urban areas and 80% of the population will live in such areas by 2020. The result is that flood risk in urban areas will increase disproportionately over time with estimates quoted that flood damage figures could increase to €100bn per year by the end of the century.

Events such as Hurricane Sandy in the USA in 2012 and the 2010 Pakistan flooding indicate the global nature of the problems. The winter of 2013/14 has seen significant flooding from severe weather in the UK and the subject of how both governments and industry expertise (across Europe and beyond) responds means the area of flood risk mitigation and defences will no doubt see increased activity well into the future.