Flood Forecasting and Early Warning: An Example from the UK Environment Agency - Reducing Disaster: Early Warning Systems for Climate Change - page 181

Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk Practice Guide
(PPS25) 2 sets out the UK Government's national planning policies on develop-
ment and fl ood risk, with the aim that fl ood risk should be considered at all levels
of the planning process, encouraging positive planning to deliver appropriate
sustainable development in the right place. The aim is to avoid inappropriate
development in fl ood risk areas and to locate development away from fl ood risk
whenever possible (DCLG 2009 ).
2. Engineering solutions to reduce the risk of fl ooding. With a fi xed budget, the
most cost-effective schemes nationally will be preferred (those that protect
the most properties, for the cheapest amount per property). An example of this
is the new fl ood defence in Keswick (EA 2013g ).
3. Maintenance programmes. Ensuring rivers are clear from obstruction and have
maximum capacity. Routine maintenance activities take place annually, such as,
channel maintenance, and instruction to undertake your own watercourse main-
tenance (EA 2013h ).
4. Warning and informing. Raising awareness of fl ood risk and encouraging individu-
als and groups to plan and prepare. The Environment Agency aims to have 66 %
of high risk areas covered by its free fl ood warning service by 2015 (EA 2013j ).

10.4.1 Flood Forecasting and Warning Process

The main objective of the fl ood forecasting and warning process (FFWP) is to pro-
vide additional lead time to allow actions to be taken to moderate against fl ooding's
impacts. The baseline review on existing good practice found that the FFWP within
the Environment Agency involves a series of six steps, including a commonly
adopted conceptual model of fl ood forecasting and warning (Haggett 1998 ). The
EA FFWP also includes a sequential process involving information management
along with general procedure and organisation, post-event data collection, archiving
and reporting (Fig. 10.2 ) (EA 2002 ).

10.4.2 Planning and Preparedness

Before any operational action can be taken in the fl ood warning and forecasting
process, a lot of work needs to be carried out. Detailed understanding needs to be
gained of when fl ooding occurs, and instructions and triggers set for when warnings
will be issued (Sene 2008 ).

2 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7772/pps25
guideupdate.pdf