Flood risk management

The EU Flood Directive requires member states to develop flood risk management plans by 22nd December 2015. Along the way, member states are required to carry out preliminary flood risk assessments by 22nd December 2011, and detailed flood risk and hazard maps by 22nd December 2013. Following these initial submissions, the assessments, maps and plans will be reviewed and updated in six yearly cycles. Many countries have already carried out preliminary assessments and produced flood risk and hazard maps for coastal and river flooding. However, there is a general need to align flood risk management across all types of flooding and a specific need for support for the development of flood risk management plans in urban areas where risks to people and properties are greatest. Here there are many different forms of flooding and there is a need for insights into the interactions between all of these. This is an introduction to flood risk management, why it’s so important and an approach for the development of local flood risk management strategies