Flood Hazards PUBLIC AWARENESS, PREPAREDNESS AND PARTICIPATION

G. PUBLIC AWARENESS, PREPAREDNESS AND PARTICIPATION Awareness G.1. It is essential that people recognise flooding as part of their environment. Communities must be aware of being at risk. To be aware of a risk means to have recognised it, to know about it, not to forget or to repress it and to take it into account appropriately when acting. If there is no hazard awareness, even incentives will not be of any help. If persons concerned have not yet experienced flooding, knowledge about the risk must be passed on with the help of the flood hazard maps, other information and education. G.2. Knowing about the danger, including all important parameters, such as type of flooding (static, dynamic) as probability, intensity (flooding depth, flow velocity) and extent of impact is a prerequisite. This knowledge must be imparted convincingly on all actors. Preparedness G.3. Preparedness is a result of awareness and is based on the necessary information to make the individual recognise his possibilities of action. It includes the individual planning and preparation of all actions to reduce damage in case of a flood. G.4. The planning of potential actions must be adapted to warning lead time and the acting forces. It is recommended to be prepared even for the worst case. Training is a prerequisite for correct conduct in case of floods. G.5. Well-structured emergency organisation is vital in order to be able to cope with flood emergencies. Evacuation and rescue services prevent casualties. Flood fighting by temporary structures reduces the probability of damage. This type of risk prevention is of great importance for areas with great flood depth. G.6. The UN/ECE guidelines read: (a) To reduce the potential for damage, both the public concerned and the authorities should closely interact. Correct flood warnings and forecasts are important elements for adequate behaviour of the public during flood events. To ensure the commitment of Best practices on flood prevention, protection and mitigation 13 both the authorities and the public, the authorities should develop an information policy that covers risk communication and facilitates public participation in decision-making. (b) The public should be informed by the competent authority and/or other appropriate entity that floods are a natural component of the hydrological regime of watercourses. Thus, the public should become aware that there is a need to restrict uses, such as for industrial, agricultural, tourist or private purposes, in areas at risk of flooding to reduce the potential for damage. Information about restrictions construction in flood areas should be easily accessible. Information about risk assessments should be easily understood, for example, clear flood maps and, where appropriate, information based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) should be distributed. (c) The public should be encouraged to take their own flood prevention measures and be informed about how to act during flood events. This requires, inter alia, that forecasts and related information are easily accessible and that realtime media coverage is ensured. Media plans should be prepared together with the riparian countries and a citizens' information desk could be useful in some countries. (d) All envisaged measures concerning flood prevention and protection should be compiled in a comprehensive action plan. Such action plans can cover several years, sometimes up to 15 years. Most measures represent a considerable environmental impact. A sustainable commitment of the public concerned is a cornerstone of successful implementation of these plans. (e) The authorities should ensure that the information concerning flood prevention and protection plans is transparent and easily accessible to the public. The information should be disseminated early and actively, not just on request. It should be accompanied by the envisaged procedures for public participation. Participation G.7. The UN/ECE guidelines read: (a) Public participation in decision-making concerning flood prevention and protection is therefore needed, both to improve the quality and the implementation of the decisions, and to give the public the opportunity to express its concerns and to enable authorities to take due account of such concerns. (b) All measures linked to public information and awareness raising are most effective when they involve participation at all levels, from the local community through the national government to the regional and international level. (c) The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decisionmaking and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, done at Aarhus, Denmark, on 25 June 1998, gives an extensive framework in which the above recommendations on public participation fit. This convention on inter alia provides for making environmental information available to the public, for the participation of the public during the preparation of plans and programmes.