Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why has the National Flood Risk Assessment been created?
The National Flood Risk Assessment (NFRA) is the first step in delivering a risk-based approach to flood management, introduced by the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009.  SEPA has developed the NFRA in partnership with Scottish Government, local authorities and Scottish Water to develop an assessment which is robust and fit for purpose, based on reliable, readily available and derivable national datasets.

For more detailed information on the how the NFRA was developed please read the methodology, available on the Information pages

Who will use the National Flood Risk Assessment?
The National Flood Risk Assessment will predominantly be used by those involved in Flood Risk Management Planning.  The information has been used by SEPA to identify areas where the potential impact of flooding is sufficient to justify further assessment and appraisal of Flood Risk Management actions. It will also help Scottish Government, SEPA, local authorities, Scottish Water and others developing Flood Risk Management Strategies and Local Flood Risk Management Plans.

How is the National Flood Risk Assessment different from SEPA’s Indicative River and Coastal Flood Map?
The Indicative River and Coastal Flood Map (Flood Map) provides a picture of the areas likely to be inundated by flooding from rivers or the sea.  It estimates the extent of flooding if river and coastal waters were to flood.  It provides an outline of areas that are estimated to have a 0.5% or greater chance of flooding each year.  The NFRA uses this information and combines it with data on people, economic activity and the environment to determine where the greatest overall impacts occur within Scotland.  Therefore the locations highlighted as potentially vulnerable (NFRA) and the extent of flood water shown on the Flood Map may vary across the two maps.

What is a Potentially Vulnerable Area (PVA)?
Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) have been identified by SEPA as areas where the potential impact from flooding is sufficient to justify further assessment and appraisal of Flood Risk Management actions.  It is important to note, not all properties within a PVA are at risk of flooding.  PVAs are based on catchment units and will allow Scottish Government, SEPA, local authorities and Scottish Water to develop a planned response to manage flood risk effectively.

I live in a Potentially Vulnerable Area, what should I do?
Not all properties within a Potentially Vulnerable Area (PVA) will be affected by flooding.  However, flooding can affect us all by affecting the areas we live and work in or travel through, e.g. roads.  It is your responsibility to protect yourself, your family, property or business but help is available.  Visit SEPA’s Floodline pages for more information on actions you can take to help you to prepare for potential flooding.

Why are some floods outside the boundaries of Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs)?
Any flood is significant to the individual, family, organisation or area that it affects.  However, the presence of a past flood on its own is not sufficient to deem the area as a PVA.  There are some properties outside the boundaries of PVAs which may be at risk from the impacts of flooding so it is important you are prepared to take action if you need to.

Will the National Flood Risk Assessment be used by insurance companies?
The National Flood Risk Assessment (NFRA) should not be used by insurance companies.  Terms and conditions governing the use of the NFRA stipulate that the information should not be used for commercial, business, professional or other income generating activity.  The NFRA is a strategic tool providing a national summary of flood risk and should not be used to interpret flood risk to individual properties or locations.

What are Weighted Average Annual Damages?
Weighted Average Annual Damages (WAAD) provide an indicative estimate of the direct economic costs of flooding impacts to residential properties, non-residential properties and agriculture.  It provides a long-term, average estimate of costs derived using nationally held datasets.  Scottish figures are based on the method set out in the Flood Hazard Research Centre’s Multi-Coloured Handbook.  This is the methodology employed by Defra, the Environment Agency and SEPA.  Please note, WAAD figures have been rounded to the closest £10,000.

Why does the map not zoom to more than 1: 64 000 (km)?
The National Flood Risk Assessment (NFRA) is a strategic level tool which provides a valuable national summary of the sources and impacts of flooding.  The NFRA has not been developed to assess individual property risk.  The scale 1: 64 000 (km) is the most appropriate scale for showing the National Flood Risk Assessment.

Why can’t I see some layers simultaneously?
Some layers have been selected to display only at certain scales in order to provide the best viewing scale for the information.  If a layer is not available at the scale selected, you should zoom to the appropriate scale.  All layers are available for simultaneous display at scales of 1:64 000 (km) and 1:125 000 (Km).  Please note that displaying layers simultaneously may result in the colours on the map differing from those on the legend.

Is this all the information you have on past floods?
SEPA is continuing to collect information on past floods and will add this information to the National Flood Risk Assessment over time.

Why is the National Flood Risk Assessment map slow to load?
Some users may find the map slow to load.  Performance is influenced by a number of factors, including your own internet service provider’s access speed and the computer being used to access the map.   The map displaying National Flood Risk Assessment has been performance tested by SEPA and meets the expected response times.

Why is the National Flood Risk Assessment not on Scotland’s Environment website?
We anticipate that the National Flood Risk Assessment will be published on Scotland’s Environment website in the future.

May I print the map?
Printing any section of the National Flood Risk Assessment, including datasheets, is subject to SEPA’s terms and conditions.  You can print sections of the map or download datasheets as PDFs.  Please refer to the User Guide on the map page if you need help on how to print the National Flood Risk Assessment.