How will flood risk management plans be produced?

The first set of Flood Risk Management Plans will be produced in 2015.  Before any plans can be produced we need to improve our understanding of flood risk and its impacts which will help us develop better actions to manage the risk.

There are three steps we need to take before publishing flood risk management plans in 2015:

               I.      Identifying areas most vulnerable to flooding

The first step is identifying areas in Scotland which are most vulnerable to flooding.  SEPA has undertaken a National Flood Risk Assessment (NFRA) which uses the latest data and modelling techniques to provide a broad but accurate picture of flooding issues across Scotland.  From this, the most vulnerable areas can be identified.  The outcome of the assessment will be published in December 2011.

               II.      Identifying where flood waters go and the damage they cause

The second step is identifying where flood waters go and the damage caused under different scenarios.  This includes analysing the number of people who will be affected, the implications for economic activity and the damage caused to the environment by floods.  This information will be displayed in flood hazard and risk maps which will be published in December 2013.

               III.      Producing flood risk management plans

The final stage is producing flood risk management plans.  You will have a chance to comment on draft plans when they are published in 2014 for consultation.  Final plans will then be released in December 2015. 

The planning process does not end here.  Plans will be reviewed and updated every six years to ensure that we can deal with flood risk in the long term.