Presentation to The Emergency Planning Society
Welsh Branch Spring Seminar, Aberystwyth
Raff Whitehead - 5th April 2006
Introduction
Waterco are Consulting Engineers based in Ruthin specialising in water and drainage.
Raff Whitehead is a civil engineer with a background in the water industry and was the project coordinator for Welsh Water's Year 2000 project in 1998 and 1999.
About 4 years ago we started producing Contingency Plans for Welsh Water and that's why Raff joined the EPS.
We do drainage design for development sites and over the last 2 years we have also been doing Flood Risk Assessments for new developments.
This paper aims to demonstrate that considering flood risk should be a distinct part of a Business Continuity Plan which should be useful to you in developing your own plans and in promoting Business Continuity to business.
Recent Flood Events
In 1990 there were the Towyn floods in North Wales.
The October 1998 floods affected many areas of South Wales e.g. Builth Wells, Llandovery, Pontardawe, Aberfan, Vale of Glamorgan.
In 2000 there was widespread inland flooding in North Wales, particularly in the NE.
So we have certainly experienced flooding in our lifetimes.
The EA has stated that floods classed as disasters have occurred on average at intervals of 10-20 years.
Statistics
Flood risk is higher than fire risk in a flood risk zone.
Only 20% of businesses survive more than 18 months after a disaster.
According to Norwich Union, all surviving businesses had a Business Continuity Plan.
Flood Probability
In 2004 Technical Advice Note 15 (TAN 15) was published by the Welsh Assembly.
This is planning advice for new developments and flood risk. This is accompanied by maps showing flood risk up to 1 in 1000 year return-period or 0.1%. Although it is commonly called 1 in 1000 this tends to make people think it won't happen.
This was closely followed by the Civil Contingencies Act requiring Risk Registers, maintenance of services in an emergency and Business Continuity advice to others.
So with the recent flooding history we would expect that flood risk is fairly high on many risk registers and will affect many businesses.
This is the EA map for this area, showing up to 1 in 100 risk (1%) in dark blue and 1 in 1000 in light blue. This is based on no flood defences although the shaded areas benefit from flood defences. So, you can see there is a substantial amount of existing business in the flood risk zone.
The areas at risk from Coastal flooding are 1 in 200 or 0.5%.
This map is easily accessible on the EA website.
These maps have been produced for all of Wales and England.
However, these are not the definitive maps for Wales.
The Welsh Assembly have produced Development Advice Maps (DAMs), based on the EA maps.
This is the DAM for the same area. This shows all land at risk of flooding up to the 1 in 1000 event (0.1%).
We have these maps on CD and all the Local Authority planning departments have them as well.
This establishes the probability of flooding.
Although these plans have been produced for planning guidance they have a very important role for existing properties to enable them to be prepared for flood consequences.
Flood Consequences
The other element of risk is the consequences. These include damage to property, stock and office equipment and loss of income, customers, staff and business.
In order to recover from the consequences of flood, it would help to minimise the damage caused by introducing flood-proofing measures in advance.
Floods can affect existing premises of the Local Authority and Emergency Services, business premises and their employees' homes.
So practical information can be provided to assist with protection, evacuation and recovery.
Flood Consequence Assessments (FCA)
Our FCA reports include site levels, estimated flood levels based on EA data and rainfall events, review of flood defences-level and condition, emergency plans for escape routes and mitigating measures for protection of stock and equipment.
This could be produced for an industrial estate or for individual businesses.
This would include the scenario of a breach of the flood defences.
Conclusion
The consequences and therefore the risk can be reduced by being prepared.
This enables you to:
- Minimise damage
- Improve insurance cover
- Comply with legislation
- (e.g. HASAWA, Occupier's Liability Act 1984 if the public use the premises)
- Maintain Business Continuity
We believe we have demonstrated that flood risk should be considered. Flood Risk can be prepared for and the effects can be reduced.
We would be happy to take part in any of your local Business Continuity Seminars.
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