Floods Directive

David Porter B.Eng C.Eng MICE MCIHTDirector of Development

Historical Floods

Belfast 1903

Omagh 1969

Strabane 1987

Recent Floods

Lower Ormeau, 2005

Omagh, 2007 Beragh, 2008

Enniskillen, 2009

Belfast, 2008

Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and

management of flood risks

Floods

Directive

Water Environment (Floods Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

European Union Floods Directive

Preliminary Flood Risk Assessmentby Dec 2011

Flood hazard and risk mapsby Dec 2013

Flood risk management plansby Dec 2015

European Union Floods Directive

Communication of risk to the public

Involvement of ‘interested parties’

Co-ordinate transboundary catchments

Preliminary Flood Risk assessment

Floods Directive Article 4- 2(b)

• Human Health

• Environment

• Cultural Heritage

• Economic Activity

Area of Potential Significant Risk

Flood Risk Management Plans

• Cross-border coordination

• Synergy with Water Framework Directive

– Three River Basin Plans

• Objectives

• Measures

• EU Reporting

Launched on the Internet on 4th November 2008.

Why have we developed the map?

Understand flood risk

Communicate risk

Land Use Planning

Inform Emergency Plans

How was the map developed for the rivers?

River

CentrelinePoint Flow

Grid

Land Cover

Map 2000

Digital Terrain

Model

How was the map developed for the Sea?

Coastal Model

(Mike21)

What do we mean by Strategic?What do we mean by Strategic?

Climate Change

Fluvial Models

Hydrometric Area

2030 2100

Precipitation Percentage

Increase

River Flow Percentage

Increase

Precipitation Percentage

Increase

River Flow Percentage

Increase

201 9 11.7 24 31

202 8 10.4 23 29.9

203 9 11.7 26 33.8

204 7 9.1 21 27.3

205 9 11.7 24 31.2

206 9 11.7 23 29.9

236 9 11.7 25 32.5

Table 3.2 Percentage Change of Precipitation and Peak River Flows

Climate Change

Coastal Model

Thank You

Strategic Assessment of Numbers of properties at risk

• 830,000 properties within NI

• Based on new strategic maps, 46,000 (5.5%) properties estimated to be within the river and coastal flood plain

• Approx 15,500 protected by flood defences / culvert network

• Of remainder (i.e. 30,500)

• 10,500 within Belfast – relatively low likelihood

• Many situated around edge of flood plain

• Property level & location within floodplain is critical

• Don’t have large number of properties subject to year-on-year repeated flooding

• Not all the property within NI flood plains will be affected by a single event

"Science grows and improves in the light of criticism. There is a fundamental uncertainty

about climate change prediction that can't be challenged."

Chief Scientist for the UK Government

Professor John Beddington