Flood risk management mainly depends on a municipality's ability to intervene early and under optimal conditions.
This involves the ability to anticipate the event, assess its consequences and effectively define the actions to be taken to mitigate its effects.
What is the flood management plan?
The Flood Risk Management Plan (PGRI) offers a strategic vision of the measures to be implemented in order to minimize the impact of flooding on property, people, health, the environment, cultural heritage, activities economic and infrastructure.
The PGRI has several objectives.
One of them consists of developing resilient territorial planning in order to reduce the vulnerability of areas impacted by flooding.
This involves the design of land use plans capable of coping with flood risks.
At the same time, another priority of the PGRI is to intervene on hazard factors.
This can include actions aimed at controlling water flow and building protective infrastructure.
The PGRI also aims to improve the forecasting capacity of hydro-meteorological phenomena: strengthening monitoring systems, forecast models and technologies, to anticipate meteorological events and better prepare in the event of a crisis.
The PGRI strives to mobilize all stakeholders with the aim of promoting knowledge and awareness of flood risks.
What are the measures to mitigate the risk of flooding?
Controlled management of urbanization represents a crucial lever in flood prevention.
Natural risk prevention plans (PPRn), with a public utility easement value, are integrated into urban planning plans (PLU).
These are prescribed and developed by the State in collaboration with the municipalities and in consultation with the populations.
The main objectives of a PPRn, commonly referred to as PPRi with regard to flooding, are to control development in flood zones based on a reference flood, in order to limit the increase in the population and exposed property, reduce the vulnerability of existing structures, and avoid aggravating risks or creating new ones.
The objective is also to preserve flood expansion areas and non-urbanized areas.
The PPRi thus maps the areas exposed to risks and subjects them to regulations based on the hazard and land use.
For certain sectors, construction standards must be respected (for example, a floor level to be observed above the highest water level), or town planning rules (such as non-construction) or even usage guidelines (such as the mooring of tanks or the storage of floats).
How to prepare the community?
Community flood preparations are crucial to minimizing risks and ensuring the safety of populations affected by these devastating natural events.
Education and awareness play an important role in flood preparedness and response.
Informing the population about the associated risks, warning signs, risk areas and safety measures is essential.
Local authorities are implementing awareness campaigns aimed at educating the community on how to respond effectively in the event of flooding.
Robust emergency planning is also essential.
This involves developing detailed emergency plans, including clear procedures for evacuation, assembly points, emergency communications and available resources.
It is imperative to ensure that all community members are informed of these plans and familiar with safe evacuation routes.
Establishing early warning systems is a crucial proactive measure.
These systems enable the rapid dissemination of crucial information to residents in the event of an imminent threat of flooding.
The means of communication used include sirens, SMS alerts, social media, mobile applications, among others.
First aid training is an essential part of community preparedness.
Providing courses in lifesaving techniques, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic first aid ensures a quick and effective response in the event of an emergency.
Encouraging households to put together emergency kits is a recommended practice.
These kits, which include non-perishable food, clean water, medicine, clothing, flashlights, battery-powered radios, and other essential items, are vital during an evacuation or power outage. prolonged electricity.
Land use planning should also be considered as a means of reducing flood risks.
This includes building buffer zones, reforestation, improving drainage systems and regulating real estate developments in at-risk areas.
Regularly carrying out flood simulation exercises is essential to test the effectiveness of emergency plans, identify gaps and improve coordination between the different actors involved.
What are the effects of flooding?
Floods have devastating consequences on homes and infrastructure, often leaving a picture of desolation in their wake.
These extreme events, often caused by torrential rains, rapid melting of snow or sudden rise in sea levels, have considerable impacts on property and people.
Damage to homes is one of the most worrying aspects of flooding.
Encroaching water enters homes, causing structural damage, damaging foundations and compromising the stability of buildings.
Personal possessions, often irreplaceable, are swept away by the waves, leaving behind destitute households.
Reconstruction and repair costs are significant.
Public infrastructure is not spared from flooding.
Roads, bridges, water supply networks and sanitation systems are frequently damaged, hampering the mobility of people and the delivery of essential services.
Transport disruptions make access to relief difficult, compromising the ability of authorities to respond effectively to the urgent needs of disaster victims.
This meteorological phenomenon also presents significant risks to public health.
In some parts of the world, stagnant water creates an environment conducive to the proliferation of water-borne diseases, such as dysentery, cholera and malaria.
Displaced populations, often forced to live in overcrowded and unsanitary temporary shelters, are particularly vulnerable to these epidemics.
Additionally, contamination of drinking water sources worsens health risks, endangering the long-term health of affected communities.