Evacuation and traffic management (full report) - FLOODsite

Task 17 Evacuation D17-1
Contract No:GOCE-CT-2004-505420
2. Review of flood event management practice
2.1 Introduction
This chapter provides a review of flood event management in a number of countries in Europe
including:
• The UK;
• The Netherlands;
• Germany;
• France;
• Hungary;
• General overview of Europe.
This review covers the legal framework and institutional set ups in these countries and their
experience with operational flood management. This chapter focuses particularly on the management
of flood emergencies, and evacuation and rescue methods and models.
2.2 The United Kingdom
2.2.1 The legal framework for flood management and emergencies
Background
The main piece of legislation covering emergency management in the UK is the Civil Contingencies
Act. This legislation and accompanying non-statutory measures give a single framework for civil
protection in the UK. This objective of the Civil Contingencies Act is to improve the UK's ability to
deal with the consequences of major disruptive incidents by improving the planning process at a local
level, building better contacts between agencies and improving the link between local areas and
central government.
Civil Contingencies Act (CCA)
The Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) and accompanying non-legislative measures and Regulations
deliver a single integrated framework for civil protection. The Act applies to the whole of the UK,
including devolved administrations and came into force in 2004. “Emergency” is defined under the
Act as “an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in a place in the UK,
the environment of a place in the UK, or war or terrorism which threatens serious damage to the
security of the UK” (HM Government, 2005a). Part 1 of the Act establishes a new statutory
framework for civil protection at the local level. Part 2 repeals existing emergency powers legislation
and allows the development of special temporary legislation aimed at providing the powers required to
deal with a serious emergency ” (HM Government, 2005a).
The Act provides a basic framework defining what tasks should be performed during an emergency,
and how co-operation should be conducted. Working to a common framework, local responders are
required to make their own decisions in the light of local circumstances and priorities about what
planning arrangements are appropriate in their area. The CCA recommends an Integrated Emergency
Management (IEM) procedure that comprises six related activities:
• Anticipation;
• Assessment;
• Prevention;
• Preparation;
• Response;
• Recovery.
T17_07_02_Evacuation_and_traffic_management_D17_1_V4_4_P01.doc 19 03 2008
8