Many organisations, with different roles and responsibilities, work together to manage flood risk in the Highlands. All organisations are placed under a duty to work together to reduce overall flood risk by the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 and there are specific requirements on each which can be summarized as follows.
Scottish Government
- Setting National Policy on Flood Risk Management and Flood Warning
- Setting Scottish Planning Policy
- Provision of resources to enable authorities to address flood risk
SEPA
- Provide a flood warning service for Scotland and operate Floodline
- Provide advice to Local Authorities on flood risk and planning
- SEPA also have an important new role in the coordination of flood risk management policy and activities across Scotland which includes the:
- assessment of flood risk across Scotland including publication of flood risk- and hazard maps;
- establishment of national and local Flood Risk Advisory Groups
- preparation of maps of artificial structures and natural features
- publishing of national Flood Risk Management Plans
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The Highland Council
- Preparation of maps of water bodies and SuDS
- Assessing water bodies for conditions likely to pose a flood risk
- Undertake maintenance works in water bodies including the clearance of watercourses where the works will significantly reduce flood risk
- Maintenance of existing flood alleviation schemes
- Maintain road gullies – these are not designed to cope with extreme weather events but it is still important that they operate efficiently to avoid localized flooding.
- Planning and development management (with flood risk advice from SEPA)
- Working with the emergency services in response to severe flooding
- Coordinating reception centres for people evacuated from their homes and arrange temporary accommodation if appropriate
- Coordinating the aftermath of a flood
- Dealing with road closures (except on trunk roads)
- Preparation of local Flood Risk Management Plans (from 2012)
Local Authorities also have powers to promote new flood alleviation schemes where these can be justified and funding is available. There is no statutory duty for a Local Authority to prevent property from flooding nor is there a duty to provide sandbags in the event that there is deemed to be a risk of flooding.
The Highland Council’s TEC Services will endeavour to make filled sandbags available for collection from suitable locations to those vulnerable to flooding during a flood event. TECS staff will be deployed with sandbags to areas of high priority including those where there are elderly or infirm residents.
Property owners are strongly advised to make prior preparations for protecting their own property as flood incidents can occur with little warning and can be widespread
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Scottish Water
- Maintaining water supply and drainage infrastructure
- Managing the discharge of surface water that enters the public drainage system
- Working in partnership with the local authority and emergency services
- Dealing with flood damaged mains and any flooding caused by bursts
- Liaising with SEPA, local authorities and the emergency services during a flood event to alleviate any flooding from public sewers
Scottish Water also have new responsibilities for reducing the risk of flooding from urban drainage and combined sewer flooding that can result from higher than usual rainfall overwhelming these systems. Actions to reduce surface water flooding in urban centres will be delivered in close working partnership with Local Authorities
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Northern Constabulary
- Co-ordinate the actions of all agencies involved during the course of a major flood incident
- Will control the scene at its outer limits by setting up cordon points and setting up a traffic management system in conjunction with the Local Authority
- Responsible for saving lives, co-ordinating evacuation and public information
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Highlands & Islands Fire and Rescue Service
- The Scottish Fire & Rescue services have a duty to save lives in the event of serious flooding. This means rescuing people trapped, or likely to become trapped, by water; and protecting them from serious harm
- "Serious flooding" in this context means flooding that causes or is likely to cause one or more individuals to die, be seriously injured or become seriously ill and which results from–
- (a) natural causes; or
- an escape of water
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Met Office
- Produces weather forecasts which help the UK public make informed decisions about day-today activities
- Warns people of extreme weather to mitigate its impacts
- Provides dedicated forecasting services to SEPA's flood warning team
Transport Scotland
- Gully (gutter and drain covers) maintenance for main roads
- Main road closures
Scottish Flood Forum
- Scottish Government supported organisation offering support and advice on flood protection, insurance, recovery, advice on establishing community flood groups and business continuity planning
- Represents the interests of people affected by, or at risk of, flooding
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Landowners
- Under law are primarily responsible for the maintenance of watercourses and other water bodies including repairs and clearing
- Responsible for private flood defences on their land and maintenance of private drainage systems
Home Owners
- Responsible for protecting their property from flooding
- Responsible for acquiring home contents and buildings insurance
- Responsible for taking action to prepare for flooding
- Responsible for maintaining private drainage, including gullies and drains on shared private access roads / courtyards etc
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