Flooding

Flood risk in the Highlands is managed through a partnership of national and local organisations, each with specific responsibilities under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. Here is how they work together:

Scottish Government

• sets national policy on flood risk management and flood warning
• develops Scottish Planning Policy
• provides resources to help authorities address flood risk

SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)

• operates Floodline, Scotland’s flood warning service
• advises local authorities on flood risk and planning
• coordinates flood risk management policy and activities across Scotland

The Highland Council

• mapping water bodies and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)
• assessing flood risk conditions in water bodies
• maintaining watercourses and flood alleviation schemes
• clearing watercourses where it significantly reduces flood risk
• maintaining road gullies (important for preventing localised flooding)
• planning and development management (with flood risk advice from SEPA)
• working with the emergency services during severe flooding
• coordinating reception centres and temporary accommodation for evacuees
• coordinating the aftermath of a flood
• managing road closures on council-maintained roads
• preparing local Flood Risk Management Plans (from 2012)

Scottish Water

• maintaining water supply and drainage infrastructure
• managing surface water discharge into public drainage systems
• working with local authorities and emergency services during flood events
• responding to flood-damaged mains and burst-related flooding
• reducing urban drainage and sewer flooding risks through partnership with councils

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.

Police Scotland

• coordinates agency actions during major flood incidents
• manages traffic and cordon points in affected areas
• leads evacuation efforts and public safety communications

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

The Scottish Fire and Rescue service has a duty to save lives in the event of serious flooding. '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 natural causes or an escape of water

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

• maintains gullies on main roads
• manages closures of trunk roads during flood events

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

Landowners

• legally responsible for maintaining watercourses and private flood defences
• must maintain private drainage systems on their land

Homeowners

You are responsible for:

• protecting your property from flooding
• securing appropriate home insurance
• preparing for potential flood events
• maintaining private drainage systems, including gullies on shared access roads