Tackling Flooding Together – event planned to raise “self-help” awareness

Orkney Islands Council is hosting a flood resilience community engagement event this month (September) with a visit from the Scottish Flood Forum (SFF).

There are 680 residential and 460 non-residential properties deemed to be at risk of flooding in Orkney according to the 2015 Flood Risk Strategy for the islands. Over 90% of identified risk is from the sea with the remainder from surface water and overtopping watercourses.

The SFF is the only dedicated charity in Scotland that supports flood risk communities. Their aim is to reduce the impacts of flooding on individuals and communities, through providing immediate support and by establishing a network of community resilience groups in flood risk areas to equip communities to cope with the impacts and threat of flooding. The SFF is supported by grant funding from Scottish Government and has been supporting communities who have experienced flooding or are at risk of flooding to build resilience since 2009.

The Forum’s Community Resilience Manager, Paul Laidlaw, will visit several flood affected communities and hold drop-in sessions on Orkney Mainland from 20-23 September using the SFF resilience vehicle “Flo” as a mobile base, complete with displays and sample home flood protection equipment.

As it will not be possible to go to any non-linked Isles during the visit, two digital drop-in sessions will be held on Tuesday 21 September from 4pm-5pm and 6pm to 7pm to allow householders, businesses and communities from anywhere in Orkney to benefit from the SFF expertise. These will be run via Microsoft Teams/Eventbrite and will take the format of an introduction / presentation and question and answer session. Spaces can be booked at: 

• 4-5pm - www.orkney.gov.uk/SFF4
• 6-7pm - www.orkney.gov.uk/SFF6 

Mr Laidlaw will also attend an OIC Members’ seminar at which Elected Members and Officers will hear how the SFF can assist OIC in fulfilling its duties as flooding authority.

Flooding is a real and present danger with 47 per cent of all weather-related disasters across the planet due to flooding alone.  With climate change, the risk of flooding is predicted to increase throughout Scotland over the coming decades.

Mr Laidlaw said: “Everyone has a role to play in managing flood risk including Government, Councils, SEPA, Scottish Water and other key authorities. However, individuals have an important role to play in taking action to insure and protect their properties and we can help people to do that with our independent property flood protection advice.

“Our aim is to reduce the impact of flooding on individuals and communities, through providing immediate support and by establishing a network of community resilience groups in flood risk areas to equip communities to cope with the impacts and threat of flooding.

“We provide advice and information to individuals to help protect their home from flooding or, if the worst has happened, to recover from flooding. We help raise awareness and provide education and training to communities and community groups worried about flood risk and can support and advise on the set up and development of a Community Resilience Group in your area.

“We are looking forward to visiting Orkney to speak to people at our drop-in information centres. We have been working with the council over the past few months to prepare for our visit so we can understand the flood risk and offer a tailored approach for Orkney.

“We will be available to talk to people about our services and deliver property flood protection exhibitions, showing many examples of property flood protection products.”

The Council’s Interim Executive Director of Environmental, Property & IT Services, Hayley Green, said: “The next Local Flood Risk Management Plan for Orkney, to be published in 2022, will include details of increased flood risk from all sources. In addition to existing flood risk, with global climate change predicted to bring increased likelihood of extreme weather events together with higher sea levels around Orkney, the better informed and prepared all agencies and the public are to adapt to the changes to come the more resilient everyone will be.

“Awareness raising in relation to flood risk is an Orkney-wide action from the Local Flood Risk Management Plan to be undertaken OIC as well as Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Water.

“Self-help is a further Orkney-wide action from the Plan – everyone is responsible for protecting themselves and their property from flooding. Property and business owners can take simple steps to reduce damage and disruption to their homes and businesses should a flood happen.

“We hope that an event such as this will help to inform people on simple measures they can take to better protect their properties from flooding – and thereafter from the significant financial and emotional impacts of a flood.”

Chair of the Council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Graham Sinclair, said: “I’m looking forward to hearing from Mr Laidlaw as to how the SFF can assist OIC in fulfilling its duties as flooding authority. As we are all aware, episodes of devastating flooding are becoming more and more widespread across the nation and we want to ensure the public are as informed as they can be to give them an additional tool to help protect themselves.”

A joint consultation with SEPA on the actions proposed for the second Orkney Flood Risk Management Plan is currently live, closing on 31 October. People can comment here:  Find out more about the consultation.

Those who live in flood risk areas are encouraged to head along for support and advice, but anyone can attend.

• Monday 20 September:  Kirkwall drop-in session at the Kirk Green car park 10am – 12 noon
• Tuesday 21 September: Kirkwall drop-in session at the Kirk Green car park 10am to 2pm
• Tuesday 21 September: Online digital sessions. To book a space visit:
  • 4-5pm - www.orkney.gov.uk/SSF4
  • 6-7pm - www.orkney.gov.uk/SSF6 
• Wednesday 22 September: Stromness drop-in session at the Ferry Terminal car park 10am to 5.30pm.
• Thursday 23 September: St Margaret’s Hope drop-in session at Cromarty Square 10am to 5.30pm.

Notes to Editors

The current Orkney Plan (2016 to 2022) can be found on our Local Flood Risk Management page.

Advice on responsibilities, sources of information, preparation and practical measures to mitigate the effects of flooding can be found on our Flooding Information page.

Find out more on the Scottish Flood Forum website.