Defra is the lead government department for flood emergencies in England. This means Defra ministers have overall responsibility for national level flood emergency planning and for ensuring co-ordinated policy and other support, as necessary, to local emergency responders. For more on this see the National Flood Emergency Framework and Lead Department Plan.

An important aspect of national preparedness for flooding emergencies is our national capability for flood rescue. A Flood Rescue Concept of Operations sets out the framework for national co-ordination of flood rescue in England, involving other government departments, the blue-light services, and other rescue agencies.

To test our preparedness for flooding emergencies, the Environment Agency, Defra and other partners do a national and local level exercises. In March 2011, Exercise Watermark tested all aspects of severe wide area flooding across England and Wales, making it one of the biggest emergency exercises to take place at national level. Plans for the exercise were announced on 30 September 2010.

• National Flood Emergency Framework (PDF 2.8 MB)
• Flood Rescue Concept of Operations (updated: 31 October 2011)

Lead Department Plan for flooding emergencies

There are a range of partners involved in planning for, and dealing with, flooding events at the national and local levels. The responsibilities of Defra and others are set out in our

• Lead Department Plan (PDF 470 KB).

The Plan takes account of lessons identified following the Summer 2007 floods, the November 2007 East Coast Tidal Surge and the Cumbria flooding in 2009, as well as issues raised in the Pitt report.

Locally, the planning role falls to Local Resilience Fora, which include local authorities, the Environment Agency and the emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, coastguard). The police will lead the response during an actual emergency.

The Environment Agency’s main operational role is to forecast flooding, issue flood warnings and operate its own flood defence infrastructure (for example barriers and sluices) to mitigate the impacts. The Environment Agency ensures local professional partners are well briefed on the likelihood and implications of flooding. There are also provisions for government coordination when necessary through the arrangements operated by the Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat.

Exercise Watermark

Exercise Watermark formed part of ongoing actions to better prepare for flooding following the wide spread flooding of 2007. The exercise was led by Defra and the Welsh Government and delivered by the Environment Agency.

The aim was to conduct a wide-ranging and publicly engaging exercise that tested the arrangements across England and Wales in response to severe flooding.

In March 2011, government departments, agencies, emergency responders, businesses and communities tested the country’s response to groundwater, surface water, reservoir, river and coastal flooding.

The independent reports  from the Watermark Team were presented to the Defra and Welsh Government ministers on 31 October 2011.

Improving flood awareness and safety at caravan and camping sites

A government-industry working group has now published its high level findings and recommendations.

Reservoir safety

Further information in relation to reservoir flooding can be found on the Environment Agency website.

Flood Rescue National Enhancement Project

In 2009, Defra initiated a national project to improve flood rescue capability across England and Wales so that a comprehensive emergency response could be deployed and coordinated between all flood rescue service providers, including public, private and voluntary organisations.

Flood Rescue Grant Scheme

To compliment the FRCO, and enhance national flood rescue capability, Defra has run a flood rescue grant scheme, inviting bids from all flood rescue response organisations. £2.5m has been allocated to responders, from the FRS to voluntary organisations, to increase the number of specialist flood rescue assets. This overall grant scheme will create over 100 additional Specialist Powered Boat Rescue Teams which will greatly enhance the flood rescue National Asset Register.

The money will help local flood resilience teams’ efforts to raise money to buy everything from boats to training sessions for flood rescue responders. All the equipment bought with the new money will be added to the National Asset Register of emergency resources that others can call upon in the event of a major flood.

At present, there are no plans to further extend this grant scheme.

The National Asset Register

The ‘National Asset Register’ is a ‘live’ document that records known flood rescue resources that could be called upon to support local resources in responding to major or wide area flood events. The National Asset Register contains contact details of competent flood rescue teams from both statutory agencies and the voluntary sector. It is maintained by the Fire & Rescue Service National Coordination Centre (FRSNCC) on behalf of Defra.

In a flooding emergency, the Impacted Authority should request assistance via the FRSNCC in West Yorkshire. For validation purposes, the call to the FRSNCC must be made by a Fire Control Room.

The standards of the teams on the National Asset Register can be found in the Flood Rescue Concept of Operations.

If you have any queries, including on the National Asset Register, and how you can become a part of it, please contact flood.rescue@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

Flood and Water Management Act 2010

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 amends the Reservoirs Act 1975.  It introduces new arrangements for reservoir safety based on risk rather than the size of the reservoir.

• Flood and Water Management Act 2010

Reservoir Flood mapping: on-site and off-site reservoir flood plans

Undertakers of the highest consequence reservoirs are requested to prepare an on-site plan to support off-site emergency planning.

Flood (Inundation) maps of every reservoir under the Reservoirs Act 1975 in England and Wales have been made available to Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) and to reservoir undertakers to assist them in the preparation of off-site and on-site emergency plans.  Templates and guidance for off-site emergency plans are on the Cabinet Office website.

On-site emergency plans: prepared by reservoir owners

Templates and guidance for on-site emergency plans:

• Draft Guidance on Reservoir Emergencies (PDF 240 KB) – On-site Plan for Reservoir Dam Incidents
• Draft Guidance on Reservoir Emergencies (PDF 360 KB) – preparation guide
• Appendix A (PDF 60 KB) Word version (110 KB) – template for On-site Plan
• Appendix B (PDF 620 KB) – sample On-site Plan, single reservoir
• Appendix C (PDF 320 KB) – sample On-site Plan, owner of large number of reservoirs