Progress Report on Extreme Event Pluvial Flooding 24th October 2011 Report No. 338/2011 to the November Dublin City Council meeting gave an interim report on the extreme pluvial flooding event which affected the East Coast of Ireland and Dublin City on 24th October 2011. This report and accompanying presentation was considered by the Council at the Monthly Meeting held on 7th November 2011 (Report 338/2011 is appended as Appendix 1 of this report). It was agreed that Emergency Motions 1, 2, 3 (Amended), 8 and Motion 64 from the North Central Area Committee be referred to the Environment and Engineering Strategic Policy Committee for further consideration at a meeting of the SPC scheduled for 15th December 2011. This report is intended to : • Brief the SPC on progress since Meeting of City Council on 7th November 2011. • Brief SPC on meetings with OPW in relation to Capital Funding for Flood Relief Schemes • Address motions referred by Council to SPC. Introduction. This report is to be read as a follow up report to the report No. 338/2011 made to the City Council Meeting on 7th November 2011 covering Dublin Flood Risk and interim report on extreme pluvial flooding event affecting the East Coast and Dublin City on 24th October 2011. The cause of the flooding on 23rd and 24th November was extreme pluvial rainfall which exceeded the capacity of the Drainage system and in turn gave rise to fluvial flooding, which was particularly evident in the River Dodder and in the smaller Dublin Rivers especially in the Camac, Poddle, Wad, Bradog, Zoo Stream. River Catchments do not align with political boundaries and most Dublin Rivers originate in other Local Authority Areas. For this reason flood risk reduction schemes require generally full catchment studies before significant capital works can be constructed. Any significant Capital works must have full regard to EU procurement (Consultants and Contractors), Statutory and Legal Requirements, National Regulations and Environmental compliance as well as meeting National funding requirements. Existing Local Authority staff resources are also significant (see reference in report 338/2011) and additional staff will retire before end February 2012 which will impact on Capital works programmes. All schemes must comply with Environmental Legislation and a full EIA is required for many requiring submission to An Bord Pleanala. For this reason the following timescales are referred to in the report: • Short Term works – Works likely to be constructed in 0- 3 years (Subject to funding) • Medium Term works – Works likely to be constructed in 3-7 years (Subject to Funding). • Long Term works – Works likely to be constructed in 5-11 years (Subject to funding). Progress and activity since 24th October 2011. Strategic issues. 1. Dublin Flood Initiative – Flood Resilient City Project As outlined to Dublin City Council an EU funded Project Flood Resilient Cities is addressing how to adapt to extreme events. Dublin City Council as part of this project is examining the best strategy to protect against the threat of Pluvial flooding. This is the risk of flooding due to extreme event rainfall of an intensity which exceeds the capacity of the drainage system and in many cases results in overland flows of rainwater with consequent risk of flooding. The Dublin City study is due for completion in mid 2012 and will report on : • Areas at particular risk of Pluvial Flooding • Code of practice for new development to mitigate this risk • Code of practice for making existing development more flood resilient. In advance of completion of this study an interim report was commissioned and this interim report and accompanying presentation will brief the SPC in advance of completion of the study in 2012. It is expected that this interim Report will issue in January 2012. In this regard a model has been developed in Scotland by the Scottish Flood Forum that has enabled over 200 Community Flood Groups to plan and prepare for flood events. Recently the Flood Resilient City Office (FRCO) in conjunction with the Central Area Office invited the Scottish Flood Forum to meet with residents in the East Wall area with a view to establishing a Community Resilience Group to deal with floods. This type of model provides individuals and communities with an effective and efficient means of protecting properties from floods by: • Establishing local area flood watch systems • Establishing awareness of factors contributing to flood risks. • Developing local community flood action • Minimizing the danger of flooding within the local area. • Assisting at times of flooding and supporting people who have experienced flooding to ensure effective support is available to assist recovery. • Meeting regularly to ensure that flood preventive methods are being maintained and monitored. • Monitoring and reporting to the City Council those areas which are at risk of flooding through lack of maintenance or repair. • Raising the awareness of personal and collective actions to limit the occurrences of flooding. • Engaging with the City Council and other organisations to reduce the risk of flooding. • Developing a local community flood awareness training programme • Promoting flood protection equipment and materials to prevent further flooding to property • Arranging free surveys of properties and giving specific advice on the most appropriate means of flood protection. • Providing advice on the type of protection and suitability of products that will minimize the risk of flooding to properties. • Making recommendations on minor repairs to properties that may prevent entry of water. • Facilitating substantial reductions in the cost of flood defence products such as flood gates through bulk buying. The City Council will explore the possibility of establishing Flood Resilience Groups in the recently flooded areas as the most appropriate means of facilitating the protection of homes and businesses from flood events. 2. Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Studies (CFRAMS) The SPC has received briefings on works currently underway as part of the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Studies (CFRAMS). These studies are a key component of Ireland’s response to the EU Floods Directive. The studies will: • Identify areas at risk of flooding • Propose strategies and works (where possible) to mitigate this risk. • Identify flood capital projects • Progress these to construction ( Including meeting all relevant Statutory, legal and procurement requirements). To date the flood protection scheme on the River Tolka has been completed and there were no flooding issues associated with the River Tolka on 24th October despite it having the fifth highest recorded flow on record. The River Dodder CFRAM Study is at an advanced stage and will report in 2012 on flood risk and proposed schemes to address risks where possible. Following a meeting held with OPW to consider the flooding on 24th October the OPW are prepared as part of the River Liffey CFRAMS, which is at an early stage and due to report in December 2015 (earliest), to bring forward a study of the Camac River and the Poddle River in order to identify potential improvement schemes. Both these rivers experienced significant flooding and both involve works in more than one Local Authority. Officials are working to see what needs to be examined as part of studies on both rivers and a further report will issue in the new year. The OPW have responsibility for co-ordinating flood works by central Government Agencies and have agreed to discuss with Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) how to address schemes which may not fall under OPW remit but which might be eligible for funding under DECLG Water Services Investment Programme (WSIP). This particularly refers to flooding associated with underground “rivers” many of which are fully culverted. In particular flooding associated with River Swan, River Bradog, River Naniken and the Clontarf drainage area have been referred to OPW to determine eligibility for capital funding from the appropriate Government Department. 3. Support from Department of Social Protection A high level Inter Departmental and Inter Agency Working Group has been set up to review the October flood event. Dublin City Council has provided that Committee with full details of all known flooding locations. This information was provided to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) Community Welfare Officers (CWO’s) in order that those affected might have direct access to support and funding provided by the State. Dublin City Area offices have also ensured that the Community welfare Officers are made aware of requests for assistance. Please note that eligibility criteria are attached to this scheme for assistance. 4. Major Emergency Plan The flooding on 23/24 October affected the East Region and included Wicklow, South Dublin County, Dublin City and Monaghan in particular. Dun Laoghaire, Kildare and Fingal were less severely impacted. In accordance with National Framework for Emergency Management HSE, Garda Síochana and Local Authorities worked together in accordance with the Plan and in the case of South Dublin and Dublin City the formal declaration of a major Emergency was made. However, the three Principal Response Agencies were working together before, during and after this declaration. The Major Emergency Plan is published on the City Council website and addresses the strategic response of the three Principal Response Agencies only. Operational responses are in accordance with the operational plans of Principal Emergency services. Meetings have taken place with Garda and HSE to review at Strategic level the Major Emergency Plan response. In addition an intra Departmental workshop is taking place on 13th December to review operational level responses to pluvial flood risk. Both of these are intended to identify actions for the City and Local Communities and will be reported to future meeting of SPC. 5. Advance forecasting of Pluvial Flooding by MET EIREANN Ireland has a National Weather Forecasting service provided by MET Eireann.