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Category: Weather

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Magaziner, Natural Resources Committee Members Discuss Trump-Musk Attacks on NOAA with Expert Panelists at Issues Forum

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    April 03, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) and U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Members hosted an issues forum titled “Attacks on NOAA Threaten American Communities and Economies.” During this forum, the Members examined the dangerous consequences of the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign to dismantle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Members and panelists warned that Trump and Musk’s attacks are calculated moves to silence scientists, privatize public services, and reward tax breaks to billionaires at the expense of the American people.

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    “From farmers and first responders to entire coastal communities, NOAA is integral to protecting Americans’ safety and keeping our economy running,” said Ranking Member Huffman. “Today’s forum made one thing clear: the Trump administration’s reckless policies are not attacks on NOAA, but also attacks on public safety, good-paying jobs, and the scientific knowledge our communities depend on. By firing experts, slashing critical funding, and privatizing weather data, the administration is putting American lives at risk with the sole purpose of rewarding billionaires. Dismantling NOAA doesn’t just hurt public servants—it hurts everyone.”

    “Fishing is part of who we are in Rhode Island—and data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on weather, fish stocks, and more plays a critical role in protecting lives and livelihoods in the Ocean State,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “I was proud to bring voices together and host today’s forum with House Natural Resources Committee Democrats to elevate local challenges and shine a light on the reckless cuts to NOAA by Trump and Musk that hurt the Ocean State and its coastal economy.”

    “Whether we call it climate change, sea level rise, or nuisance flooding, it is happening, and it is happening at an increased level, including in Maryland’s Third District. Our state is incredibly vulnerable to the impacts of unpredictable weather, which is why I want to thank NOAA staff for your service. House Democrats understand what you deliver for the American people every single day, and I apologize that you are not receiving the respect that you deserve,” said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. 

    “In my district, extreme weather is already endangering critical infrastructure, including at Naval Base Ventura County and the Port of Hueneme, which are vital to both our security and local economy,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “Cuts to NOAA harm military readiness and weaken our community’s ability to respond to the growing dangers of climate change. NOAA’s forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster response are essential to our resilience. By dismantling this agency, the Trump Administration is weakening disaster preparedness and putting communities across the country at greater risk of more destruction from frequent and severe natural disasters.”

    “Gutting NOAA will cost lives and livelihoods. For coastal states like Oregon, NOAA is a lifeline that keeps our economy resilient and our communities safe from climate-fueled disasters,” said Rep. Maxine Dexter.  “Thank you, Ranking Member Huffman, for spotlighting Elon Musk’s dangerous cuts and standing with us to protect science, safety, and coastal communities.” 

    “What this administration does not seem to understand is that science is how we understand the foundation of this world, how we prepare our constituents for weather events, our farmers for their work, and our communities to respond to a rapidly changing climate,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury. “Cuts to this service will have severe consequences nationally and in my home state because we use the data from NOAA for everything. These mass firings will leave nothing behind but a mess that has undermined our ability to predict the weather with life or death consequences on the ground.”

    “The cuts to NOAA’s funding and workforce are thoughtless and jeopardize the safety of countless Oregonians,” said Rep. Val Hoyle. “NOAA’s ocean mapping and weather forecasting helps our commercial fisherman safely navigate dangerous ocean waters as they harvest fish that feed our country, and it also helps our wildland firefighters with advanced warnings on dangerous weather conditions. These forecasts help our communities and can be the difference between life and death. There is no reason to gut this agency which provides critical information that is integral to protecting every community in my district and across this country.”

    You can view a photo gallery here.

    ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

    NOAA plays a vital role in protecting lives and supporting livelihoods across the United States. Its forecasts and data support industries from agriculture to tourism, while providing life-saving alerts and environmental monitoring that keep communities safe. Every day, Americans rely on NOAA to help navigate floods, fires, hurricanes, and other climate-fueled disasters.

    Despite its critical mission, NOAA has become a primary target of the Trump administration and Musk’s DOGE. Since January, NOAA has faced an unprecedented wave of political interference: censorship of climate research, purging of expert staff, the shutdown of oversight committees, and forced layoffs impacting more than 800 employees. DOGE operatives have unlawfully accessed NOAA systems, including internal communications and grants databases, raising serious questions about data integrity and whistleblower retaliation.

    These actions have already disrupted NOAA’s core functions. Weather balloon launches have been reduced, community resilience programs scaled back or shuttered, and offices around the country remain closed. Meanwhile, extremist proposals to dismantle or privatize NOAA will put essential weather alerts and environmental data behind paywalls, endangering farmers, first responders, and coastal economies. House Democrats are committed to exposing this dangerous agenda and defending the public services that keep Americans safe and our economy strong.

    PANELIST QUOTES

    “We have no idea how NOAA will keep functioning with these budget cuts. We have no idea how much expertise and knowledge has been lost in these firings. We have no idea what else the Trump administration will do to destroy NOAA. And we have no idea who else is slated to be let go,” said Marce Gutiérrez-Graudinš, Founder and Executive Director, Azul. “To name just a few examples, Digital Coast helped Florida use high-level surface mapping to improve their flood vulnerability assessments. It helped Southern California collaborate on innovation projects for their renewable economy. It helped Northern Mariana Islands better prepare for tsunamis. It helped improve storm surge modeling for Caribbean disaster preparedness programs. It helped inform watershed management in Florida. It helped promote ecotourism in Virginia through watershed conservation. It helped analyze urban growth and flood risk in North Carolina. It helped lower flood insurance premiums in South Carolina. The list could go on and on. NOAA’s tools have helped every one of these communities and so many more. So what will happen when there’s no longer the budget for these tools, for the scientists, and the data experts who know how to use them? The unfortunate result is that communities will suffer across the U.S.”

    “In my last job in the Navy, I was the oceanographer and navigator of the Navy. Just as importantly, I was the Navy deputy to NOAA. That’s how important the Navy sees this relationship between our Navy and NOAA, in that they assign an admiral to be a deputy to the director of NOAA,” said RADM Jon White, USN (Ret.). “Without the NOAA information, without leading the world in this, then our national security and the safety of our men and women in uniform is at risk. […] And it worries me a lot because I just know that there are men and women in uniform out there who rely on this information. There are parents and husbands and wives who rely on having the best information possible to keep their loved ones safe and to make sure that we maintain our national security and that home and away game advantage for years to come.” 

    “Agency staff at every level have been demoralized and marginalized. When coupled with cuts to grants and fellowships and increased job insecurity, we are at a serious risk of alienating the next generation of scientists, policymakers, and leaders who would help the United States weather future storms,” said Elizabeth L. Lewis, Senior Associate Attorney, Eubanks & Associates. “NOAA simply cannot carry out its critical functions on limited staff, shrinking budgets, and aging equipment. Therefore, there is no doubt that if the Administration’s vision for NOAA becomes reality, American businesses will suffer, and even more tragically, lives will be lost.”

    “In the two months since [January 20], the administration has abdicated its citizen-granted authorities to Elon Musk, the wealthiest man on the planet, and this unelected, unaccountable billionaire has torn through agency after agency, destroying a public service infrastructure that took decades to build. And it’s clear that everyday Americans are not this administration’s priority,” said Sarah Schumann, Fisherman, and Owner/Principal Consultant, Shining Sea Fisheries Consulting, LLC. “All of the ambitious and visionary things that fishermen desperately need, the faster, more collaborative data collection and decision-making, the greater attention to the multitude of stressors affecting fishery habitats, the supports for young people to enter and thrive in fishing careers, will be vastly more difficult to achieve with a diminished and distressed NOAA workforce.”

    “I worked for The Weather Company, and there is no weather forecast that’s produced in this country that isn’t dependent on NOAA,” said Mary Glackin, retired NOAA official, American Meteorological Society. “In [Florida], we have 5.3 million acres of submerged lands that are managed through NOAA programs, and this is a combination of the Estuarine Research Reserves, the Coral Reef Conservation Project, the sanctuary that’s there, and coastal zone management. And why is this important to us? These areas safeguard water quality, buffer against storms and flooding, and provide critical habitat for fisheries and wildlife. They drive tourism and recreation, one of the prime economic drivers in Florida. They see over 100 million visitors annually for these world-class recreation activities, and without these programs, we are going to see increased pollution. Make no mistake about that. This could not be a worse time of year. We have the severe weather coming across. We haven’t seen our first hurricane yet, but I guarantee you it’s coming. And right now I fear that the only thing keeping us from real disaster is the heroic efforts of NOAA staff.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MYANMAR – Cardinal Bo: “The Pope’s prayer is a balm of consolation for us”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Yangon (Agenzia Fides) – “The earthquake has increased the tears and wounds of our people. Thousands of people have no food. Thousands have no drinking water. Fear has forced them to sleep in the streets, exposed to the scorching sun during the day and relentless heat at night. The people are in a state of physical and psychological prostration,” Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar and Archbishop of Yangon, told Fides, as people in the Southeast Asian country continue to suffer the consequences of the terrible earthquake that struck the center and north of the country on March 28.”There is an urgent need for food, water, shelter, and medicine for the thousands of injured,” he reported. And there are also moral and spiritual needs: “People who are suffering need the warmth of others who share their pain and tears and care for them. We are in a traumatized and wounded nation that does not want to give in to despair and is trying to react,” the Cardinal said.”The central part of Myanmar,” Cardinal Bo continued, “is completely devastated. Nearly 20% of our population is on the streets, still frightened and traumatized by what geologists call the largest earthquake of the century. More than 3,000 people have already lost their lives, and the death toll continues to rise. Many more are trapped under the rubble, and bodies continue to be recovered. It is terrible; the tears flow incessantly.”The Burmese Catholic community has approximately 700,000 members in a country with a total population of 51 million and a Buddhist majority. Catholics, along with the rest of the population, mourn the hundreds of families affected, while churches, institutes, seminaries, and pastoral structures have collapsed or been damaged: “Many churches and religious buildings have been destroyed, especially in the Diocese of Mandalay,” Cardinal Bo notes. “Many buildings have already been devastated by the war and must be demolished and rebuilt. But the greatest challenge, even more than the construction of new brick buildings, is to rebuild the Christian community with the ‘living stones’ of the People of God. This will require a long journey and patient work, with the help of the Holy Spirit, who creates the Church.” In this situation, Cardinal Bo acknowledges the work of “priests, religious, and catechists who have borne the burden of various forms of violence over the past four years”: “Many of them,” Cardinal Bo continued, “have been displaced. We have four displaced bishops (in the dioceses of Banmaw, Loikaw, Pekhon, and Lashio) who had to leave their cathedrals or episcopal sees because of the conflict. We are a Church in exodus, facing enormous challenges with courage and trust in God. I am happy to say that the priests, the consecrated men and women, and the pastoral workers are faithful companions of our people in a time of great trials. They are dedicated to serving their neighbors and are dispensers of mercy and hope.” Myanmar’s main hope today is for an end to the bloody violence: “We were the first to call for a ceasefire, which is now all the more urgent to facilitate humanitarian aid,” the Cardinal recalled. “So far, this call has gone unheeded. Now is the time to silence the guns, provide food and medical supplies, and treat the injured. I would like to recall that the country embarked on the path to democracy after Cyclone Nargis in 2008. And this time, too, the earthquake will pave the way, showing everyone that peace is our common destiny, that it is the only path we must pursue with all our hearts and with all our strength, in the interest of all.” In this effort, the people feel the support of Pope Francis: “After his visit to Myanmar in 2017,” said the Archbishop of Yangon, “Pope Francis seems to have fallen in love with our people. He has always followed the crisis in Myanmar and prayed for our country on several occasions. In a very touching gesture, after his recent illness, his first thought was of Myanmar, conveying his best wishes and prayers, which is a balm of consolation for us.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 4/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Myanmar military’s ‘ceasefire’ follows a pattern of ruling generals exploiting disasters to shore up control

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Tharaphi Than, Associate Professor of World Cultures and Languages, Northern Illinois University

    Myanmar’s military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, called for elections on March 27, 2025 – a day before an earthquake devastated the country. STR/AFP via Getty Images

    After a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. 2025, the country’s military and the myriad resistance groups fighting a yearslong civil war faced international calls for an immediate ceasefire. A pause in the fighting would enable vital aid to enter the major quake zones and allow rescuers to assist victims in a disaster that has already killed more than 3,000 people.

    The first to heed the call was the opposition National Unity Government, which unilaterally announced a two-week pause on attacks by its armed wing, the People’s Defense Force, on March 29. The Three Brotherhood Alliance – a coalition of three ethnic resistance groups: the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army – likewise agreed to a temporary truce.

    But Myanmar’s military demurred. Just hours after the quake, as rescuers continued to dig through rubble in search of survivors, the generals ordered airstrikes on enemy positions in Shan state and Karen state in the country’s east – a decision that United Nations special rapporteur Tom Andrews described as “nothing short of incredible.”

    The generals eventually yielded to pressure late on April 2 – some five days after the earthquake hit – announcing that they would halt fighting until April 22. But the statement appeared to be hollow, with reports just a day later that the military’s bombing campaign and ground offensive were continuing unabated in Kachin state in Myanmar’s north.

    Mandalay buildings, like Myanmar’s democracy, lie in ruins.
    STR/AFP via Getty Images

    As an expert on the political history of Myanmar, I believe the behavior of the country’s military is of no surprise. The generals who have had a grip on the country for much of the past six decades have a track record of exploiting disasters for political gain. Weakened by years of entrenched civil war, they are now seeking an opportunity in the earthquake to rehabilitate their image overseas, while consolidating power at home.

    From disasters to elections

    Myanmar’s ruling junta has tried this tactic before. In 2008, a week after the deadly cyclone Nargis killed more than 100,000 people in Myanmar, the military proceeded to hold a constitutional referendum that would guarantee the military’s control of government by reserving 25% of all parliamentary seats for officers while requiring 75% of votes for any future constitutional reform. It also allowed for the military to take over the country “in the event of an emergency.”

    The referendum took place while much of Myanmar was still reeling from disaster, yet the junta announced a 98.12% turnout, of which 92.48% voted in favor of the new pro-military constitution.

    It paved the way to elections in 2010, which the military’s Union Solidarity and Development Party won. Though that vote was boycotted by the opposition National League for Democracy, or NLD, Washington had by then signaled a shift in policy toward “pragmatic engagement” with the then-ruling junta. This U.S. shift forced the recalcitrant NLD to cooperate in subsequent elections, giving legitimacy to a process that was stacked in favor of the generals.

    Using a fig leaf of legitimacy

    The latest disaster comes as the junta is again attempting to push for elections. Just a day before the earthquake, Myanmar’s military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, confirmed plans for a December national vote and called on opposition parties to participate.

    But the proposed election in Myanmar is widely seen as a face-saving strategy for both the Myanmar military and, I would argue, an international community that has done little of any significance to end the civil war. In this context, elections would allow the generals to cover their 2021 power grab with a fig leaf of legitimacy.

    The entrenched civil war that was sparked by that military takeover – a coup that ended a 10-year experiment with limited democracy – derailed the military’s initial plan to return to full control of the country.

    Anti-military soldiers sit in a long-tailed boat on the Salween River.
    Thierry Falise/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Four years of fighting a broad-based opposition that includes ethnic minority groups like the Karen National Union, Kachin Independence Army, Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, People’s Defense Force and Bamar People’s Liberation Army has taken its toll on the military.

    It has lost territorial control in many regions to the myriad resistance groups. Internationally, it has become more isolated through sanctions, and its largest trading partner, China, concerned over instability on its border, has slowed investments as it tries to play all sides of the conflict.

    In desperation, the generals have resorted to forced conscription for foot soldiers, while looking to Russia for arms and investment.

    The failure of the generals

    What the military desperately needs now is a lifeline and a civil war exit plan. The earthquake could provide both, with a ceasefire – no matter how badly observed – providing a cover for allowing for a national vote.

    But as has been evident in the days surrounding the announcement of a truce, the military is likely to exploit the disaster to weaken the resistance along the way. It has said that it will take “necessary” measures against any resistance group found to be regrouping or attacking the state during the ceasefire. Yet it has reportedly continued its own offensive.

    The earthquake has revealed the failures and brutalities of the military in other ways, too. In the aftermath of the disaster, the military shut down private clinics and hospitals in badly hit Mandalay for allegedly employing rebel doctors and nurses who were treating members of the resistance. As it was, many health care workers have been in hiding since the coup, and young people who could have been on the front lines of relief efforts have either joined the resistance groups or fled the country.

    The earthquake will also further hurt a Myanmar business community already suffering from the pullout of international businesses after the 2021 coup.

    On unsecure foundations

    Yet, the military may be hoping that it can use the disaster to rebuild its brand overseas. The surprise announcement of a ceasefire by the generals is part of that process. So, too, is the decision to allow in international rescue teams, after initially blocking relief workers from entering the country. It is the military’s way of showing willingness to cooperate with the wider world.

    In short, disaster diplomacy has kicked in for Myanmar’s military, as it did after 2008’s Cyclone Nagris. That earlier cyclone provided an opportunity for the junta to present a different face to the international community. Elections were held, not once, but twice – encouraged by the U.S. and others – and investments rushed into Myanmar as the country was touted as “Asia’s next Tiger.”

    But the foundations of military-backed reform in Myanmar were built on fault lines that cracked and crumbled amid the 2021 coup. The military’s exploitation of the 2025 earthquake will, I fear, result in similar ends.

    Tharaphi Than does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Myanmar military’s ‘ceasefire’ follows a pattern of ruling generals exploiting disasters to shore up control – https://theconversation.com/myanmar-militarys-ceasefire-follows-a-pattern-of-ruling-generals-exploiting-disasters-to-shore-up-control-253577

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Winter Storms Threaten Millions in the U.S., CPSC Issues Safety Tips to Help Families Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Fires

    Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – As back-to-back winter storms threaten millions across the central Plains, the Midwest, the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic this week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to take steps to protect themselves from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and fires. 
     Loss of Power—Using a Generator Safely
    Consumers need to be especially careful when storms knock out electrical power. CO poisoning from gasoline-powered portable generators can kill in minutes. CO is called the invisible killer because it is colorless, odorless, and deadly. CO poisoning from portable generators can happen so quickly that exposed persons may become unconscious before recognizing the symptoms of nausea, dizziness or weakness. 
    An average of about 100 consumers die in the U.S. each year from CO poisoning from portable generators, according to CPSC’s latest report on Non-Fire Carbon Monoxide Deaths Associated with the Use of Consumer Products. 
    In case of a power outage, follow these important life-saving tips:

    NEVER operate a portable generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed or other enclosed spaces. Opening doors or windows will not provide enough ventilation to prevent the buildup of lethal levels of CO. 
    Operate portable generators outside only, at least 20 feet away from the house. Don’t operate a generator on a porch or in a carport. It may be convenient, but it’s too close to the home and puts your family at risk of CO poisoning. Direct the generator’s exhaust away from your home and other buildings where someone can enter. Close windows and seal off vent openings that are near the generator or in the path of its exhaust.
    Follow portable generator instructions about electrical shock hazards in inclement weather, which may include use of an NFPA-rated non-combustible generator tent or may state to wait until rain passes.
    Regularly check and maintain your portable generator to ensure it will work properly when needed. Read and follow all labels, instructions and warnings on the generator and in the owner’s manual.
    Look for portable generators that have a CO shut-off safety feature. This safety feature automatically shuts off the generator when high levels of CO are present around the generator. Models that are certified to the latest PGMA G300-2018 and UL 2201 safety standards are estimated to reduce deaths from CO poisoning by 86% and 100% respectively.  
    UL 2201 certified models have reduced CO emissions in addition to the CO shut-off feature.

    Check CO and Smoke Alarms

    Working smoke and CO alarms save lives! Install battery-operated CO alarms or CO alarms with battery backup on each level and outside separate sleeping areas at home. Interconnected CO alarms are best; when one sounds, they all sound. 
    Make sure smoke alarms are installed on every level and inside each bedroom at home.  
    Test CO and smoke alarms monthly to make sure they are working properly, and replace batteries, if needed. Never ignore an alarm when it sounds. Get outside immediately. Then call 911.
    Clear snow away from the outside vents for fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces so that dangerous carbon monoxide does not build up in the house.

    Dangers with Portable Heaters 

    Keep all sides of the portable heater at least 3 feet from beds, clothes, curtains, papers, sofas and other items that can catch fire.
    Place the heater on a stable, level surface, located where it will not be knocked over. 
    NEVER leave a portable heater running unattended in a confined space to reduce hyperthermia hazards.
    When using electric portable heaters, ALWAYS use a wall outlet; NEVER a power strip and NEVER run the heater’s cord under rugs or carpeting. 
    Be mindful of children and pets around portable heaters.

    Dangers with Charcoal and Candles

    Never use charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal in an enclosed space can produce lethal levels of carbon monoxide. Do not cook on a charcoal grill in a garage, even with the garage door open.
    Use caution when burning candles. Use flashlights or battery-operated candles instead. If using candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish candles when leaving the room and before sleeping.

    Dangers with Gas Leaks: 

    If you smell or hear gas leaking, leave your home immediately and contact local gas authorities from outside the home. Do not operate any electronics, such as lights or phone, before leaving.

    If Your Home Floods—Dangers with Wet Appliances

    Look for signs that your appliances have gotten wet. Do not touch wet appliances that are still plugged into an electrical source. 
    Before using your appliances, have a professional or your gas or electric company evaluate your home and replace all gas control valves, electrical wiring, circuit breakers, and fuses that have been under water.

    CPSC resources:
    Carbon Monoxide Safety Center
    Carbon Monoxide Safety Center (Spanish) 
    Fire Safety Center
    Fire Safety Center (Spanish)
    Link to broadcast quality video for media: 
    Winter Storm safety b-roll: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/Nf1RH1JDGn
    Tornado Safety b-roll:  https://spaces.hightail.com/space/oy0kSjsyzz
    CPSC spokespeople are available for interviews. Email jechavez@cpsc.gov or call (202) 923-7467 to arrange for an interview.

    About the U.S. CPSCThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products. 
    Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
    For lifesaving information:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Urges Residents to Listen to Local Officials About Flooding Risks as Storms Sweep the South and Midwest

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Urges Residents to Listen to Local Officials About Flooding Risks as Storms Sweep the South and Midwest

    FEMA Urges Residents to Listen to Local Officials About Flooding Risks as Storms Sweep the South and Midwest

    WASHINGTON — Large storms and severe weather systems are moving across the South and Midwest, which are bringing heavy rain and risks of flooding

    FEMA is coordinating with its state, local, tribal and territorial partners to ensure people’s safety is prioritized

     Additionally, President Donald J

    Trump has approved an emergency declaration for Tennessee, providing federal disaster assistance that allows FEMA to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency

    It is critical to listen to local authorities because they are the best source of information as weather impacts change and develop

    There are several ways residents in affected areas can prepare to stay safe during these storms

    How to get information: Do not rely on a single source of weather alert information

    Instead, tune in to multiple information sources and set up your devices to receive warnings and alerts

    Make a habit of checking weather conditions regularly

    This includes TV news, radio, a weather app on your smartphone or an online weather service

    The FEMA App is your personalized disaster resource

    Within the app, you can receive real-time weather and emergency alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the country

    It can also help you find a nearby shelter if you need to evacuate

    It is available on iPhone or Android

     How to stay safe:Evacuate immediately, if told to do so

    When thunderstorms are in the area, stay alert for rapidly changing conditions

    You may notice streams start to rise quickly and become muddy or hear a roaring sound upstream that may be a flood wave moving rapidly toward you

    If you observe these things, head immediately for higher ground

    Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters

    Flash flooding can develop in just minutes

    If a flash flood warning is issued, it means a flash flood is imminent or occurring and you should take action

    If you are in a flood prone area move immediately to high ground

    Get to the highest level if trapped in a building

    Only get on the roof as a last resort and once there, signal for help

    Do not climb into a closed attic, as you could be trapped by rising floodwater

    If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately (unless water is moving quickly) and move to higher ground

    Rapidly rising water can engulf the vehicle and its occupants, sweeping them away

    Many flood deaths occur from cars being swept downstream

    It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks

    Never drive around barricades

    Local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas

    Information on keeping important documents safe:Keeping important documents such as birth certificates, passports, drivers’ licenses and Social Security cards in a safe place is important so they are accessible once disaster recovery starts

    Take time now to safeguard these items to increase your peace of mind

    Think about where to store important documents and valuables

    If you have important items in your basement, you may want to consider moving them to a higher location and putting them in waterproof containers if possible

    Consider storing electronic copies of important documents in a password-protected format on a removable flash or external hard drive

     To learn more about flood safety and preparedness, visit Ready

    gov/floods or Listo

    gov in Spanish language

     
    joy

    li
    Thu, 04/03/2025 – 20:19

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: At FEMA’s request, California deploys firefighters to Kentucky ahead of severe storms

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 3, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Ahead of a series of severe storms set to impact Kentucky, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the deployment of California firefighters to assist in staffing a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Support Team, following FEMA’s request for support.

    Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency due to severe storms forecasted to generate heavy rain and damaging winds that can potentially lead to tornadoes, hail, and flooding.

    In close coordination with FEMA, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is deploying four specially-trained firefighters from California’s Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Force Incident Support Team. The deployment has no impact on California’s emergency response and firefighting capabilities.

    “California understands the threat extreme weather poses and stands with Kentucky ahead of the storms set to impact their state. These deployed resources will provide additional support to first responders across Kentucky to prepare and respond to storms.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The Incident Support Team provides a group of highly qualified specialists to support local first responders with technical assistance, management and coordination of US&R resources.

    “As Kentucky prepares for a series of dangerous storms, we’re proud to send California-based firefighters with expertise in responding to this type of weather,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward. “Their experience will help bolster response efforts.”

    The specialized team members deployed to Kentucky come from California US&R Task Forces 4, 5 and 8 from Oakland, Orange County and San Diego.

    This deployment builds on California’s continued efforts to aid other state during emergencies. In February, California deployed resources to Kentucky in response to extreme flooding. Last year, Governor Newsom deployed a similar Incident Support Team to Florida to bolster response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Apr 3, 2025

    News What you need to know: The Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force released a list of 25 key deliverables to build on the state’s ongoing efforts to protect Californians from increasing threats posed by catastrophic wildfire and a changing climate….

    Apr 3, 2025

    News What you need to know: Since March 2024, Governor Newsom’s joint Bay Area operation efforts have yielded 3,217 stolen vehicles recovered, 1,823 suspects arrested, and 170 illicit firearms seized. Sacramento, California – Continuing to provide collaborative public…

    Apr 2, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bill:SB 26 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Civil actions: restitution for or replacement of a new motor vehicle. A signing message can be found here.For full text of the…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plans to enhance electric vehicle charging network unveiled

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    Perth and Kinross and Angus Councils have received an EV Infrastructure Fund Grant Award of £1.925 million for the upgrades.

    This will see an expansion of the current network at local authority sites and ensure motorists without access to off-street parking, in urban and rural areas, have access to nearby charging hubs, either in car parks or on-street.

    Perth and Kinross Council will act as the Lead Authority throughout the procurement process and the delivery of the project.

    The contract, spanning 15-20 years, will involve the supply, installation, and maintenance of existing and new EV chargers across both council areas.

    A dedicated back office team will manage the network, including tariff collection, usage data, payments, and maintenance.

    The project has secured a total of £2.205 million in funding, including £280,000 for EV strategies and procurement, and an EV Infrastructure Fund Grant Award of £1.925 million. The expected project delivery is set to begin in Autumn 2025 with contracts going out to tender this summer.

    Councillor Eric Drysdale, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee said: “Making sure we have a reliable and easily accessible charging network is incredibly important as more people choose electric vehicles.

    “This valuable funding will allow us to improve the network across Perth and Kinross and Angus, particularly for those living in more rural areas.”

    Councillor Richard Watters, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, added: “More people are choosing electric or hybrid vehicles and it is vital we have a charging network that can cope with this growing demand.

    “I am delighted to see this project progressing and our transport network becoming greener.”

    Councillor Mark McDonald, Communities Convener for Angus Council said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Angus and Perth & Kinross as we improve our EV infrastructure, building on the Clean Growth and Low Carbon development and innovation work we are delivering across Angus.

    “I’m excited to see the benefits this funding will bring, especially for those living, working, and visiting our rural areas, as we deliver an accessible EV charging network.”

    Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m pleased to confirm funding of over £1.9 million from the Scottish Government to support electric vehicle charging across Angus, Perth and Kinross.

    “Transport remains the largest source of carbon emissions and EVs enable drivers to take climate action and help protect our environment.

    “This significant investment from our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund will ensure that people and communities can benefit from this switch to EVs, so that no one and no part of the country is left behind – including those living in, working or visiting Angus, Perth and Kinross.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Global experts meet in Sendai, Japan, to bridge knowledge and technology gaps in disaster risk reduction

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Experts from around the world met in Sendai, Japan, on 8 March 2025 to explore how emerging and disruptive technologies can reshape disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience-building, particularly in the Global South. 

    The ‘Leveraging Emerging and Disruptive Technologies for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Bridging Science, Technology, Academia, and Private Sector Nexus’ workshop, on the sidelines of the World Bosai Forum, brought together national and local governments, academia, the private sector, and financial institutions to overcome barriers and identify opportunities in integrating innovations such as AI, satellite systems, IoT, blockchain, and advanced analytics into DRR strategies. 

    The workshop emerged from to the Sendai Framework’s midterm review, which called on the DRR community to address persistent gaps in applying scientific and technological advances in disaster resilience efforts. 

    As disasters grow more complex, there’s a pressing need to ensure that countries, especially those most vulnerable, can access and use emerging technologies effectively, Sujit Mohanty, Chief of Intergovernmental, Interagency Cooperation and Partnerships at UNDRR, remarked during his opening remarks. 

    Mr Mohanty emphasised that while new tools are being rapidly developed, countries face challenges related to affordability, infrastructure, expertise, and cross-sector collaboration. Overreliance on untested technologies, he warned, may introduce new risks if not managed with care. 

    Real-world barriers and solutions 

    A highlight of the event was the roundtable discussion featuring speakers from Bangladesh, the Philippines, Mexico City, Sendai City, Japan’s private sector and academia. 

    Bangladesh’s representative, Mr Mohammad Nazmul Abedin, noted how the country has drastically reduced disaster-related deaths—from over 100,000 in 1991 to near zero in 2024—yet struggles to scale satellite-based flood monitoring and data-sharing mechanisms. He said the Bangladesh needs a national technology policy that integrates AI and blockchain, along with more investment and public-private partnerships. 

    Echoing similar constraints, Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV of the Philippines outlined his country’s efforts, such as the GeoRisk platform and IoT-enabled early warning systems. Technology is part of the solution, but it must be paired with good governance, inclusive policies and international collaboration, he noted. 

    Sendai City showcased successful collaboration through initiatives like BOSAI-TECH—a public-private-academic platform fostering DRR innovation and technology commercialisation. Ms. Satoko Shibuya, Director at Sendai’s Disaster-Resilient and Environmentally Friendly City Promotion Office, explained that local partnerships have yielded practical tools like evacuation guidance drones and voice-enhanced disaster alerts. 

    Financing innovation and building trust 

    Speakers representing private sector participants discussed the financial and regulatory environments needed to bring DRR technologies to scale. Mr. Yoshiki Hiruma of the Development Bank of Japan shared insights into DRR-linked financing that rewards clients with reduced loan rates for resilience-building initiatives. He noted that risk financing must embrace a challenge mindset to support DRR innovation. 

    Mr. Shoichi Tateno, of Weathernews Inc., stressed the importance of mutual understanding and trust between governments and private weather service providers – particularly in countries where state meteorological services dominate the sector. He offered the inclusive platform approach of Japan’s Meteorological Service Act as a model of such trust. 

    Academia can offer reliable innovation and policy integration 

    Participants from academia stressed the need for adaptive governance and robust dialogue.  

    Professor Rajib Shaw of Keio University called for more systematic evaluation of successful DRR tech collaborations and piloting through initiatives like the upcoming Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) DRR Innovation Hub. He pointed out that governments and technology developers operate at different speeds, and that it requires structure, trust, and experimentation in order to bridge that divide. 

    Professor Kimio Takeya of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Tohoku University said that while proven technologies remain essential for national governments, they must be extended with emerging tools that offer new ways to improve operations. He cited JICA’s Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) programme – which funds international research on disaster risk reduction – as a model for innovation grounded in collaboration. 

    A global partnership and a dedicated knowledge resource 

    In closing, Mr Mohanty said that UNDRR will facilitate Global Partnership on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies for Disaster Resilience which will foster long-term collaboration and ensure that the next wave of DRR innovation is inclusive, actionable, and globally accessible. 

    He remarked that the workshop had spotlighted the urgent need for a dedicated knowledge resource – one that captures good practices and deepens understanding of how emerging technologies are shaping the current DRR landscape.  

    Such a tool could bridge persistent gaps and drive more effective, widespread integration of innovation into disaster risk reduction efforts. 

    Read the full summary report on the workshop

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NITI Aayog Hosts National Workshop on ‘Mainstreaming Climate Adaptation into Local Development Planning’

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 11:01AM by PIB Delhi

    NITI Aayog convened a National Workshop on ‘Mainstreaming Climate Adaptation into Local Development Planning,’ bringing together policymakers, climate experts, civil society organizations, and development practitioners to explore effective strategies for integrating climate resilience into Panchayat Development Plans.

    The workshop emphasized the need for equipping Gram Panchayats with tools, knowledge, and resources to effectively address climate challenges. It was emphasised that climate adaptation must be woven into all aspects of sectoral planning at the Panchayat level, rather than being treated as a standalone effort. It was underscored that climate modelling must be coupled with community-level knowledge to develop locally relevant adaptation strategies.

    A major focus was on institutionalizing climate resilience within Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and embedding climate-responsive planning into local development frameworks. Discussions highlighted the growing frequency of extreme weather events and their impacts on rural livelihoods, agriculture, and water security, reinforcing the need for disaggregated Gram Panchayat-level data for precise planning and informed decision-making.

    The workshop emphasized the need to encourage Panchayats to integrate climate-smart approaches into their development planning by strengthening their capacity. Various tools and frameworks were presented to build Panchayat capacity for long-term adaptive planning. Participants called for leveraging existing schemes and programmes to enhance climate resilience at the grassroots level.

    Showcasing best practices from different states and Panchayats, the discussions highlighted the value of peer learning and knowledge-sharing in scaling up climate action. The shift from climate adaptation to proactive local climate action was a key takeaway, emphasizing the role of Panchayats in climate risk-informed development and disaster preparedness.

    The workshop concluded with a call for multi-stakeholder collaboration, to foster climate-resilient rural livelihoods. Strengthening institutional capacity and encouraging innovation in Panchayat-led climate action were identified as key enablers. Integrating climate adaptation into local governance can help India foster a more sustainable and resilient rural development model.

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: EIB and Aragón regional government sign €234 million loan financing projects to back the green and digital transition, small businesses, innovation, jobs and rural development

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The Aragón regional government will use this loan to co-finance investments under European regional development funds.
    • The investments will go to various projects to offer more public services, promote the dual green and digital transition, innovation, business competitiveness, employability and economic development in rural areas affected by depopulation.
    • The loan will make it possible to finance specific projects for the province of Teruel with a focus on the energy transition and environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, social infrastructure and more.
    • The agreement will make a significant contribution to climate action and economic, social and territorial cohesion, two of the EIB Group’s strategic priorities.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €234 million loan with the government of the Spanish region of Aragón to co-finance investments promoting the dual green and digital transition, boosting the competitiveness of local industry, helping to provide better public services and supporting economic development in rural areas at risk of depopulation. This is the first tranche of a loan totalling €260 million approved by the EIB.

    The loan will co-finance diverse projects including transferring knowledge in advanced technologies to businesses in Aragón; the One Health Teruel health biotechnology project; the reuse of local waste and decontamination of land affected by lindane use; improved energy efficiency in public healthcare and educational buildings in Aragón; and local social employment and active inclusion initiatives.

    The finance contract falls under the EU regional development and cohesion funds operational programme for 2021-2027 and will channel financing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Just Transition Fund.

    The EU Just Transition Fund aims to support regions facing serious socioeconomic challenges in transitioning to climate neutrality. Here, its financing will focus on the province of Teruel, funding projects in green industrial transformation, sustainable mobility, the circular economy, energy efficiency, renewable energy (including self-consumption, energy storage and green hydrogen), support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs, research, development and innovation (RDI), digitalisation, environmental restoration and conservation, sustainable tourism and social infrastructure, among other things.

    This agreement highlights the commitment of the European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group) to climate action and economic, social and territorial cohesion, two of the eight core priorities outlined in the Group’s Strategic Roadmap for 2024-2027.

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden: EIB finances ground-breaking carbon capture plant in Stockholm

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • Project to capture CO2 volumes corresponding to more than the emissions of all of Stockholm’s road traffic in one year
    • This is EIB’s first carbon capture financing operation and part of climate strategy
    • Investment contributes to Sweden’s goal of net zero emissions by 2045

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a loan of €260 million to Stockholm Exergi for the construction of Sweden’s first large-scale bioenergy plant with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

    Beccs Stockholm, which will begin construction at Värtaverket, is expected to be fully operational in 2028 and is projected to capture up to 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The captured carbon dioxide corresponds to more than the total emissions from Stockholm’s road traffic during a year. The technology is based on the separation, liquefaction and permanent storage of biogenic carbon dioxide from the combustion of biofuels – resulting in so-called negative emissions.

    After capture, the carbon dioxide will be temporarily stored and then shipped to Norway where it will be permanently stored in the bedrock under the North Sea. This is done in collaboration with the Northern Lights project, a joint venture between Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies.

    This is the first CCS project to be financed by the EIB and an important contribution to achieving the world’s climate goals and establishing negative emissions as a new global industry. There is currently a consensus that global warming cannot be limited to 1.5 or below 2 degrees Celsius without negative emissions. The technology also contributes to improved air quality in urban environments and strengthens Europe’s leadership in the climate transition.

    “With this initiative, Sweden shows that it is possible to combine technological leadership with concrete climate benefits, said EIB vice-president Thomas Östros. “By supporting Beccs Stockholm, we are taking an important step to enable negative emissions in Europe and globally. It is an example of how the EIB’s climate mission is being implemented in practice.”

    Stockholm Exergi has also signed extensive agreements for future deliveries of negative emissions in the voluntary carbon market, including a record-breaking commitment from Microsoft – the largest single agreement of its kind to date globally.

    “We have a very constructive and trusting dialogue with the EIB, and I look forward to continuing our cooperation,” said Stockholm Exergi chief executive officer Anders Egelrud. “Their support enables the construction of one of the world’s largest facilities for the capture and permanent storage of biogenic carbon dioxide. Together, we are laying the foundation for a new, green and competitive Nordic industry – an industry that will play a crucial role in achieving the long-term climate goals.”

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    Bio-CCS och Beccs Stockholm

    Bio-CCS is a technology that captures biogenic carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere and is then permanently stored in the bedrock, which creates negative emissions because the carbon dioxide is separated from the biogenic cycle. Permanent negative emissions are the tool that can be used to counteract emissions that are not possible or will be very difficult to avoid. It is a necessary piece of the puzzle to achieve the climate goals and net-zero emissions. 

    Stockholm Exergi’s facility, Beccs Stockholm, will be built in the Energy Port in Värtan.  Värtaverket already produces sustainable heat and electricity from residual products from the forestry and sawmill industry, such as wood chips, branches and tops. By now adding capture and storage of the biogenic carbon dioxide, we create even more climate benefits.

    Beccs Stockholm is made possible through a combination of support from the EU Innovation Fund, state aid and private purchases of certificates for negative emissions from companies with high climate ambitions.

    Stockholm Exergi

    Stockholm Exergi is the energy company of Stockholmers and with resource-efficient solutions, we secure the growing Stockholm region’s access to heating, electricity, cooling and waste services. We heat over 800,000 Stockholmers and our 300-mile long district heating network is the hub for the societal benefits that we create together with our customers and partners. Through Beccs Stockholm, we are pushing for negative emissions to become a reality. We are owned by the City of Stockholm and Ankhiale, a consortium of leading European pension funds (APG, PGGM, Alecta, Keva and AXA IM Alts), and have over 800 employees who work every day to reduce Stockholmers’ climate impact.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – ETS2 – P-000650/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission and the Member States are working towards the timely implementation of the new Emissions Trading System for buildings, road transport and additional sectors (ETS2), which was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in 2023. This includes regular technical level discussions and exchanges at the political level with all Member States, including Poland.

    Several safeguards are already in place to allow for a smooth start of ETS2, including a safeguard to delay the start of the system from 2027 to 2028 in case energy prices are exceptionally high in the first half of 2026.

    In addition, several triggers would release additional ETS2 allowances from the Market Stability Reserve in case of sharp prices increase or imbalances in the supply of ETS2 allowances.

    Furthermore, the total number of allowances auctioned in the first year of the system will be 30% higher than the ETS2 cap, to ensure a smooth start of the system.

    Finally, by taking early action, Member States can help keep ETS2 prices in check. Member States can finance such measures from the revenues ETS2 will raise.

    Part of the revenues will fund the new Social Climate Fund (SCF) in order to protect vulnerable groups and alleviate the ETS2’s impacts. Poland is the biggest beneficiary of the SCF.

    Last updated: 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Public transport price hike in Bologna and EU climate targets – E-000750/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Specific features of local public transport systems, such as pricing or routes, are regulated at national, regional or local level.

    To ensure that urban public transport across the EU is aligned with, and supportive of EU objectives for sustainable and smart mobility, the Commission has developed a policy framework for urban mobility[1], recognising public transport as backbone for sustainable urban mobility, together with active modes (cycling and walking) as well as shared mobility services.

    One of the tools to ensure that local policies are aligned with EU objectives is the new provision of the revised trans-European transport network Regulation[2], which requires 431 urban nodes to have a sustainable urban mobility plan by 2027.

    Bologna is a mission city under the EU Climate-neutral and Smart Cities Mission[3]. It was awarded the Mission Label in 2024 after a positive review of its Climate City Contract.

    Bologna’s strategy and action portfolio to decarbonise the transport sector tackles all the sources of emissions concerning transport and mobility present in the city, with particular emphasis on the creation of an enabling environment to reduce private car usage, offering alternative modes of transport, including a comprehensive revision of tariffs for tickets and passes for different categories of users.

    Promoting sustainable multimodal urban mobility as part of the transition to a carbon-neutral economy is also one of the Policy Objectives of the 2021-2027 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) financial allocation to the region.

    Through a total of EUR 40 million, the programme will promote measures consistent with the EU’s climate targets with a focus on soft mobility, in particular pedestrian and bicycle mobility.

    • [1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12916-Sustainable-transport-new-urban-mobility-framework_en
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52021PC0812
    • [3] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/climate-neutral-and-smart-cities_en

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sustainable flood memories

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Sustainable flood memories

    Sustainable flood memory emphasises the importance of remembering and learning from past flood events to enhance community resilience and adaptive strategies.

    Reviewing flood memory documents. Image credit: Sustainable Flood Memory project.

    Sustainable flood memories and the development of community resilience to future flood risk

    Lindsey McEwen 1, Joanne Garde-Hansen2, Owain Jones3, Andrew Holmes1 and Franz Krause4

    1 Centre for Water, Communities and Resilience, College of Arts, Technology and Environment, University of West England Bristol, United Kingdom

    2 School of Media and Communication, University of Warwick, United Kingdom

    3 School of Humanities, Bath Spa University, United Kingdom

    4 Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Cologne, Germany

    Funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council from 2011 to 2015, the Sustainable Flood Memories (SFM) project created a conceptual framework to enhance community resilience against flooding. SFM empowers communities to navigate flood risk management through local knowledge and collective memory. The lessons learned from the SFM project provided insights for building a more resilient future by engaging communities, preserving local knowledge, and fostering adaptive learning.

    SFM acknowledges the importance of individual and community experiences with flooding.

    Lindsey McEwen and others (2016) described how sustainable flood memories can come from many sources including (page 17):

    narratives, oral and archived histories, physical marks, artefacts and material practices in the landscape, and media representing floods, comprising folk memories, autobiographical accounts, personal stories and anecdotes of previous floods (routine–severe) and their impacts.

    The project had 2 components. The first was a comparative study of 3 communities that experienced flooding involving local council members, flood action group representatives, and emergency services. The project culminated in a conceptual framework for SFM emphasising the role of local knowledge and experiences in decision-making processes.

    The second component used digital storytelling as a tool for adaptive learning. In partnership with the Environment Agency and local government, 21 digital stories were co-created with community members to address various aspects of community flood preparedness. These narratives preserved individual and collective memories and served as educational resources for at-risk communities.

    Digital flood story: A community

    Impact

    The project helped to improve community resilience, archive local flood knowledge, engage various sectors and support training.

    The project increased community awareness and engagement by fostering a collective memory of past floods and as a result, communities became more aware of their vulnerabilities. This increased community awareness helped to encourage local participation in flood management discussions, promoting ownership and responsibility for flood preparedness. It enhanced resilience given that communities learned from past flood events and could develop better preparedness strategies. This was particularly crucial for regions where extreme weather events may not be within living memory, necessitating a balance between remembering and forgetting.

    Former CEO National Flood Forum (2025) said:

    Detailed knowledge about very local flood risk and flooding incidents is incredibly important, both when combining it with the skills needed to better manage flood risk and in supporting communities to build their resilience. But all too often it gets lost from one generation to another and as people move away.

    Communities were also able to protect their local flood knowledge by archiving community-generated flood knowledge. This was important to ensure that informal histories were preserved alongside formal documentation.

    Property Flood Resilience Champion, Flood Mary (2025) said:

    Local flood memory is an essential part of the journey to flood resilience. Having local knowledge of flood risk is so important. I remember someone knocking [at] my door to find out if I knew about the local flood history, as they were about to buy a house in my street. Having somewhere to point people to, which has both new and historical flood risk information keeps flood risk real. Pulling all partners together to share their knowledge and expertise is an excellent way to make this happen.

    In addition, policymakers could leverage historical flood data and community narratives to create tailored flood risk management policies. The data could also improve infrastructure planning, ensuring that new developments are resilient to potential future flooding scenarios. They can also support training. The digital stories co-created during the project have been used in training for Environment Agency community officers and shared amongst at-risk community groups, demonstrating their practical application.

    The SFM project sparked discussions across various sectors, bringing in new voices and perspectives, particularly from the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sector. Projects like Gloucestershire Archives’ Green Pledge Project have adopted SFM methodologies to enhance community engagement.

    Learning & Outreach Officer, Green Pledge Project, Gloucestershire Heritage Hub (2025) said:

    The Green Pledge Project at Gloucestershire Archives is about connecting people with archival material relating to our environmental history. We are using the records to inform and inspire people to live more sustainably. The creation of material, such as those made for the SFM project, which are stored at Gloucestershire Archives, enable us to do that in a very direct way. They have been shared in project presentations and event, sparking discussions around past floods and community resilience for future ones.

    Resources

    Centre for Floods, Communities and Resilience (CFCR). Sustainable Flood Memories and Community Resilience. Available at: https://esrcfloodmemories.wordpress.com/ (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Garde-Hansen, J., McEwen, L. J., Holmes, A. and Jones, O. (2017).  Sustainable Flood Memory: Remembering as Resilience. Memory Studies 10(4), 384–405. Available at: doi.org/10.1177/1750698016667453 (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Garde-Hansen J., McEwen L. J. and Jones O. (2016). Towards a memo-techno-ecology: mediating memories of extreme flooding in resilient communities. In Hajek, A. Lohmeier, L. and Pentzold, C. (eds.) Social Memory in a Mediated World: Remembering in troubled times, Palgrave Macmillan. Pp 55-73.

    Holmes, A. and McEwen L. J. (2020). How to exchange stories of local flood resilience from flood rich areas to the flooded areas of the future.  Environmental Communication 14(5), 597-613. Available at: doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2019.1697325 (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    McEwen, L. J., Garde-Hansen, J., Holmes, A., Jones, O. and Krause, F. (2016). Sustainable Flood Memories, Lay knowledges and the Development of Community Resilience to Future Flood Risk. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 42 (1), 14-28. Available at: doi.org/10.1111/tran.12149 (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    McEwen, L. J. and Holmes, A. (2017). Sustainable Flood Memories: Developing the concept, process and practice in flood risk. In Vinet, F (ed.) Floods Vol 2: Risk Management. Editions ISTE (published in English and French) Chapter 10, 141-153. 

    McEwen L. J., Garde-Hansen, J, Robertson, I and Holmes, A. (2018). Exploring the changing nature of flood archives: community capital for flood resilience. In Metzger, A and Linton, J (eds.) La Crue, l’inondation: un patrimoine. L’Harmattan Publishing House, France. 

    United Nations Office for Disaster and Risk Reduction (UNDRR). PreventionWeb: Floods, Memories, and Resilience. Available at: https://www.preventionweb.net/news/floods-memories-and-resilience (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Funder 

    • UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

    Collaborators

    • Environment Agency
    • Local government
    • UWE Bristol
    • Civil society organisations

    Research period  

    • 2011 to 2015

    Impact period  

    • Ongoing

    Impact country  

    • UK
    • France

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 2 – Resilience and adaptation to flooding and coastal change

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Flood Hydrology Roadmap

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Flood Hydrology Roadmap

    The UK’s Flood Hydrology Roadmap is designed to safeguard communities, infrastructure, and natural environments from the escalating risks of flooding.

    Recovering from winter floods 2015-2016, York. Image credit: Environment Agency.

    Flood Hydrology Roadmap

    Sean Longfield1, Sue Manson 1 and Anita Asadullah 1

    1 Environment Agency, United Kingdom

    The UK’s Flood Hydrology Roadmap, led by the Environment Agency, was published in 2022. It charted a course from 2021 to 2046 to guide the UK towards a more resilient, scientifically driven, and collaborative approach to improve flood hydrology.

    The roadmap emerged in response to several strategic drivers. Flood hydrology underpins investment decisions across flood and coastal risk management, with an estimated £6 billion of investment in the UK planned between 2022 and 2028. This, combined with a need to support the implementation of flood risk management strategies across the UK required a new long-term vision and direction for flood hydrology.

    In response, the roadmap provided a UK-wide plan of action to improve ways of working, data, methods and scientific understanding in hydrology so that risk information was robust and could continue to support activities for safeguarding communities, infrastructure, and natural environments from the escalating risks of flooding. It considered all inland flood sources—rivers, surface water, groundwater, and reservoirs across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

    The roadmap for UK flood hydrology. Image credit: Environment Agency.

    Impact

    The roadmap’s vision for the next 25 years is that society will have improved hydrological information and understanding to manage flood hazards in a changing world; flood hydrology and whole-system process understanding will be underpinned by excellent evidence with quantified uncertainty. Leadership and collaboration are crucial to achieving this vision. It aims to bring new science into operational practice, developing the next generation of methods to increase flood resilience and adaptation to a changing climate. The roadmap’s success will be underpinned by cohesive action and gaining funding, estimated between £110 and £165 million over 25 years to 2046.

    The Environment Agency secured £6 million over 6 years to start delivering on the roadmap and established the Flood Hydrology Improvements Programme (FHIP). Through FHIP, the Environment Agency made the sub-daily flow and rainfall data publicly available which enabled valuable research into flood periodicity to be conducted. Another outcome was addressing gaps in hydrometric data through a project that preserved significant amounts of data. In addition, it enabled a UK-wide skills survey providing information on the state of the hydrological expertise in the UK. FHIP is leading on a benchmarking process for hydrological models, making it possible to appraise and bring new scientific methods into practice.

    The roadmap, with support from FHIP, has also enabled experts to work together more effectively. This included setting up a flood hydrology scientific and technical advice group.

    Rob Lamb, JBA Trust director and member of roadmap steering group (2022) said:

    By bringing together the views of scientists and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines and sectors, the roadmap advances flood hydrology both as a technical discipline and as a profession. It is a landmark report that will shape hydrology and flood management for years to come.

    The strategic direction is overseen by a governance board, which uses the roadmap to guide activities, coordinate action and share knowledge. It also reinforces opportunities for collaboration across organisations.

    Cordelia Menmuir, Senior Manager Hydrology and Flooding for Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Chair of the Governance Board (2025) said:

    It is a privilege to be able to Chair the Governance Board that oversees such a talented and passionate group of individuals all working towards the same common goal. Moving forward we are actively seeking out new ways to facilitate the involvement of any individual or organisation who believes they have something they can offer, and I would encourage all those who work in hydrology to consider contributing.

    Andrew Wall, National Flood Risk Services Manager at Natural Resources Wales (NRW) (2025) said:

    We have welcomed the opportunity for agencies across the UK to come together to review flood hydrology and develop a roadmap for future improvement to our data and techniques. NRW is looking forward to continuing to work alongside our partners in this important effort and playing a key role in the development and delivery of the vision for flood hydrology across the UK.

    Resources 

    British Hydrological Society. (2022). UK Flood Hydrology Roadmap and Flood Hydrology Improvements Programme. Available at: https://www.hydrology.org.uk/Flood_Hydrology_Roadmap.php (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2021). Flood hydrology roadmap. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/flood-hydrology-roadmap (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2025). UK Flood Hydrology Roadmap – Engage Environment Agency. Available at: https://engageenvironmentagency.uk (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Lamb, R., Longfield, S., Manson, S., Cloke, H., Pilling, C., Reynard, N., Sheppard, N., Asadullah, A., Vaughan, M., Fowler, H.J. and Beven, K.J. (2022). The future of flood hydrology in the UK. Hydrology Research 53(10): 1286-1303. Available at: doi.org/10.2166/nh.2022.053 (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Funder 

    The research project was funded by the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme.  

    Collaborators  

    • A community derived project with around 50 organisations from public sector, industry and academia, now governed by the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland, British Hydrological Society and UK Research and Innovation. For a full list of contributors see the report.

    Research period  

    • 2018 to 2022 

    Impact period   

    • 2021 to 2046 

    Impact country  

    • England
    • Wales
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland

    Contributing to areas of research interest

    • 1 – Understanding future flood and coastal erosion risk

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Wetlands and coastal protection

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Wetlands and coastal protection

    Wetlands can act as natural buffers to reduce wave energy.

    Steart Marshes, Steart, Somerset. Image credit Environment Agency

    Natural coastal protection and risk reduction by intertidal wetlands

    Iris Möller1 and Tom Spencer2

    1 Department of Geography, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

    2 Cambridge Coastal Research Unit, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

    Natural flood management (NFM) protects, restores or emulates the natural functions of rivers, floodplains, catchments and the coast to reduce flooding and coastal erosion. It can take the form of wetland restoration. Wetlands can be very beneficial for reducing flood risks while also providing wider environmental benefits.

    Research from the Cambridge Coastal Research Unit (CCRU) demonstrated the critical role that coastal wetlands play as natural buffers against storm impacts. This work not only transformed understanding and attitudes toward coastal ecosystems, but has influenced policy and practice.

    Impact

    The findings from CCRU helped to shift the narrative on coastal management. The UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA2) highlighted flooding and coastal change as the highest climate risk for the UK, and identified an urgent need for effective, sustainable solutions. With rising sea levels projected to impact approximately 1,000km (20%) of England’s coastal defences by 2100, reliance solely on hard engineering is becoming increasingly untenable (Environment Agency, 2024).

    The CCRU’s extensive research provided compelling evidence that coastal wetlands, such as salt marshes, significantly dissipated wave energy during storms, and by doing so helped to protect coastal communities and infrastructure. By acting as natural barriers, these ecosystems reduce the wave heights that reach man-made structures, either decreasing the need for hard engineering solutions or the cost of their construction and maintenance where they are needed.

    The CCRU’s work was pivotal in advocating for the policy of ‘managed realignment.’ This strategy promotes restoring natural habitats by allowing the coastline to adjust in a way that benefits both the environment and human communities. By creating new habitat areas and reducing maintenance costs associated with artificial defences, managed realignment represents an approach to coastal management that aligns with both ecological and economic goals.

    Through field campaigns and experimental research, the CCRU quantified the extent to which wave energy is mitigated by coastal wetlands. Studies conducted in Essex estuaries and Morecambe Bay found that salt marshes can reduce wave heights by 15-20% during extreme storms, enhancing the stability of adjacent infrastructure. This research considered various factors, including water depth, wave height, vegetation type, and sediment characteristics, providing a nuanced understanding of how these ecosystems offer coastal protection.

    Experiments conducted in the world’s longest wave flume illustrated that even a 40 metre wide band of salt marsh can effectively lower storm wave heights, with a notable percentage of this reduction attributed to the plants and the stable sediment they create. This evidence was important for informing coastal management practices and illustrating the benefits of preserving and restoring natural habitats.

    In 2017 the Environment Agency published the ‘Working with natural processes evidence directory for flood and coastal risk management’ and it was updated in 2024. These publications referenced field and laboratory work from this research which demonstrated that saltmarshes can reduce wave heights under extreme wave and water level conditions.

    Principal Scientist, Flood & Coastal Risk Management Research, Environment Agency (2017) said:

    This evidence [from the CCRU] has been very important in helping [the Environment Agency] develop and publish our Natural Flood Management evidence base…to mainstream more natural approaches to flood and coastal erosion risk management.

    In addition to influencing policy, the CCRU has developed models and visualisation tools to help coastal managers understand and implement natural coastal protection strategies. By integrating scientific research with practical applications, these tools empower decision-makers to incorporate wetlands into coastal defence plans.

    Head of People Conservation Science, RSPB (2020) said:

    I can confidently say that research by the Cambridge Coastal Research Unit (CCRU) has provided the critical scientific underpinning for RSPB positions on natural coastal protection and coastal habitat restoration, allowing us to advocate for and secure improvements to government coastal management policies. This helps in advocacy of the benefits of our managed realignment coastal habitat work at sites such as Titchwell, Wallasea Island and Medmerry.

    The work of the CCRU has thus emphasised the importance of viewing coastal wetlands not merely as natural environments but as essential components of flooding and erosion management strategies.

    Resources 

    Christie, E.K., Spencer, T., Owen, D., McIvor, A.L., Möller, I., and Viavattene, C. (2018). Regional coastal flood risk assessment for a tidally dominant, natural coastal setting: North Norfolk, southern North Sea. Coastal Engineering, 134, 177-190. Available at: 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2017.05.003 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2024). National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024. Available at: National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Kiesel J., Schuerch M., Christie E.K., Möller I., Spencer T., and Vafeidis A.T. (2020). Effective design of managed realignment schemes can reduce coastal flood risks. Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Science 242, 106844 Available at: doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106844 (Accessed 24 March 2025).

    Möller I., and Spencer T. (2002). Wave dissipation over macro-tidal saltmarshes: Effects of marsh edge typology and vegetation change. Journal of Coastal Res., SI 36, 506-521. Available at: doi: 10.2112/1551-5036-36.sp1.506 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Möller, I. (2006). Quantifying saltmarsh vegetation and its effect on wave height dissipation: results from a UK East coast saltmarsh. Journal of Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Sciences, 69, 337-351. Available at: doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2006.05.003 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Möller I., Kudella M., Rupprecht F., Spencer T., Paul M., van Wesenbeeck B.K., Wolters G., Jensen K., Bouma T.J., Miranda-Lange M., and Schimmels S. (2014). Wave attenuation over coastal salt marshes under storm surge conditions. Nature Geoscience, 7, 727–731 Available at: doi: 10.1038/ngeo2251 https://www.nature.com/articles/ngeo2251 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Möller, I. (2018). The storm is over. Available at: Salt Marshes under Extreme Waves – An EU Hydralab+ project (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Rupprecht, F., Möller I., Paul, M., Kudella, M., Spencer, T., van Wesenbeeck, B.K., Wolters, G., Jensen, K., Bouma, T.J., Miranda-Lange, M., and Schimmels, S. (2017). Vegetation-wave interactions in salt marshes under storm surge conditions. Ecological Engineering, 100, 301-315. Available at: doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.12.030 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    UNISDR Scientific and Technical Advisory Group Case Studies. (2014). Recognising Natural Coastal Protection and Risk Reduction by Intertidal Wetlands. Available at: Prevention Web – Spencer Coastal Protection (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder 

    1993 to 1996: PhD Studentship to IM: Natural Environment Research Council with Environment Agency (NERC Studentship No. GT4/93/7/P), UK, and Magdalene College Cambridge Scholarship.

    2000 to 2004: Effect of salt marsh edge morphology and vegetation cover on wave attenuation EA R&D Project W5B-022.

    2004 to 2005: Relationships between vegetation characteristics and sea defence value of saltmarshes RGS/EPSRC Geographical Research Grant

    2011 to 2013: Wave dissipation and transformation over coastal vegetation under extreme hydrodynamic loading (EU HYDRALAB IV, flume project with Universities of Hamburg and Hannover (Germany), NIOZ and Deltares (NL)). EU FP7 Integrating Activity HYDRALAB IV, Contract No. 261529

    2013 to 2014: Coastal ecosystems as a form of coastal defence, Newton Trust, Cambridge.

    2014 to 2018: Foreshore Assessment using Space Technology (FAST) EU 7th Framework Prog. SP1-Cooper., FP7-SPACE-2013-1 (collaborator), Grant no. 607131, (£451K)

    2018: Hydralab+ RESIST: EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (654110, HYDRALAB+).

    2016 to 2020: Physical and biological dynamic coastal processes and their role in coastal recovery (BLUE-coast); NERC (Directed Research Programme; Grant NE/N015878/1) (collaboration with 9 other organisations)

    2016 to 2020: Valuing the contribution which COASTal habitats make to human health and WEllBeing, with a focus on the alleviation of natural hazards (CoastWEB) NERC (Directed Research Programme; Grant NE/N013573/1 (collaboration with 7 other organisations)

    2018 to 2021: Response of Ecologically-mediated Shallow Intertidal Shores and their Transitions to extreme hydrodynamic forcing in UK settings (RESIST-UK), NERC Standard Research Grant (collaborators: British Geological Survey, Queen Mary University London) Grant no: NE/R01082X/1

    2023 to 2028: REWilding and Restoration of InterTidal sediment Ecosystems for carbon sequestration, climate adaptation and biodiversity support (REWRITE). Lead: Nantes University. EU HORIZON-CL5-2022-D1-02 funding call.

    2023 to 2028: Nature-based solutions for climate-resilient, nature-positive, and socially just communities in diverse landscapes (NATURESCAPES). Lead: Utrecht University. EU HORIZON-CL6-2022-COMMUNITIES-01.

    Research period  

    • 2000 – ongoing

    Impact period  

    • 2013 – ongoing

    Impact country  

    • UK

    • USA

    • Europe

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 5 – Asset management

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mental health costs of flooding

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Mental health costs of flooding

    Including the impact of floods on people’s mental health for the first time.

    Family moving items after a flood. Image credit: Environment Agency.

    A method for monetising the mental health costs of flooding 

    Christophe Viavattene 1, Sally Priest 1, Jacqui Cotton 2 and Carolann Simmonds 2

    1 Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, United Kingdom

    2 Environment Agency, United Kingdom

    The Environment Agency and risk management authorities routinely include the mental health impacts of flooding in investment decisions following research published in 2021 A method for monetising the mental health costs of flooding.

    Prior to this research, investment decisions focussed on the economic damages to homes, businesses and infrastructure. Although authorities knew that those affected by floods suffered with mental health conditions, there was insufficient robust data available to develop a new method. However, in 2017, Public Health England published the results of a national study on the impacts of flooding on mental health and well-being.

    This study showed that people whose homes had been flooded suffered high levels of probable depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. The study provided the figures needed to look at the economic damages for the first time. Subsequent studies showed these impacts could last for at least 2 years after the flood.

    Impact

    The Environment Agency project took this new data and used it to calculate the costs of the mental health impacts. These costs include treatment and medication, and loss of employment or earnings due to time off work. The project worked out the value to be £1,878 per adult per flood for shallow floods (less than 30cm of water in a home) to up to £4,136 per adult per flood for deeper, more severe floods (when water is over 1 metre deep). Deeper floods result in more possessions being lost and people being away from their homes for longer during repairs. This increases the impact on those affected, and thus increases the cost.

    Alongside the research project, Environment Agency economists created clear guidance on how to use the economic cost information for those developing business cases for flood risk projects. The guidance was published in Mental health costs of flooding and erosion.

    Resources 

    Environment Agency. (2020). A method for monetising the mental health costs of flooding. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/a-method-for-monetising-the-mental-health-costs-of-flooding (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2021). Guidance: Mental health costs of flooding and erosion. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-costs-of-flooding-and-erosion/mental-health-costs-of-flooding-and-erosion (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    UK Health Security Agency. (2023). Guidance: How to recover from flooding. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flooding-and-health-advice-for-frontline-responders/how-to-recover-from-flooding – assessment-and-management-of-mental-health (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    UK Health Security Agency. (2023). Health effects of climate change in the UK 2023 report. Chapter 3 Climate change, flooding, coastal change and public health. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/657086ad746930000d488919/HECC-report-2023-chapter-3-flooding.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder 

    The research project was funded by the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme.  

    Collaborators  

    • Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University
    • Environment Agency 
    • Natural Resources Wales  
    • Public Health England

    Research period  

    • 2017 to 2020

    Impact period  

    • 2020 onward

    Impact country  

    • England

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 3 – Funding and investment

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Working with nature to reduce flood and erosion risks

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Working with nature to reduce flood and erosion risks

    Evidence base on natural flood management is supporting investment decisions and informing which measures to use.

    Saltmarsh creation at Lower Otter. Image credit: Environment Agency.

    Working with natural processes evidence directory

    Lydia Burgess-Gamble1 and Daniel Hine 1

    1 Environment Agency, United Kingdom

    A key resource for natural flood management (NFM) stakeholders in the UK is the Working with natural processes evidence directory (WWNP). NFM seeks to protect, restore, and mimic the natural functions of catchments, floodplains, rivers, and coasts to reduce flooding and coastal erosion. The internationally recognised evidence directory captures what the research says about the benefits of NFM as well as providing case studies and opportunity maps. The Environment Agency first published it in 2017 with an update in 2024.

    The 2024 edition, informed by more than 700 research papers, summarises the latest evidence for 17 measures relating to river and floodplain, woodland, run-off, and coast and estuary management. Evidence of NFM has grown in recent years, building confidence in the flood risk reduction and wider benefits these approaches can bring. The updated evidence base shows that flood risk reduction and wider benefits vary across measures. It helps us to understand what works best where. It also tells us there is still more to learn about NFM, but the research gaps are closing and are more detail-orientated.

    Impact

    Growing evidence on the effectiveness of NFM has had a transformative impact on flood risk management across the UK, helping to support investment in natural solutions to increase society’s resilience to flooding, coastal erosion and climate change. 

    The evidence base underpinned the design of the Environment Agency’s £25 million fund for Natural Flood Management. The fund was announced in 2023 and runs until March 2027. It aims to reduce local flood risk while providing wider benefits to the environment, nature and society. It will accelerate new and existing opportunities to implement and fund NFM and fill knowledge gaps in the evidence base. It is benefitting 38 projects, overseen by a range of organisations.

    Following the 2017 publication, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) invested £4 million from 2017 to 2022 through the NERC natural flood management programme. Projects funded by the programme helped to address some of the research gaps identified in the 2017 evidence directory and informed the updated version.

    The research findings from the 2017 evidence directory were also used by project teams to support NFM design within the Natural Flood Management Pilot Programme that ran from 2017 to 2021 and funded 60 projects. Learning from the pilots helped to inform the 2024 evidence base by demonstrating that NFM measures used in combination across a large area could provide flood risk reduction benefits through reduced runoff and increased water storage, in addition to other learning. It was estimated that the NFM Pilot Programme created 1.6 million cubic metres of water storage which is about the equivalent of around 670 Olympic size swimming pools (Environment Agency, 2022).  

    The WWNP evidence directory has supported local NFM projects in their design and selection of measures.

    It was referenced as a key resource to the Slow the Flow project in Calderdale. At Hardcastle Crags (Hebden Bridge) the charity group installed over 800 leaky barriers. Their research has shown that natural flood management measures can slow high water levels in a flood by between 30 and 105 minutes downstream. 

    The research also helped Stroud District Council to choose the most effective locations for floodplain reconnection as part of the Stroud Natural Flood Management Project. This project is thought to reduce flood risk to about 12 properties and has inspired discussion about further works. 

    The evidence directory enabled the Shipston Area Flood Action Group to have meaningful community and landowner discussions as part of their Natural Flood Management Project in Shipston-on-Stour. These successful discussions led to agreements and the installation of more than 850 natural flood management features including leaky wooden barriers, ponds, bunds, river restoration and tree planting. The project is thought to have reduced flood risk to more than 80 homes.  

    Beyond the UK, the findings from the evidence directory are widely referenced in the International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management, an international guide produced by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

    Resources 

    Environment Agency. (2017). Working with natural processes to reduce flood risk. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/working-with-natural-processes-to-reduce-flood-risk (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2021). Natural Flood Management Programme: initial findings. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-flood-management-programme-initial-findings (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2022). Natural Flood Management Programme: evaluation report. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-flood-management-programme-evaluation-report (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2025). Working with natural processes to reduce flood risk 2024, Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/working-with-natural-processes-to-reduce-flood-risk-2024 (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). (2024). Driving policy innovation over decades: natural flood management. Available at: https://www.ukri.org/ (Accessed: 25 March 2025).

    Funder 

    The research project was funded by the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme.  

    Collaborators  

    • Environment Agency (EA)
    • Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
    • Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
    • Welsh Government
    • Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
    • JBA Consulting
    • English Severn and Wye RFCC
    • Forest Research
    • HR Wallingford
    • Natural England
    • River Restoration Centre
    • Woodland Trust
    • CH2M Hill
    • James Hutton Institute
    • Lancaster University
    • Newcastle University

    Research period  

    • 2017 to 2024

    Impact period  

    • 2017 – ongoing  

    Impact country  

    • England
    • Wales
    • Scotland

    Contributing to areas of research interest

    • 8 – Integrated outcomes

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Forecasting floods with unprecedented detail

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Forecasting floods with unprecedented detail

    Flood forecasting with the open-source flood modelling tool High-Performance Integrated Hydrodynamic Modelling System (HiPIMS)

    Flooding December 2015, Carlisle. Image credit: Environment Agency.

    High-Performance Integrated Hydrodynamic Modelling System (HiPIMS) for flood forecasting and risk assessment

    Qiuhua Liang 1 and Huili Chen 1

    1 School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, United Kingdom

    Professor Qiuhua Liang and his team at Loughborough University developed the award-winning High-Performance Integrated Hydrodynamic Modelling System (HiPIMS) over 2 decades. HiPIMS is an open-source flood modelling tool formally released at presentation in 2013. It was designed to better predict and understand flooding using high-performance computing. HiPIMS provides timely and detailed flood forecasts over an entire catchment or city.

    The research filled a practical gap – forecasting highly transient flooding processes, driven by intense rainfall, dam breaks, storm surge or tsunamis. Flood predictions or forecasts are essential to assess and mitigate flood risk, and to develop effective plans for emergency response benefiting people at risk, government agencies, and other practitioners working on flood risk management (Xia, Liang and others, 2019).

    Impact 

    HiPIMS was implemented and tested for forecasting the flooding process caused by the 2015 Storm Desmond over the entire Eden Catchment of 2500km². The real-time flood forecasting system was developed by integrating HiPIMS with the Met Office’s numerical weather prediction outputs. The system was able to forecast flooding from 36‐hour weather forecasts at a 10-metre resolution in 1.75 hours. This was the first real-time forecasting of a complete flooding process induced by intense rainfall, from rainfall-runoff, river hydraulics to inundation (Ming, Liang and others, 2020).

    The output was showcased at the Royal Society’s Flooding From Intense Rainfall Programme Open Event in London on 27th November 2018, and recognised by Prof Brian Golding, the Senior Research Fellow in Weather Impacts from the Met Office, at the time as “the UK’s first real-time, high-resolution flood forecasting system of its kind”.

    HiPIMS simulated flood map for the 2015 Desmond Flood in Carlisle. Credit: Qiuhua Liang.

    HiPIMS was later embedded in the UK’s Data and Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure (DAFNI) for real-time flood forecasting through the NERC funded Flood-PREPARED and PYRAMID projects. It was also used to generate surface water flooding data to improve national infrastructure resilience in the National Digital Twin Programme (NDTP). The NDTP supports growing national capability in digital twinning technologies and processes throughout the UK.

    Outside of the UK, HiPIMS has also been used to advance flood modelling and risk mapping practice. In China, the Ministry of Water Resources’ Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) incorporated HiPIMS into their Integrated Flood Modelling System (IFMS) to support national flood risk mapping across approximately 500,000km², almost half of the 1.1 million km2 of flood-prone areas in the country. The research developed as part of HiPIMS benefitted hundreds of millions of people in different provinces in China through provision of detailed flood risk information to better inform mitigation strategies (IWHR, 2023).

    The Deputy Director from the Centre of Flood Control and Drought Relief at the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) (2023) said:

    The numerical methods and model developed by Professor Qiuhua Liang have been directly applied to support national flood risk mapping in China. The flood risk maps have been used by the Central Government and local governments of different levels to inform flood risk management policy making and support flood protection planning and investment.

    HiPIMS was adopted by government departments in Nepal to standardize methodologies for assessing Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risks (Chen, Zhao and others, 2022). The tool was featured in the RAINMAN-Toolbox, supporting heavy rainfall hazard assessments in central European catchments, showcasing its versatility across different geographic contexts.

    The tool has received several awards, including the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water in 2024 recognising its innovation and impact. The award honours the development of pioneering, open-source, multi-GPU hydrodynamic models that support real-time flood forecasting at high temporal and spatial resolutions.

    Resources 

    Chen H, Zhao J, Liang Q, and others. (2022). Assessing the potential impact of glacial lake outburst floods on individual objects using a high-performance hydrodynamic model and open-source data. Science of the Total Environment, 806(3): 151289. Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151289 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).  

    HiPIMS-ocl Version 1 on GitHub. Available at: https://github.com/lukeshope/hipims-ocl (Accessed: 24 March 2024).

    HiPIMS-CUDA Version 2 on GitHub. Available at: https://github.com/HEMLab/hipims (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Loughborough University. (2025). HiPIMS history – UNESCO Chair in Informatics and Multi-hazard Risk Reduction. Available at: https://www.lboro.ac.uk (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Ming X, Liang Q, and others. (2020). Real-time flood forecasting based on a high-performance 2D hydrodynamic model and numerical weather predictions. Water Resources Research. Available at: doi.org/10.1029/2019WR025583 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).  

    Smith LS, Liang Q (2013). Towards a generalised GPU/CPU shallow-flow modelling tool. Computers & Fluids, 88: 334-343. Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.compfluid.2013.09.018 (Accessed 24 March 2025).  

    Xia X, Liang Q, and others. (2019). A full-scale fluvial flood modelling framework based on a high-performance integrated hydrodynamic modelling system (HiPIMS). Advances in Water Resources, 132: 103392. Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2019.103392 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder 

    • UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
    • Loughborough University 

    Collaborators  

    • China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) 
    • International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) 
    • UK Met Office 
    • Newcastle University  

    Research period  

    • 2013 to 2022 

    Impact period

    • 2013 to 2022 

    Impact country  

    • UK 
    • China 
    • Nepal

    Contributing towards the areas of research interest

    • 4 – Flood incident management

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coastal morphological modelling for decision makers

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Coastal morphological modelling for decision makers

    Using the Coastal Modelling Environment tool to change how the UK manages coastal risks.

    Boulders used as sea defences at Happisburgh, Norfolk. Image credit: British Geological Survey.

    Coastal Modelling Environment (CoastalME)

    Andres Payo Garcia 1, Dave Favis Mortlock 2, Jim Hall 3, Robert Nicholls 4 and Mike Walkden 5

    1 British Geological Survey, United Kingdom

    2 Visiting Research Associate – British Geological Survey, United Kingdom

    3 Department of Engineering Science, Oxford University, United Kingdom

    4 Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom

    5 Moffatt & Nichol and Visiting Research Associate – British Geological Survey, United Kingdom

    Improved predictions are essential to quantify risks from coastal erosion and flooding. However, predicting how coastal landscapes change over decadal timescales raises challenges that don’t have solutions yet. The Integrated COASTal Sediment Systems (iCOAST) project funded by NERC from 2012 to 2016, provided essential demonstrations of new approaches to address this challenge.

    Among the tools developed through the project, the engineering tool Coastal Modelling Environment (CoastalME) stood out. It is being used in the UK and internationally. It provides improved predictive capability for coastal adaptation. Modellers can use CoastalME to simulate the interaction of coastal landforms and human interventions for open coast systems. This enables users to model and visualise coastal landscape changes more effectively using commonly available spatial data. CoastalME is freely available, making it an accessible resource.

    This research has resulted in significant changes in the way that the UK manages coastal risks. It enables better-informed use of the limited amount of coastal-aggregate material – the foundation of the human-natural UK defence system against coastal flooding and erosion.

    Impact

    CoastalME is used in several projects across the UK and Europe, as a planning tool in both research and engineering contexts.

    As a research tool, CoastalME is being used in 2 multi-year NERC funded projects. The Coastal Hazards, Multi-hazard Controls on Flooding and Erosion (CHAMFER) project is a collaboration between the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and the BGS which runs from 2022 to 2027.

    The tool is being used in the CHAMFER project to better assess the risk of compound flooding and erosion. CoastalME is also being used within the UKGravelBarriers project (2023 to 2027) led by the BGS. This aims to understand the effectiveness of gravel barriers in coastal protection under changing climatic conditions. Effective management of these coastal landforms is needed to ensure that they can reduce risks from coastal erosion and flooding. The role of CoastalME is to allow gravel beach and barrier dynamics to be modelled as integral components of larger coastal systems, supporting more realistic simulations under a range of climate and policy scenarios.

    Blanco and others (Environment Agency, 2019) in developing guidance for the use of coastal morphological models for decision makers found (page 74):

    The computational cost of these [CoastalME and ESTEEM] models is low and they have proved effective in exploring morphodynamic trends and improving the understanding of mesoscale behaviour. Their potential is significant as they combine different types of models and behaviours, and can therefore encompass many features over long time and spatial scales. They aim to fill the gaps where other more conventional models are not that strong. For example, CoastalME includes different sediment fractions – sand, gravel and mud. 

    As an operational tool, CoastalME is being used to inform decision making at regional, international and global levels.

    At the regional level, the tool is being used as part of the Resilient Coast (RC) Project funded by the Environment Agency’s Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP). The RC project explores the concept of a sediment circular economy for coastal adaptation in East Anglia. CoastalME is used to quantify the sand, gravel and fine material along the coast and its value as a nature-based resource. Early results suggest that allowing a 10 metre wide section of cliff between Felixstowe and Caister to recede by 1 metre would release 1.8 million cubic metres of sand. This is equivalent to the volume imported during the largest sandscaping project to date, at Bacton, at a total cost of £21 million (Johnson and others, 2020).

    At the international level, CoastalME has been used to assess the risk of flooding and erosion for the whole of Andalusia’s coastline, which extends for 1,200km, measured at a scale of 1:25,000, and traverses 5 of 8 provinces. This study represents the first attempt to map the spatial distribution of sediment thickness along this coastal zone by integrating various publicly available datasets. It demonstrated the flexible design of CoastalME by incorporating representations of geomorphological features such as ‘ramblas’ (a dry riverbed used as a road or thoroughfare) that are important sources of sediment during heavy rainfall events.

    The European Space Agency’s Destination Earth (DestinE) initiative aims ‘to create a digital model of Earth that will be used to monitor the effects of natural and human activity on our planet, anticipate extreme events and adapt policies to climate-related challenges’ (European Space Agency). The DestinE initiative is using CoastalME as part of the Digital Twin lead component on coastal processes and extremes as a thematic module to provide 4D coastal landscape capability. The integration of CoastalME into the European Space Agency’s initiative signified that this research has the potential to impact coastal areas worldwide, providing a model for global resilience in the face of climate change.

    Resources

    Argans. (2024). Coastal Processes and Extremes – EO Based Digital Twin. Available at: https://www.argans.co.uk/proj-dtc.html (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    British Geological Survey. (2025). CoastalME. Available at: https://www.osgeo.org/projects/coastalme/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    British Geological Survey. (2025). UKGravelBarriers Project Overview. Available at:https://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2025). Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP). Available at: https://engageenvironmentagency.uk (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2024). Resilient Coasts. Available at: https://engageenvironmentagency.uk (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2019). Coastal morphological modelling for decision-makers. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/coastal-morphological-modelling-for-decision-makers (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    European Space Agency. (2025). Destination Earth Overview. Available at: https://www.esa.int (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Hall, J. (2012). UKRI – iCOAST Project Overview. Available at: https://gotw.nerc.ac.uk (Accessed 24 March 2025).

    Johnson, M., Goodliffe, R.J.W., Doygun, G., Flikweert, J. and Spaan, G. (2020). From idea to reality: The UK’s first sandscaping project. Terra et Aqua. Spring: 158. Available at: https://www.iadc-dredging.com (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    National Oceanography Centre (NOC). (2025). CHAMFER Project Overview. Available at: https://projects.noc.ac.uk/chamfer (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Torrecillas, C., Payo, A., Cobos, M., Burke, H., Morgan, D., Smith, H. and Jenkins, G.O. (2024). Sediment Thickness Model of Andalusia’s Nearshore and Coastal Inland Topography. Journal of Marine Science Engineering. 12(2): 269. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12020269 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder 

    • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

    Collaborators  

    • British Geological Survey
    • Oxford University
    • University of East Anglia
    • Environment Agency
    • Moffatt & Nichol

    Research period  

    • 2012 to 2016 iCOAST, NE/J005584/1
    • 2016 to 2022 BLUEcoast, NE/N015649/1
    • 2022 to 2027 CHAMFER, NE/W004992/1
    • 2024 to 2028 UKGravelBarriers, NE/Y503265/1

    Impact period  

    • 2016 to present

    Impact country  

    • UK
    • Spain (Andalusia)

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 1 – Understanding future flood and coastal erosion risk
    • 2 – Resilience and adaptation to flooding and coastal change
    • 3 – Funding and investment
    • 5 – Asset management
    • 6 – Digital technology

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Working together to adapt to a changing climate

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Working together to adapt to a changing climate

    Research supported authorities to work with communities when planning to reduce flood and coastal erosion risks.

    Workshop participants discussing engagement challenges. Image credit: Icarus

    Working together to adapt to a changing climate – flood and coast

    Rhys Kelly1, Ute Kelly1, Helen Bovey2, Karen Saunders2, Steve Smith2, Kate Kipling3 and Cath Brooks3

    1 University of Bradford, United Kingdom

    2 Icarus, United Kingdom

    3 Environment Agency, United Kingdom

    The Environment Agency led on the Working together to adapt to a changing climate initiative from 2018 to 2022. Through this research, there was a change in understanding how to work collaboratively with partners and communities on climate adaptation.

    The team articulated 6 challenges that exist when engaging with partners and the public about climate adaptation. Then, they co-created tools with 2 communities – Caterham Hill and Old Coulsdon and Hemsby – to address these challenges. The new knowledge and tools led to better community engagement and more effective partnerships. One of these tools underpinned the successful start to a £200 million flooding and coastal resilience programme.

    Impact

    The Environment Agency used one of the tools, the readiness assessment tool, for 25 projects under the £200 million Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. The tool identified risks, ensured partners had the same level of understanding and aspirations, improved partnership working and enabled more partners to be involved, and earlier. This underpinned the successful start of the innovation programme.

    A Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme survey respondent (2021) said:

    Without the readiness assessment [tool] the project would probably have slipped by 6 months but [we were] able to identify this issue and change project structure.

    The Environment Agency used the readiness assessment tool on 14 projects as part of the £5.2 billion Flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) investment programme. 94% of participants said that readiness assessment helped their project do things in a new, more efficient, or better way.

    The new national guidance on creating local Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) strategies led by the Environment Agency also used the readiness assessment tool. The intent was for the tool to be part of the assurance process for anyone developing a new FCERM strategy at the local level.

    A Flood Risk Engagement Advisor from the Environment Agency (2021) said:   

    …the Readiness Assessment Tool helps the Environment Agency go a step further and gather insight into how ready some of our communities are to engage around climate change. Having this information helps us to tailor our approach and meet the community [using] the right technique and with their views and challenges in mind.

    The research project also created tools for collaborative community engagement on climate change adaptation including a community readiness assessment survey, simulation and scenario development exercise. Projects in the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme used the community survey to baseline community views and knowledge and inform engagement planning. The Making Space for Sand project in Cornwall adapted the surface water simulation to fit the coastal context.

    Measure 3.1.3 in England’s National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England was related to the research and ensured that findings were put into practice. This included using learning in the Environment Agency’s national engagement skills development programme. The research was integral to the content of training courses such as ‘engaging in changeable and uncertain times’, which was provided to staff from the Environment Agency and other risk management authorities. It is also being used in the Environment Agency’s Working With Others training for engagement professionals.

    An engagement professional from the Environment Agency participating in the training (2025) said:

    The ‘Working together to adapt to a changing climate’ report really chimes with the ‘bottom-up’ community engagement pilot project we’re developing. Considering the 6 engagement challenges is vital if we are to work more efficiently, effectively and equitably. This report helped me to better articulate the work we’re doing and align with the business objectives of the Environment Agency.

    In 2024, the project was selected as a UK case study for the G20 in Brazil. It was presented at a Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting. The G20 report recognised that “the project successfully engaged a broader cross-section of the community, ensuring that previously underrepresented voices could contribute meaningfully to planning efforts” (G20, 2024).

    Resources

    Environment Agency. (2020). National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f6b6da6e90e076c182d508d/023_15482_Environment_agency_digitalAW_Strategy.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2021). Flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) investment programme. Available at: https://environment.data.gov.uk/asset-management/downloads/capital-programme.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2023). Working together to adapt to a changing climate – flood and coast. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/working-together-to-adapt-to-a-changing-climate-flood-and-coast (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2025). Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme. Available at: https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/ctap (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2025). Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. Available at: https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/innovation-programme (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    G20. (2024). G20 Compendium of Community Based Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction. Available at: https://g20drrwg.preventionweb.net/2024/media/102073/download.html (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Kelly, R. and Kelly, U. (2023). Readiness assessment in flood risk management and climate adaptation: A mechanism for social innovation? Journal of Flood Risk Management. Available at: doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12915 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Making Space for Sand. (2025). Making Space for Sand. Available at: https://www.makingspaceforsand.co.uk (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder

    The research project was funded by the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme.

    Collaborators

    • Environment Agency

    • Natural Resources Wales 

    • Surrey County Council 

    • Coastal Partnership East 

    • Icarus (as consultant) 

    • University of Bradford 

    Research period

    • 2018 to 2022

    Impact period 

    • 2021 – ongoing

    Impact country

    • England

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 2 – Resilience and adaptation to flooding and coastal change

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The interconnected risks of flooding

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    The interconnected risks of flooding

    This research was applied to give the government, flood risk management authorities and the insurance industry a better understanding of risk.

    Image credit: Environment Agency

    Transforming flood assessment at multiple scales through better statistical understanding of risk

    Rob Lamb 1, Jonathan Tawn 2, Caroline Keef 3, Ross Towe 2, Sarah Warren 3

    1 JBA Trust and Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, United Kingdom

    2 Lancaster University, United Kingdom

    3 JBA Consulting, United Kingdom

    Research led by Lancaster University, JBA and the JBA Trust – conducted over a decade – has supported the government, flood management authorities and the insurance industry to have a better understanding of flood risk from local to national scales.

    Historically, flood risk was often assessed in isolated terms. This meant the focus was on single locations or individual flood events, rather than accounting for how extreme weather patterns can co-occur across large areas. As a result, assessments could underestimate the broader, interconnected risks of flooding.

    The research team addressed this gap by developing methods that model flood events as multivariate extremes. This allowed for a more realistic estimation of the likelihood of concurrent flooding across multiple locations. The approach enabled flood risk to be assessed at a national scale, informing decisions in the UK’s National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) and aiding global reinsurance companies in risk evaluations.

    Multivariate Extreme Value theory

    The research breakthroughs were founded on multivariate extreme value theory. The theory addressed the probability of multiple extreme events occurring simultaneously. Prior to this research, methods were limited in scope, handling only a few variables or locations. While they were mathematically convenient, they didn’t align with real-world flood data, often leading to inaccurate risk estimates.

    To overcome this, Lancaster University researchers developed a conditional probability model that could handle a large number of variables with varied dependencies. This model demonstrated that, contrary to traditional beliefs, the probability of seeing a 1 in 100-year flood somewhere in England and Wales annually is as high as 88%.This finding underscored the need to shift from isolated risk descriptions to a more holistic framework, and recognised that a seemingly rare event locally could be much more probable when considered across a broader scale.

    Impact

    The new approach proved influential during the UK’s 2016 National Flood Resilience Review (NFRR), which was prompted by severe flooding in 2013 to 2014 and 2015 to 2016.

    UK Chief Scientific Adviser (2016) said:

    There was pressure on Government to better understand the risks involved. … Your contribution to the review was very important. Ministers were determined to base the review’s conclusions and recommendations on sound evidence and analysis… Our advice had significant influence on both the evidence and the way in which it was communicated.

    The government’s conclusions were heavily based on the research insights, which reshaped the understanding of flood risk. It also highlighted the urgency of comprehensive preparedness.

    A direct outcome of the NFRR was the government’s £12.5 million investment in new mobile flood defences, quadrupling the number of units from 2015 levels. Furthermore, a commitment to an ongoing £2.3 billion capital investment plan was secured, aiming to protect 300,000 homes. This strategic shift—grounded in more realistic risk assessments—increased the resilience of both urban and rural communities against future floods.

    Beyond the UK, these advancements have been influential globally, especially for the insurance and reinsurance sectors.

    Working with Lancaster University and the Environment Agency, JBA further refined the methods to improve their scalability and efficiency, leading to the development of the Multivariate Event Modeller tool. This open-source tool allows for joint probability analysis, making it accessible for environmental scientists and risk managers who need to analyse complex, interconnected flood events.

    The research has extended into ocean wave analysis, contributing to a better understanding of coastal extremes that compound flood risks, especially in coastal regions.

    These tools and insights have led to more accurate, data-driven assessments that can guide infrastructure planning, inform policy, and support sustainable urban development.

    Resources

    BBC News Article. (2016). Hundreds of key sites in England at Risk of Floods, dated 8th September 2016 corroborating £12.5 million investment means four times as many temporary flood barriers than in 2015. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37306094 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2017). Planning for the risk of widespread flooding: Project Summary SC140002/S. Available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Grainger, J., Sykulski, A., Jonathan, P., & Ewans, K. (2021). Estimating the parameters of ocean wave spectra. Ocean Engineering, 229, Article 108934. Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.108934 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Grainger, J., Sykulski, A., Ewans, K., Hansen, H. F., Jonathan, P. (2023). A multivariate pseudo-likelihood approach to estimating directional ocean wave models, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C: Applied Statistics, Volume 72, Issue 3. Available at: doi.org/10.1093/jrsssc/qlad006 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Heffernan, J. E. and Tawn, J. A. (2004). A conditional approach to modelling multivariate extreme values (with discussion), J. Roy. Statist. Soc., B, 66, 497-547. Available at: doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9868.2004.02050.x (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    HM Government. (2016). National Flood Resilience Review (NFRR). Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    JBA Trust. (2022). Improving statistical models of large scale flood events. Available at: https://www.jbatrust.org/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Keef, C., Tawn, J. A. and Lamb, R. (2013). Estimating the probability of widespread flood events. Environmetrics, 24, 13-21. Available at: doi.org/10.1002/env.2190 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Lamb, R., Keef, C., Tawn, J. A., Laeger, S., Meadowcroft, I., Surendran, S., Dunning, P. and Batstone, C. (2010). A new method to assess the risk of local and widespread flooding on rivers and coasts. Journal of Flood Risk Management, 3, 323-336. Available at: doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-318X.2010.01081.x (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Multivariate Event Modeller – Github. Available at: https://github.com/jbaconsulting/Multivariate-Event-Modeller (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    REF 2021 Impact Case Study: A step-change in the understanding and quantification of risk to improve resilience to flooding, Lancaster University, Unit of Assessment: 10, Mathematical Sciences. Available at: https://results2021.ref.ac.uk/impact/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    REF 2021 Impact Case Study: Transforming Government assessments of flood risk and resilience through improved understanding of uncertainties in flood risk modelling Lancaster University, Unit of Assessment: 7, Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. Available at: https://results2021.ref.ac.uk/impact/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Tawn, J. A., Shooter, R., Towe, R. and Lamb, R. (2018). Modelling spatial extreme events with environmental applications. Spatial Statistics, 28, 39-58. Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.spasta.2018.04.007 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Towe, R., Tawn, J. A. and Lamb, R. (2018). Why extreme floods are more common than you might think? Royal Statistical Society Journal, Significance, Vol. 15, No. 6, 16-21. Available at: doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-9713.2018.01209.x (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    UK Parliament Statement. Written Statement UIN HLWS139 on the National Flood Resilience Review made by Lord Gardiner, 8th September 2016. Corroborates £12.5 million of spending on new temporary flood defences and a £2.3 billion investment to better protect 300,000 homes.

    Funder 

    • JBA Trust
    • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
    • Environment Agency

    Collaborators  

    • Lancaster University
    • JBA Trust
    • JBA Consulting
    • Environment Agency
    • Shell Research

    Research period  

    • 2004 to 2023

    Impact period  

    • 2008 to 2017

    Impact country  

    • UK

    • Globally

    Contributing towards the areas of research interest

    • 1 – Understanding future flood and coastal erosion risk

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Climate change and peak river flows

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Climate change and peak river flows

    Research provided vital information for planners, developers, and flood risk management authorities to prepare for future flooding scenarios. 

    Close up of a depth gauge. Credit: Environment Agency.

    Climate change impacts on peak river flows

    Alison L Kay 1, Ali Rudd 1, Matthew Fry 1, Gemma Nash 2 and Stuart Allen 3

    1 UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, United Kingdom

    2 UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    3 Environment Agency, United Kingdom

    The Climate change and fluvial flood peaks research investigated how climate change affects fluvial flood peaks. The evidence is used to support sustainable development and investment in flood and coastal risk mitigation actions. The research spanned from 2018 to 2021 and was published in 2023.

    The research builds on past projects. In 2010, the early uplifts were assessed in the Regionalised impacts of climate change on flood flows, which used selected local hydrological models within a sensitivity framework. The hazard was regionalised using UK climate projections (UKCP09) in Practicalities for implementing regionalised allowances for climate change on flood flows. However, in this earlier research, the information on the impact of flooding relied on old climate projections and was based on modelling a limited number of locations.

    The release of updated UK climate projections (UKCP18) paired with new, national scale modelling methods, offered an opportunity to improve the information available for decision-making. The team combined the sensitivity framework with a national-scale hydrological model (Grid-to-Grid) and the UKCP18 probabilistic projections in the 2023 publication. This enabled a better understanding of potential changes to flood peaks across every 1km square of the river network in England, Wales and Scotland. In doing so, it helped to address the limitation that previous uplifts were derived from a limited number of specific catchment models. By using a consistent approach, the research team discovered varying sensitivities among catchments. This discovery helped predict how different regions would respond to climate-induced rainfall changes.

    Impact

    The research results had significant implications for flood risk management. The data produced provided more nuanced understanding of how flood peaks may change. This enabled the Environment Agency to update guidance for estimating future flood risks aimed at building developers and flood risk management authorities.

    The Environment Agency’s Director of Strategy and Adaptation (2021) said: “[w]e now have much more detail than ever before on how river flows will change at a catchment level, allowing us to address future flood and coastal risks more confidently.”

    The findings were integrated into national guidance for flood risk assessments. This ensured that developers accounted for climate change in their planning processes. Between April 2023 and March 2024, over 96% of planning decisions adhered to flood risk advice based on these updated guidelines, which demonstrated effective uptake of the research outputs.

    The Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management report: 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 illustrated how the guidance helped avoid potentially unsafe developments. In particular, 60,000 homes were protected through adherence to the updated flood risk advice.

    The Environment Agency’s Chief Scientist Group’s Annual Report 2022 highlighted the successful integration of research findings into operational practices.

    The insights gained from this research provided a crucial foundation for future planning and flood risk management. For those involved in planning and flood risk management, it is vital to consult the updated guidance for conducting flood risk assessments.

    Resources

    Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). (2025). Climate change allowances for peak river flow. Available at: https://environment.data.gov.uk/hydrology/climate-change-allowances/river-flow. (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2016). Flood risk assessments: climate change allowances. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-assessments-climate-change-allowances (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2020). Flood and coastal risk projects, schemes and strategies: climate change allowances. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-and-coastal-risk-projects-schemes-and-strategies-climate-change-allowances (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2021). Practicalities for implementing regionalised allowances for climate change on flood flows. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/practicalities-for-implementing-regionalised-allowances-for-climate-change-on-flood-flows (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2021). Regionalised impacts of climate change on flood flows. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/regionalised-impacts-of-climate-change-on-flood-flows (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2021). Managing flood risk in the face of a changing climate – Creating a better place blog. Available at: https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2021/07/20/managing-flood-risk-in-the-face-of-a-changing-climate/ (Accessed: 24 March 2024).

    Environment Agency. (2023). Climate change and fluvial flood peaks. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/climate-change-and-fluvial-flood-peaks (Accessed 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2023). Chief Scientist’s annual review 2022. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63ff3f57d3bf7f25f76ffc9d/Environment_Agency_Chief_Scientist_s_annual_review_2022.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2024). Flood and coastal erosion risk management report: 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flood-and-coastal-risk-management-national-report/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-report-1-april-2023-to-31-march-2024 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Kay, A.L., Rudd, A.C., Fry, M., Nash, G. and Allen, S. (2021). Climate change impacts on peak river flows: Combining national-scale hydrological modelling and probabilistic projections. Climate Risk Management. Vol 31. Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2020.100263 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Met Office. (2021). Met Office UKCP18 case study. Available at: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/ukcp/ceh_ukcp_case_study.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. (2014). Guidance: Flood risk and coastal change. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-and-coastal-change (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Reynard, N. S., Kay, A. L., Anderson, M., Donovan, B., & Duckworth, C. (2017). The evolution of climate change guidance for fluvial flood risk management in England. Progress in Physical Geography, 41(2), 222-237. Available at: doi.org/10.1177/0309133317702566 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH). (2025). Climate change impacts on river flood peaks. Available at: https://cc-flood-impacts.ceh.ac.uk/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Wasko, C., Westra, S., Nathan, R., Orr, H.G., Villarini, G., Villalobos Herrera, R. and Fowler, H.J. (2021). Incorporating climate change in flood estimation guidance – Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. 379: 20190548. Available at: doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2019.0548 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder

    The research project was funded by the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme.

    Collaborators

    • Environment Agency
    • UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
    • Natural Resources Wales
    • Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

    Research period

    • 2018 to 2021

    Impact period

    • 2021 to present

    Impact country

    • England
    • Scotland
    • Wales

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 1 – Understanding future flood and coastal erosion risk

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Levee Safety Partnership

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    The Levee Safety Partnership

    The Levee Safety Partnership brings together experts from 3 countries to focus on emerging challenges and opportunities in flood defence infrastructure assets.

    Levee safety Partnership, York 2023. Image credit: Environment Agency.

    Levee Safety Partnership

    Environment Agency (United Kingdom), Rijkswaterstaat (the Netherlands) and the United States Army Corp of Engineers (United States of America)

    The Levee Safety Partnership (LSP) is a collaboration uniting engineers and researchers from the Netherlands, the USA, and the UK. It was established after Hurricane Katrina in 2004, when the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) sought expertise from Rijkswaterstaat in the Netherlands to enhance levee safety risk management. In 2014, the Environment Agency joined the partnership.

    The Environment Agency has Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in place with both organisations, underpinned by mutual agreement. The purpose of the MoUs is the sharing of common technical interests, and to cooperate in the development of joint activities in the field of Integrated Water Resources Management. To support this, participants exchange scientific and technical information, participate in visits and staff exchanges, run a community of practice, seminars and workshops and share best practices and lessons learned.

    Impact

    In 2024 and 2025, the research focused on surface protection specifically improving resilience and biodiversity in both vegetation and soils. This led to a collated evidence base to support improvements in seed mix, where further trials are intended before adapting current practice.

    Across 2023 and 2024 workshops helped to improve understanding on backwards erosion piping. Engagement with the International Handbook on Emergency Management for Flood Defences has led to further research to improve the evidence base behind options for emergency response to asset failure.

    The Levee Safety Partnership has raised awareness about levee safety topics, techniques, and technologies. This includes the development of the International Levee Handbook (ILH). Launched in 2013, the handbook offers international good practice on levees, based on knowledge and experience from 6 countries. It provides a guide to the evaluation, design, implementation, maintenance and management of levees and is relevant to the types of flood embankment managed by the Environment Agency, private owners and other operating authorities in the UK.

    Alongside research and development, the partnership has also supported exchanging best practice. For example, in 2017 at a meeting in St. Louis, the members evaluated a levee using methodologies from the Environment Agency, Rijkswaterstaat and the USACE. This cross-comparison evaluation led to valuable lessons and the adoption of an “American Style” assessment approach in the Netherlands.

    Staff exchanges led by the partnership have helped build capacity and develop the skills and knowledge of professionals. In 2024, a USACE member relocated to England for several months, supporting a review of asset resilience and assessment of risk. This person presented the Levee Safety Tool (LST2.0) to the Environment Agency, demonstrating how it can enhance the Environment Agency’s RAFT+ tool. Later in 2024, a member of the Environment Agency relocated to the USA for a year to focus on potential improvements to Environment Agency standards and share best practice.

    The partnership also runs an early career network. The network supports the development of younger engineers and scientists that are members of the partnership, typically within the first 5 to 10 years of their careers. It has created useful resources including country placemats describing context, governance and assessment methodology.

    The impact extends beyond the partnership. The Levee Safety Partnership regularly updates and participates in the annual International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) which is formed of over 100 countries and has a subcommittee on levees. Various spin-off groups have also emerged from the LSP, focusing on themes such as coastal zone management and incident management. The levee incident group is a parallel group that exists under the same Memorandum of Understanding, focused  on levee safety incident response.

    Impacts have also included a Tolerable Risk Workshop (2008 and 2020) and a ‘one levee, three methods’ assessment review, where each nation applied the other nations approach to their levee and a SWOT analysis led to considered outcomes. A similar review on the approach to climate change (resilience), as well as country governance, strategies and methodologies has helped nations to consider options. The success of the group has led to further groups of a similar nature in coastal zone management, storm surge barriers, and incident management.

    Resources

    CIRIA. (2013). The International Levee Handbook. Available at: The International Levee Handbook (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Rijkswaterstaat. (2024). International Handbook on Emergency Management Flood Defences. Available at: International Handbook on Emergency Management for Flood Defences (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Rijkswaterstaat. (2025). International Partnerships. Available at: https://www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/en/collaboration/international-partnerships/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    United States Army Corp of Engineers. Levee Safety Program. Available at: Levee Safety Program (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder

    The Environment Agency research components of the LSP are  funded by the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme.

    Collaborators

    • Environment Agency

    • United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE)

    • Rijkswaterstaat

    Research period 

    • Ongoing

    Impact period 

    • Ongoing

    Impact country 

    • United Kingdom

    • United States of America

    • Netherlands

    Contributing to areas of research interest

    • 5 – Asset management

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Social inequality and flood risk

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Social inequality and flood risk

    Flooding is a growing environmental threat across the UK, but not all communities experience its impacts equally.

    View of damage following a flood. Image credit: Environment Agency.

    Flood risk, inequalities and justice

    Gordon Walker 1 and Peter Bailey 2

    1 Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, United Kingdom

    2 Environment Agency, United Kingdom

    The Environment Agency commissioned research between 2006 and 2022 that explored the social distribution of environmental risks across England. The research found a link between social deprivation and flood vulnerability. The Environment Agency has used these findings to update its evidence base on the social distribution of flood risk and decision-making rules for investment.

    Impact

    Taken together, the research on social inequality and flood risk has influenced academic and policy understandings of not only inequalities in the distribution of flood risk, but also clear differentials in the vulnerabilities of households when flooding is experienced.

    The first report Addressing environmental inequalities: flood risk led by Gordon Walker was published in 2006. This analysis demonstrated a clear inequality in that people living in deprived communities – as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation – were more likely to be at risk of flooding. The pattern of risk from coastal flooding was particularly skewed towards deprived communities, with river flooding more evenly distributed (Figure 1).

    Figure 1: Total households at different levels of risk from river and sea flooding by deprivation decile within coastal areas. Credit: Environment Agency.

    These findings shaped flood policies. In 2010 the Environment Agency’s corporate indicators for flooding included an outcome measure for flood schemes of homes better protected in deprived areas (Environment Agency, 2015). Then in 2011, the Government introduced a partnership funding policy for flooding. This policy included an incentive that gave a higher rate of funding for schemes protecting homes in deprived areas from flooding (Defra, 2011).

    Published in 2011, the article Flood risk, vulnerability and environmental justice: evidence and evaluation of inequality in a UK context built upon the 2006 research. It explored the related issues of flood vulnerability and flood justice. The article has been widely cited, providing a foundation for similar analyses that have since been undertaken in the US and various European countries. It was also one of the first articles in the UK and internationally to bring flooding within an environmental justice framing.

    In 2020, the Environment Agency updated the original 2006 analysis. It used the updated Index of Multiple Deprivation as well as the latest version of the National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA). This version of NaFRA addressed some of the shortcomings of the 2006 analysis such as including the benefit of flood defence schemes in the flood risk exposure data. The report was published in 2022 in Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding. The updated analysis still found evidence of flood inequalities in England.

    The findings included:

    • the size of the inequality was smaller than the 2006 study, because national flood data included flood defences and many schemes were built since 2006
    • deprived coastal communities still experienced significant flood inequalities
    • flood inequalities found within rural areas were greater than those in urban areas
    • the analysis suggested that recent investment has been relatively successful in reducing flood risk exposure inequality for the 20% most deprived areas in England

    The updated analysis and the 2022 report have been used by the National Audit Office in Managing flood risk: Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

    Resources 

    Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). (2011). Flood and Coastal Resilience Partnership Funding. London: Defra. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c89f1ed915d48c2410708/pb13896-flood-coastal-resilience-policy.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2006). Addressing Environmental Inequalities: Flood Risk. Science Report: SC020061/SR1. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c365ced915d76e2ebbd58/scho0905bjok-e-e.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2015). Flood and coastal erosion risk management Outcome Measures. Progress made towards achieving the Flood And Coastal Erosion Risk Management Outcome Measures target: July 2014 to September 2014. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-outcome-measures (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2022). Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-deprivation-and-the-likelihood-of-flooding (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2024). National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-assessment-of-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-in-england-2024/national-assessment-of-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-in-england-2024 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Ministry of Housing and Local Government. (2020). English indices of deprivation. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/english-indices-of-deprivation (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    National Audit Office (NAO). (2020). Managing flood risk – NAO report. Available at: https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/managing-flood-risk/?nab=2 – downloads (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Walker, G. and Burningham, K. (2011). Flood risk, vulnerability and environmental justice: Evidence and evaluation of inequality in a UK context. Critical Social Policy Volume 31, Issue 2, pp. 216–240. Available at: doi.org/10.1177/0261018310396149 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder 

    • Environment Agency

    Research period  

    • 2006 to 2022

    Impact period  

    • 2006 to present

    Impact country  

    • UK

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 8 – Integrated outcomes

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: FCERM research outcomes and impact

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    FCERM research outcomes and impact

    Research investment is making an impact in managing flooding and coastal change.

    On 4 April 2025, the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme published a collection of case studies. They highlight how research has been used to improve flood and coastal erosion risk management by connecting people who have operational problems with researchers who have solutions.

    The case studies cover diverse topics – from modelling with advanced technologies like digital twins, to using natural flood management measures, to applying people’s local flood knowledge and improving how we work with communities.

    The FCERM research and development programme is a collaborative partnership between the Environment Agency, Defra, Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales. We work with partners from academia, industry and across government.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 110 Status Reports

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Otago Tourism School – Public lecture

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  04 April 2025

    Tēnā koutou katoa

    It’s great to see so many people here interested in tourism that’s sustainable for the environment and the communities we live in.

    The Government is focused on economic growth – tourism on the land that DOC manages is a key part of that.

    I know that healthy nature and being able to operate on public conservation land with certainty, is important to many tourism operators.

    I also know you’re eagerly awaiting Ministerial decisions on the work to manage visitors better at Milford Sound.

    It’s coming – the Ministers of Tourism and Conservation are working on a paper and will be talking to their colleagues on it – and we can expect some announcements soon.

    I want to use this opportunity to take you through what DOC is doing to make sure people can get out, enjoy their time on conservation land and contribute to the economy.

    DOC’s role

    For those of you who don’t know us well, DOC manages more than a third of New Zealand’s land area, as well as hundreds of offshore islands, marine reserves, and national parks.

    We are responsible for 14,000 native species and we put a lot of effort into managing threats from predators, disease and human-related impacts.

    We also provide a huge range of visitor assets, including huts, campsites, picnic areas, shelters, bridges, toilets, and so many kilometres of tracks that, if you laid them out in a line, they would stretch from here to New York.

    We have the largest number of Treaty settlements to implement of any Crown agency – with more than 3 thousand specific obligations and commitments to working with iwi at culturally significant places.

    We operate under 25 different pieces of legislation, some of it really old and hard to navigate – for example the Wildlife Act was written 70 years ago, long before climate change was understood and before international visitor growth was a thing.

    We are also neighbours across 57,000 kilometres of land boundaries and have 17,000 kilometres of fences in our asset management system.

    So in a snapshot, we have very broad responsibilities – and we are doing it with 5% of the Government’s budget.

    We have to prioritise our work carefully because we can’t afford to do it all.

    Permissions at pace

    Many of you in this room will be interested in what we’re doing to make it easier for businesses to operate on public conservation land.

    You’re frustrated at the length of time it takes to get your permissions and concessions processed.

    I want to assure you we’re working on this at pace. It’s a major priority for our Minister; we’ve got targets we have to meet, and we are surging our effort on this.

    We need to clear the applications that are more than a year old by June this year.

    As soon as we close applications more come in, so we are also improving our systems. We don’t want numbers to creep back up and create more of a problem.

    We’re going at it hammer and tongs – we’ve got new technology coming to help us triage and track applications. So you can apply for a permit or concession online and track it in real time.

    We’re also batching up types of applications for processing and setting up panels to assess applications – so it’s faster.

    We found that processing drone applications was eating up a huge amount of our time – now we’ve worked with iwi and with our technical staff to determine in advance where drones are allowed and where the no-fly zones are.

    We now process all drone permits within a week and it’s cut down our admin time immensely.

    We’re looking to do similar things with other categories of permits.

    Part of the backlog is caused by all the layers of rules we are obliged to follow, so streamlining our legislation will be a big help – we’ve gone out for public consultation on that and advice will go to Ministers shortly.

    This is a big deal for DOC – we’re doing everything we can to shift this, to make it easier for you to work with us. It will help to grow local businesses, and we can free up time and resources to push back into conservation.

    DOC is New Zealand’s biggest tourism provider

    It’s important we get concessions right because concessionaires play an important role in the tourism system – DOC enables 1,000 tourism businesses to operate on conservation land and water.

    DOC is also the largest provider of visitor experiences in New Zealand, with over 16,000 hut beds. We enjoy hosting 64,000 walkers on the Great Walks each year.

    Conservation-related tourism is worth around $3.4 billion a year – that’s still down about $900m since before Covid, but numbers are starting to bounce back.

    Most visitors come here for our mountains, open landscapes, quirky wildlife, and unique cultural heritage.

    50% of international tourists visit national parks – a quarter of them deliberately seek out places of significance to Māori.

    80% of New Zealanders visit public conservation land each year.

    Visitor satisfaction is high, but we still have a lot to do to protect the experiences we’re promising, and make sure the environment is looked after.

    NZ’s economy needs nature

    Nature is key to the economy and if we don’t look after it, people will stop buying our products and they won’t visit.

    70% of NZ’s export earnings are from sectors that rely directly on natural resources.

    The clean air, quality soil, and fresh water that public conservation land provides are worth around $11 billion per year. [1]

    Natural and physical capital on public conservation land is worth $134 billion, and National Parks are worth $12.6 billion to New Zealanders.

    When storms take out DOC assets, your communities suffer.

    I know there’s huge frustration when tracks like Rob Roy and Blue Pools close at short notice.

    The torrential rain and floods in February 2020 which damaged more than 30 bridges and hundreds of kilometres of track, on the Routeburn and Milford tracks had a massive impact. That event, along with COVID hard on its heels, saw visitor spending in the region cut by half. [2]

    We’ve been working over the past five years to deliver a $14m flood recovery programme to restore these important visitor experiences.

    On the other hand there’s huge opportunity for conservation tourism – I know Real Journeys offers this – where people get involved while they’re out enjoying nature.

    Another opportunity is film tourism – the Lord of the Rings series has really helped send a postcard from New Zealand to the world and we should be exploring this further.

    Our economy depends on nature – but nature is in trouble.

    We have the highest proportion of threatened native species in the world – with more than 4,000 currently threatened or at risk of extinction.

    Climate change – more fires, floods and severe storms – are making the problem worse.

    We estimate it would cost around $2.3 billion per year to look after all threatened species properly and maintain healthy ecosystems to ensure their security.

    Our biodiversity budget is around $300 million – which puts us just in the ‘preventing losses’ space.

    Visitor network challenges

    When it comes to recreation – DOC has a few challenges.

    Our visitor network is large – we can only afford about 70% of it.

    We can’t replace all our existing assets as they reach the end of their useful life because we will run out of depreciation funding to replace them.

    And our construction costs are going up – in recent years we spent over $3m on the Mintaro hut and surrounding structures. It costs us 30% more now to build swing bridges in the back country than it did four years ago.

    Another challenge is to meet the growing and changing visitor demand. New Zealanders and international visitors want more accessible, shorter walks.

    Longer tramps are no longer in the top 20 activities.

    Severe weather is damaging the assets that we’ve got.

    Our spending on storm repairs has quadrupled in the past five years and 300 of our coastal assets are in the danger zone from rising sea levels.

    I know closures of key sites on the Milford Corridor like The Chasm have been frustrating for some operators and visitors.

    It’s in an area subject to extreme rainfall. We need to be confident we’re making the appropriate level of investment for the site.

    We’ve completed the geotech work and are progressing the design – but with tight resources we have to be careful.

    Likewise Tunnel Beach walkway in Dunedin suffered serious damage last year from torrential rain, and we’ve got similar issues there. Similarly Lake Sylvan near Glenorchy.

    Another emerging challenge is with social media influencers – whose photos are encouraging people to go beyond their capabilities to get that perfect insta shot.

    We’ve also seen some appalling and dangerous visitor behaviour this summer with people driving over birds nesting on beaches, and harassing sea lions to get a better photo or video.

    We’ve also had 5 fatalities this year where people have gone beyond track ends, including two recent ones in Otago.

    Responsible camping is another hot topic – the Valley of the Trolls and Brewster Glacier are the two local examples where the volume of people camping are having an impact on the sites, so we are encouraging people to camp responsibly.

    I applaud the actions being taken by the station owner at Earnslaw Station to keep the area pristine and reminding people to be respectful.

    Another issue DOC is seeing is the uneven distribution of visitors.

    Some assets are under-used with plenty having fewer than 200 visitors per year in places.

    On the other hand, some iconic locations such as Piopiotahi Milford Sound or Aoraki Mt Cook, are becoming increasingly popular, car parks are overflowing and this is negatively affecting the environment.

    We are working on how we manage numbers so the experience is safe and sustainable.

    So what are we doing about it?

    Here’s our plan for resolving some of these issues.

    There are things we can do under existing frameworks, so we’ve started.

    We’re taking a strategic approach to funding from the International Visitor Levy and investing it in ways that improves the visitor experience at our most popular places.

    For example, national parks – people come here for nature so we need to make sure nature’s sustained in those areas.

    We’re also investing in short walks – bringing tracks back up to standard, removing graffiti, re-gravelling tracks.

    We’re looking at charging for carparks and more of our huts – this improves the proportion of charges to the user, reducing the cost to all New Zealanders.

    From next summer we will pilot carparking charges at Aoraki/Mt Cook, Punakaiki and Franz Josef Glacier to help manage visitor numbers and cover upkeep costs – like other countries do.

    I’ve already told you the work we’re doing at pace to fix our permissions system.

    What’s coming

    In future we’re exploring charges to access some high-volume areas, like they do overseas, to help pay toward the upkeep of the visitor network.

    Currently we can only charge people who stay in a hut, or businesses who operate on conservation land.

    Visitors who do short walks – the most popular activity – don’t pay anything.

    We’ve been out for public consultation and overall the feedback was supportive – especially for charging international visitors more.

    On law reform, we want to prune back all the layers of regulation that are paralysing us. Modernising legislation will help fix this by cutting processing times and reducing costs for businesses.

    We’re also looking at our visitor network and trying different things. We want to realign our network to make sure it’s affordable and we can better meet the changing demand for experiences.

    We need to build in resilience so we’re not just building back assets which will get washed away in the next flood.

    We’re thinking of different categories like ‘buckets’, being really clear about what’s special to New Zealanders and keeping visitor risk and safety top of mind.

    The first bucket would be the things that DOC will absolutely continue to own and maintain, things like Great Walks, highly visited tracks, huts, and campsites.

    There might be some experiences that DOC wants to move away from.

    Like a hut at a road end where people regularly load up with lots of alcohol and then trash it. Or parts of tracks that are continually being washed out.

    And then we need to work out the things DOC would still own, but others might manage.

    Like halls, pools and some camp sites.

    We are also looking at how we partner with others to provide experiences – we’ve just done this on the new Hump Ridge track Great Walk – with the Charitable Trust operating it under a licensing agreement.

    The Backcountry Trust is doing an amazing job of maintaining our low use, backcountry huts – and we’re partnering with them through the Community Hut Programme and funding from the visitor levy.

    I want to be clear that no decisions have been made by Ministers yet – there is still a way to go. It will also be phased in over time.

    We’re preparing advice on this now and hope to get that to Ministers by the middle of this year.

    Ministers will need to make some tough calls on doing things differently – Minister Potaka has said publicly he wants us to sharpen our focus so we’re putting our resources into the things that matter most.

    That means concentrating on high value conservation areas and species, and key visitor destinations – and working out where we should divest, co-fund or partner with others on.

    Tongariro Alpine Crossing – case study

    We’re already testing ideas on managing visitors at our busiest spots – like the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

    We’ve had a lot of problems in the past with high visitor numbers, people not properly prepared, and visitors not respecting the track or the mountain – in fact some would go to the toilet on the track.

    We’ve been working in partnership with Ngāti Hikairo and local tourism operators and come up with some innovative solutions.

    We’ve introduced the first booking system for a day walk in NZ.

    We’ve got Manaaki Rangers on site during peak times to explain the cultural heritage and why it’s important to respect the mountain.

    We have done a lot of research to understand the impacts of visitors, including what the carrying capacity is and what the environmental impacts are.

    We’ve also added a climate station to help support concessionaries with better weather forecasts.

    And we’re running behaviour change campaigns.

    We’re getting results – 80 – 90% of visitors are complying with the booking system, which has given us the ability to directly contact walkers before they head out and give them the safety and cultural messages.

    As a result visitors are now a lot more aware and respectful of the environment they’re heading into.

    Working with Ngāti Hikairo has also helped us connect with concessionaires, so they understand the cultural importance of the landscape – hosting hui with operators has helped work through issues and opportunities.

    This work is not easy, but this case study shows it can be done. We need to work out how to scale up this model and apply it elsewhere.

    Again – it’s not perfect, but we’re making progress and we will test and adapt.

    Cathedral Cove – case study

    Another example of where we’re working with manawhenua and local businesses to manage visitors is at Mautohe / Cathedral Cove in Coromandel.

    The walking track was closed for an extended period because of damage from Cyclone Gabrielle, and we had concerns about visitor safety – falling rocks, track washed away.

    Funding from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy meant we could reinstate walking access by re-routing the track temporarily.

    We’re pleased to see visitors enjoying the cove again – with hundreds of people a day back over summer.

    We’re doing intensive monitoring of numbers – we’ve looked at how to manage visitors through car parking and shuttles.

    And we had our staff and ambassadors on site over summer to ensure people have a great time and the place is well looked after.

    Ongoing geological risk is one of the main challenges we have at this site. The response plan gives us a good process and guidelines to manage visitor safety and minimising risk for visitors.

    The plan involves monitoring the weather – in particular heavy rain, and seismic information – if there are concerns we trigger inspections of the track and decide whether we need to take action to minimise the risk to visitors.

    Mobilising for Nature 

    We also want people to fall in love with nature and mobilise them into action.

    We want to create a nationwide movement where action for nature is something we all do, because we are proud of our unique species and landscapes.  

    But so many New Zealanders don’t see the scale of the challenge or fully appreciate the consequences of losing what we have. 

    And if they do want to get involved, they don’t know how.

    We’re focusing on raising awareness at scale and attracting more funding from other parties to sustain our important conservation delivery work. 

    DOC and New Zealand Nature Fund are piloting a Nature Prospectus – so the public can donate directly to, or corporates can fund, three priority projects.

    We’ve also signed up to the International Island Ocean Connection Challenge – to rewild three of our biggest islands – Auckland Island, Chatham Islands and Rakiura – to bring more revenue from international philanthropists.

    Tourism needs nature – making Rakiura predator free will be a big part of this and I encourage you to get behind it – you only need to see how Ulva Island draws the tourists.

    We’re aiming to connect people with nature – including encouraging people to get out into nature.

    We will also be developing a range of actions that are easily available for people and businesses to take, including donating or investing.

    Close

    So you can see DOC has many roles and challenges.

    We are working at pace on them.

    I appreciate those of you who’ve provided feedback on our proposals to modernise our legislation and explore access charging.

    I’m looking forward to hearing your feedback and having a discussion with you.

    Kia ora

    Related links

    1. Assessing the value of public conservation land: Managing conservation
    2. Report from Great South, outlines the serious economic and social impact on Te Anau and Fiordland from the twin disasters of unprecedented floods in February and border closures due to COVID-19. Fiordland counts the cost post floods and COVID-19

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Climate – March was dry for most; warm for the South Island – NIWA’s Monthly Climate Summary March 2025

    Source: NIWA

    March was dry for most parts of New Zealand, and warm for the South Island, according to the Monthly Climate Summary issued by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
    Below normal rainfall or well below normal rainfall was observed across much of the North Island, and northern, western and inland parts of the South Island. Above normal rainfall or well above normal rainfall was observed in Gisborne, northern Hawke’s Bay, and the eastern South Island. The highest 1-day rainfall was 186 mm, recorded at Milford Sound on 17 March.
    Over March 2025, temperatures were above average or well above average for most of the South Island, as well as parts of Wellington, Taranaki, northern Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, and Northland. Temperatures were typically near average for the remainder of the country. The highest temperature was 33.6°C, observed at Timaru on 17 March.
    At the end of March, soil moisture levels were well below normal for most of the North Island, and northwestern parts of the South Island. Soil moisture levels were above normal about Banks Peninsula, Selwyn District, and southern and northern parts of Hawke’s Bay. Elsewhere, soil moisture levels were mostly near normal.
    Of the six main centres in March 2025, Auckland and Tauranga were the equal-warmest, Tauranga was the driest and sunniest, Christchurch was the wettest, and Dunedin was the coolest and least sunny. The sunniest three locations so far in 2025 are Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Auckland. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 04.03.2025 Sens. Cruz, Padilla Introduce Bill to Improve Fog Forecasting, Boost Vessel Safety at Ports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) today introduced the Fog Observations and Geographic Forecasting Act (FOG Forecasting Act), bipartisan legislation to improve the National Weather Service’s (NWS) fog forecasting capabilities to enhance safety at America’s ports and help prevent costly shipping delays caused by dense fog.
    Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, “In my hometown of Houston, we’ve seen unexpected severe fog occurrences delay goods coming in and out of Port Houston. The FOG Forecasting Act would keep vessels moving safely and swiftly at U.S. ports, benefiting shippers, exporters, and consumers. I’m glad to partner on legislation with Sen. Padilla to help produce more accurate fog forecasts that will reduce collisions between vessels, ensure American cargo reaches its destinations intact and on time, and save millions in economic costs from port closures.”
    Sen. Padilla said, “Californians along the Pacific Coast have experienced how unpredictably dense and dangerous the marine layer fog can be. Fog can create hazardous conditions, increasing collision risk for ships transporting essential goods to and from California’s high-volume ports. As communities prepare for and respond to increasingly severe weather patterns, strengthening NOAA’s weather forecasting capabilities is an important bipartisan priority to bolster safer transportation at sea and in the air along our coastlines.”
    Read the bill text here.
    BACKGROUND
    This past February, widespread fog in Houston caused significant disruption to the city’s port operations, impacting the Houston Ship Channel’s navigation for nearly two weeks and ultimately reducing cargo flows through the port. Studies have shown that poor visibility, often fog-associated, significantly impacts maritime traffic safety, predisposing vessels to collision accidents. Approximately 70% of ship collisions are attributed to foggy conditions, underscoring the critical need for effective monitoring and management of fog in maritime operations. Marine fog is the primary reason for Houston port closures, and each hour the port is closed can have over $100 million in economic costs. Smaller ports such as Freeport, Port Lavaca, and Texas City can also lose millions of dollars for each hour their ports are closed. too.
    The FOG Forecasting Act would require the NWS to establish more marine-based observations that measure visibility, temperatures, dewpoints, and water levels, as well as provide cameras needed to enhance the safe navigation of vessels. The bill would also improve high-resolution modeling capabilities to produce more accurate wind, temperature, dewpoint, and visibility forecasts. These new techniques will give users more detailed and visually appealing information on visibility. Better fog forecasts would reduce uncertainty, allowing ports to reopen sooner, get commerce moving, and reduce the economic costs of port closures.

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