WP4 - Flood crisis management software

CRISIS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, a PREPAREDNESS measure against future water-related risks – the example of OSIRIS and FLIWAS, tools for flood crisis management and emergency planning.

Adaptation to climate change does not merely rely on water protection measures. One of the key pillars of any adaptation strategy is the anticipation of crisis situations: how to react to future extreme events in the most appropriate way. It includes the establishment of floods and low-flows EARLY-WARNING SYSTEMS, EMERGENCY PLANNING, RAISING AWARENESS of the riverine population.

This WP aims at the improvement and establishment of TRANSNATIONAL FLOOD CRISIS MANAGEMENT systems by combining the available methods for the individual countries. It will be based on the analysis of the methods, procedures and software used: OSIRIS for France and Wallonia (within the “local emergency plans”) and FLIWAS for Flanders and the Netherlands. The aim is to develop a transnational system that provides a common operational picture and to improve situational awareness.

WP4 will provide guidelines for transboundary flood crisis management and preparedness to future crisis that will feed the adaptation strategy.

The development of software is aimed at local representatives and contributes to the involvement of the local population. OSIRIS & FLIWAS will also contribute to the communication goals of AMICE by helping to maintain risk consciousness and appropriate reaction in case of floods. The training of the local population, via the FLOOD CRISIS EXERCISES, is probably one of the best solutions to prevent the casualties of climate change-induced floods. This will enable a better implication of the population and local authorities in the management of the flood event.

OSIRIS & FLIWAS are already innovative in their capacity to provide free, assisted and easily up-datable preparedness for flood crisis management. The new phase is real-time management, at different scales. Currently, there are few such tools adapted to direct crisis management.