There are a number of strategic groups set up within Devon to deal with the recovery stage after flooding emergencies. The different roles and responsibilities are set out below.
Devon Flood Recovery Coordination Group
Once the emergency response and relief phase has finished during a flood event, the responsibility for co-ordinating a multi-agency response transfers from the Police to a Local Authority. In Devon a Flood Recovery Coordination Group, led initially by us, is established to prepare for and coordinate the management of the post response activity aimed at supporting affected communities. Depending on the scale of the incident the chair of the recovery group may at some point transfer to the relevant District Council(s) at the appropriate time.
Our Flood Risk Management Team do not have an operational role in flood incident management but is a consultee in the Devon Flood Recovery Co-ordination Group. When a flood event occurs, information is gathered through the Highway Operations Control Room and liaising with the Environment Agency, District Councils and other members of the Flood Recovery Coordination Group. We will also gather information from the ground by visiting flooded sites where possible.
Peninsular Recovery Group
Due to the scale and nature of the 2014 storms, a Peninsula Recovery Group has been set up to work alongside the existing area Recovery Groups. It will operate as a high level / strategic group including coordinating contact with central government focusing on recovery issues.
The 6 main themes of the Peninsular Recovery Group:
- Communication and Influencing
- Rail Recovery
- Road Infrastructure
- Economy
- Sea defences and Flooding
- Humanitarian and Community Support
Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Resilience Forum
The Local Resilience Forum (LRF) has been established in response to the statutory requirements of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. The LRF is a multi-agency partnership made up of representatives from local public services, including the emergency services, local authorities, the NHS, the Environment Agency and other partners. Emergency responders meet at least once every six months in order to ‘establish and maintain effective multi-agency arrangements to respond to major emergencies, to minimise the impact of those emergencies on the public, property and environment…’
More information about the LFR can be found on the Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Resilience Forum website.
For more information on the response and recovery process refer to chapter 13 of Devon’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. Information and guidance about what to do after a flood can be found on the Safety and Emergencies website.
Last Updated: May 2019