How can you create an effective flood contingency plan?

2 Roles and responsibilities

The second step in creating a flood contingency plan is to define and assign the roles and responsibilities of the people and organizations involved in the flood response. You should establish a clear command and control structure, with a designated leader, a backup, and a team of key personnel. You should also identify and coordinate with external partners, such as local authorities, emergency services, suppliers, customers, and media. You should document the contact details, functions, and expectations of each role and ensure that everyone is trained and aware of their duties.

3 Action plan

The third step in creating a flood contingency plan is to develop an action plan that specifies the steps and measures to be taken before, during, and after a flood event. This plan should include objectives, tasks, timelines, and resources for each phase: preparedness, response, and recovery. Additionally, you should also consider contingency scenarios and alternative options in case of changes or complications. For preparedness, you should stock up on essential supplies, secure your property and equipment, backup your data, elevate your valuables, check your insurance coverage, and monitor the flood warnings. During response phase, you must activate your emergency team, evacuate or shelter in place according to the instructions of the authorities, communicate with your stakeholders, and document the damage and losses. Finally, for recovery phase you should assess the situation, restore utilities and services, clean and disinfect premises, repair or replace assets, resume operations, and evaluate your performance.

4 Communication plan

The fourth step in creating a flood contingency plan is to design a communication plan that ensures timely and accurate information exchange among your internal and external stakeholders. You should identify the communication channels, methods, and tools that you will use to send and receive messages, such as phone calls, emails, radios, social media, or megaphones. You should also determine the frequency, content, and format of your communication, as well as the target audience, sender, and receiver for each message. You should also prepare templates, scripts, and protocols for your communication, such as emergency alerts, status updates, instructions, requests, and feedback.

5 Resource plan

The fifth step in creating a flood contingency plan is to prepare a resource plan that lists the equipment, materials, and personnel that you will need to support your flood response. You should estimate the quantity, quality, and cost of your resources, as well as the sources, locations, and availability of them. You should also consider the transportation, storage, and maintenance of your resources, as well as the potential shortages, delays, or damages that may occur. You should also allocate and mobilize your resources according to your priorities and needs.

6 Review and update

The sixth and final step in creating a flood contingency plan is to review and update your plan regularly to ensure that it is relevant, realistic, and effective. You should test and exercise your plan periodically to check its feasibility, functionality, and compatibility. You should also monitor and evaluate your plan after each flood event to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of your flood response. You should also incorporate the feedback, lessons learned, and best practices from your stakeholders and partners. You should also revise your plan according to the changes in your environment, operations, and objectives.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?