Legal and political context

Content taken from the “30 years of research into flood prevention” dossier

French public policy on flood prevention is based on decades of experience and successive improvements. One of the strengths of this public policy is that it can rely on a stable, long-standing political will, which has also benefited from the collaboration between INRAE and the public authorities.

An effective flood prevention strategy could be summed up by the phrase: “Don’t be in the wrong place at the wrong time”. This means locating places where you can be safe at critical times. These two major aspects of prevention are reflected in the seven principles that underpin the national policy for preventing natural hazards:

– Knowledge of phenomena, hazards and risks,

– Monitoring, forecasting and warning,

– preventive information and public education,

– Taking risk into account in planning and urban development,

– Work to reduce vulnerability,

– Preparing for crisis management,

– Post-crisis management and feedback.

In 2014, under European impetus, France strengthened its flood risk management policy with the national flood risk management strategy (SNGRI). This has three priority objectives:

1) To increase the safety of exposed populations,

2) To stabilise the cost of flood-related damage in the short term and reduce it in the medium term,

3) Shorten the time it takes for affected areas to return to normal.

This national strategy is implemented through flood prevention action programmes (PAPI), launched in 2003 and supported by local authorities. Controlling urban development is a key factor in flood prevention. For fixed installations and buildings, the key is to choose the right location to limit damage in the event of flooding. So the right strategy is not to build “in the wrong places”. That’s what land use regulations are all about. To prevent risks from worsening in the future, the national strategy is based on taking account of flood risks in the development of areas at risk through flood risk prevention plans (PPRi). These plans are prescribed and approved by the government, and drawn up in consultation with local authorities and communities. The PPRi maps the areas at risk of flooding and regulates land use, building methods, and the use and management of at-risk areas, depending on the level of risk.

Dramatic floods at the end of the 20th century led to an overhaul of the flood monitoring and warning system, which, set up in 1854, left too little time to take action and protect people. The new model is based on close collaboration between science and the public authorities represented by the Service central d’hydrométéorologie et d’appui à la prévision des inondations (Schapi). In 2002, following a report by the French National Assembly on flood control, the Ministry of Ecology launched a reform to transform the flood warning system into a flood forecasting system. The aim of this system is to make it possible to anticipate the arrival of floods in the short term and to forecast the corresponding hazard, with sufficient time and accuracy to effectively activate the warning and emergency chains. Since 2006, the Schapi, a service of the DGPR, the SPCs, the hydrometric units and the hydrological watch units in overseas territories have been responsible for continuous flood watch on the statutory network of rivers monitored by the State, i.e. 23,100 kilometres in mainland France via the VIGICRUES Flash network.

A European framework for hydraulic risk management Since 2007, flood risk management policy has been governed by European Directive 2007/60/EC, known as the “Floods Directive”, which aims to limit the impact of floods on human health, economic activity, the environment and cultural heritage. This directive was transposed into French law by the French National Environment Commitment Act, known as the “LEne Act”, in 2010, and by the Decree of 2 March 2011 on the assessment and management of flood risks (Decree No. 2011-227).

Science needs and contributions from INRAE

Content from the “30 years of research for flood prevention” dossier

Flood risk is the leading natural hazard in France in terms of impact and extent. It affects one French person in four, or more than 17 million people. As experts in water-related risks, six INRAE scientific teams are helping to implement flood prevention policy. They are working on tools and methods for forecasting and preventing this risk.

French public policy on flood prevention is based on decades of experience and successive improvements. One of the strengths of this public policy is that it can rely on a long-standing and stable political will, which has also benefited from the collaboration between INRAE and the public authorities. For over 30 years, INRAE scientists have been involved in the development and improvement of current flood forecasting and prevention tools. They carry out research into the risks associated with the overflow of rivers and torrents and run-off. This research covers both flood forecasting and hazard prediction, as well as risk prevention and flood protection.

A number of hydrometric experts are involved in international organisations: the World Meteorological Organisation since 2008, international working groups and international hydrometric courses run by INRAE since 2013. Between 2010 and 2020, seven international project appraisals lasting between one and three years were also carried out around the world, covering all seven pillars of flood prevention: mapping hydraulic regimes, designing a dam to protect against debris flows, recommendations for the design, management and monitoring of wetland constructions, and assessing the risks associated with heavy rainfall during a state of emergency. Several of these expert assessments used models and methods developed by INRAE.

INRAE and the DGPR have maintained a partnership since the 1990s in the field of knowledge and prevention of natural and hydraulic risks. The latest agreement signed with the DGPR in May 2022, in application of the framework agreement with the Ministry of Ecology, provides for a study and research programme conducted with its Natural and Hydraulic Risks Department (SRNH) in 5 areas of action:

1. Scientific and technical support for risk prevention,
2. Flood forecasting,
3. Safety of hydraulic structures,
4. Flood prevention,
5. Land-based natural risks.

For the year 2022, 77 research and expertise initiatives have been launched with the DGPR. They involve :

• 3 research departments: AQUA, ECODIV and ACT
• 6 units: ETNA, G-EAU, HYCAR, LESSEM, RECOVER and RIVERLY
• Around thirty FTEs, including 10 FTEs involving 50 to 60 permanent engineers and researchers