Flood Risk Management

Flooding can devastate communities. Sniffer helps to spread good practice that keep people safe.

Why flood risk management matters

Flooding is a frequent natural hazard in Scotland which, if poorly managed, can have dreadful impacts on people, businesses, and our natural and built environments. At present, 108,000 properties across Scotland are at some risk of flooding, and current estimates suggest Scotland could suffer approximately £250million of flood-related damages annually. In the future, changes in our climate, how we use our land and how we live have the potential to bring more people and property into flood risk.

What is the solution?

Flooding is a complex challenge, with many influencing factors, but the risks are manageable if we work together. Building on this belief in collaboration, for over ten years Sniffer has supported a range of research and events to promote the effectiveness of a co-operative approach to flood risk management. In 2009 the Scottish Government introduced a new Flood Risk Management Act, emphasising the key role such collaborative actions and partnership working has on protecting people and places from flooding. This was followed in 2015 by SEPA’s publication of 14 Local Flood Risk Management Strategies, covering the whole of Scotland, and in 2016 by a set of Local Flood Risk Management Plans aiming to put these strategies into practice. These plans help to target resources in the areas where they can best protect people, businesses and critical services.

How Sniffer helps to reduce flood risk

Sniffer provides a range of services to the Scottish FRM Community to help encourage and deliver a holistic approach to Flood Risk Management. Chief among these is our annual Flood Risk Management Conference, which Sniffer has run for twelve successive years. The conference is the premier event in the Scottish Flood Risk Management calendar and regularly attracts more than 250 delegates. You can read more about how our approach has helped the conference to become one of the top policy and practice forums in the country in this case study.

Sniffer was delighted to support the Interreg Building with Nature coordination meeting in Dundee in September 2018. A short report of the event is available:

Building with Nature Coordination Meeting Sept 2018.pdf

What next?

Hold the date for the Flood Risk Management Conference 2019

Sniffer continues to work closely with the Scottish Government, SEPA, the Scottish Flood Forum and many others in the FRM Community to ensure Scotland’s people and places are resilient to the impacts of rising waters.

Visit the 2018 Flood Risk Management Conference page for all presentations from the conference.

FRM_2018_Conference_Summary_Report__web_Final.pdf

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Scotland's Flood Risk Management Conference 2019 Registration now closed

Scotland's Flood Risk Management Conference 2019 takes place from 5-6 February 2019 at Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow.
New Chair of the Board for Sniffer announced
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Sniffer has been working with a number of organisations involved in research and practice, to draw together some key learning points in relation to community resilience in the context of climate change- we have developed a short summary note and welcome feedback.

Community resilience and climate justice

Sniffer has been working with a number of organisations involved in research and practice, to draw together some key learning points in relation to community resilience in the context of climate change- we have developed a short summary note and welcome feedback.
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Flood Risk Management Conference 2018

The 2018 conference was held at the Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre in Glasgow from 5-6 February. A full conference summary report and all the presentations from the conference are now available to download. Thank to all those who contributed and attended for making another successful year.
Flood Risk Management Conference 2017

Sniffer’s annual Flood Risk Management conference returned to Our Dynamic Earth in February 2017 for its twelfth year. You can download the presentations from the conference and read the summary report here.
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Flood Risk Management Conference 2018

The 2018 conference was held at the Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre in Glasgow from 5-6 February. A full conference summary report and all the presentations from the conference are now available to download. Thank to all those who contributed and attended for making another successful year.
Climate Ready Clyde

Sniffer is helping to increase the Glasgow City Region's resilience to climate impacts through the Climate Ready Clyde initiative. By bringing together key organisations to work in partnership on climate change adaptation, we are ensuring Scotland's biggest population centre is prepared for the challenges of future climate.
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Scotland's Flood Risk Management Conference 2019 Registration now closed

Scotland's Flood Risk Management Conference 2019 takes place from 5-6 February 2019 at Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow.
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