Azores assessment and management of flood risks

Abstract

The European Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks, which entered into force in November 2007, establishes the regulatory framework for the assessment and management of flood risks within the European Union (EU), in order to reduce the negative consequences of flood for human life and health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity, as well as to take adequate measures to identify flood hazard and flood risk areas. Among other assets, this Directive requires EU Member States to first carry out a preliminary assessment based on the following instruments: flood hazard assessment maps; risk maps and flood risk management plans (FRMP). Portugal transposed this directive in 2010, marking a new attitude towards flood risk management by the integration of figure flood risk management plans (FRMP), in its water management and planning policies, structured in 6-year cycles. The first flood risk management plan for the Azores RBMP was concluded at the end of 2015, and further approved as a policy instrument by Regional Legislative Decree no. 20/2016/A of October 10. The plan aims an integrated river basin risk management in order to reduce the consequences associated with floods in sensitive areas covered by Territorial Management Instruments and to decrease susceptibility risks associated with local and regional particularities. The first cycle resulted in the selection of five critical zones characterized by event reoccurrence, loss of human and number of people affected, on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, and Flores. The next planning cycle (2022–2027) will reevaluate the current critical high-risk flood areas, and identify new critical areas for both river basins and coastal areas at risk of flooding.