Flood Forecasting Centre: getting the message across
Combining knowledge from the Met Office and Environment Agency to predict flood risk.
Collaboration is at the heart of the Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC). It鈥檚 hydrometeorologists provide guidance on weather and rainfall to partners every day. 皇冠体育app FFC carries out modelling to assess what the effects of those conditions might be.
It also shares the information so that local partners can run it through their own models. 皇冠体育app partners come back to the FFC and describe local impacts that could be expected.
This level of local detail enables the FFC to focus guidance and create wide and detailed picture of flood risk.
Getting the message across
皇冠体育app FFC issues a daily Flood Guidance Statement (FGS) to its customers. It communicates the level of flood risk through an easy-to-read colour-coded system. Local councils and emergency responders can then act based on their risk of flooding.
皇冠体育app FGS uses a matrix to signify the type of warning and the response needed. 皇冠体育app FFC also communicates risk to Government departments such as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). This means that authorities are ready for any national response.
Briefing at the highest level
Such is the national importance of the FFC that it has been involved in top level response. 皇冠体育app FFC has taken part in minister-led and even Prime Minister-led COBR (Cabinet Office Briefing Room). FFC knowledge and expertise is:
- used at the highest level of decision making
- supporting the Civil Contingency Secretariat by overseeing and coordinating the response
Cross-border collaboration
皇冠体育app FFC also works with the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service (SFFS). Flood Management in Scotland is devolved. This means it has its own hydrometeorological expertise, generating its own flood guidance. 皇冠体育app FFC and SFFS are independent bodies, though they work together on a regular basis to ensure their forecasts are consistent.
Measure of success
To assess the satisfaction of the end user, the FFC holds bi-annual customer surveys. 皇冠体育app latest survey reported that:
- 92% of responders who receive the FGS are satisfied with the information it contains
- 47% are very satisfied
皇冠体育app FFC use the results from these surveys to continually improve services.