Innovation - Devon Resilience Innovation Project
Devon Resilience Innovation Project (DRIP) unites 19 organisations in improving resilience to flooding in 26 communities across Devon. The project has brought investment to these rural communities not typically prioritised within local flood risk management strategies.
How is the project improving flood resilience across Devon?
Using a combination of interventions to boost community resilience, this unique project helps neighbourhoods be better prepared for, and able to recover more quickly from flooding.
During intense rainfall events, the farms and villages surrounding Devon’s steep-sided catchments can experience flash flooding. This often leaves communities only a few hours to activate flood plans and employ property flood resilience measures. The project aims to provide more time for communities to be ready by:
helping them to identify flood risk issues, develop emergency plans and be ready to activate them
slowing the flow of water and storing water in the river catchment through natural flood management (NFM) measures
providing localised flood forecasting alerts and other smart technologies to improve preparation time
protecting community assets such as village halls and local shops to provide shelter and resources during flood events
What innovation does the project demonstrate?
DRIP is testing innovative approaches in combination to reduce the effects of flooding. These fall into four main categories:
Community preparedness and support- including engaging with councils, parish groups, land managers and farmers, updating flood plans and identifying vulnerable people.
Natural flood management (NFM)- working with communities and landowners to identify the best places for NFM and the most suitable techniques.
Smart technology- trialling new technologies including surface flood water forecasting pilot schemes, rainfall radars, smart gullies and soil moisture sensors.
Flood resilience measures for community assets- enabling faster flood recovery by targeting property flood resilience (PFR) measures (e.g. flood guards, gates, pumps) at community assets, e.g. village halls, local shops, pubs, where people can take shelter or receive supplies.
Visit the project website to find out more about the Devon Resilience Innovation Project (DRIP) and subscribe to their newsletter for regular updates.