Helping LLR Prepared mitigate flood impacts across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
LLR Prepared, Previsico's first adopter, uses live surface water flood forecasts to warn emergency teams up to 48 hours in advance, cutting response times and reducing flood damage across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Background
Leicestershire and Rutland Resilience Forum (LRRF) was established to address the challenges of flooding in Leicestershire and Rutland. This region has a significant history of localised flooding, with Leicester being ranked 16th out of 4,215 UK settlements for the risk of surface water flooding. According to Defra (2009), there are 36,900 properties located in flood-prone areas in Leicester.
Challenge
While LRRF has access to the Environment Agency's early warning systems for river and coastal flooding, they have not had a property-level surface water flood forecasting system available to them. In light of this, LRRF actively sought a solution to enhance their ability to plan for and respond to surface water flooding.
Solution
Leicestershire and Rutland Resilience Forum (LRRF) was Previsico's first adopter through our work with the Cabinet Office. In 2019, Previsico's Flood Warning Service helped LRRF's Operations Team to mobilise resources and coordinate its response ahead of flood events across the county. Further pilots followed with Birmingham, London and Manchester to provide a live data feed via the Cabinet Office's ResilienceDirect platform for emergency responders. These high-risk areas of the UK are now able to continuously monitor and predict surface water flooding at an individual property level.
Impact
In June 2019, Previsico's predictions were verified as accurate as they assisted LRRF's Operations Team to mobilise resources and coordinate its response ahead of flood events across the county, cutting response times and reducing flood damage.
Live forecasts enable flood action plans to be implemented and local emergency teams to be warned up to 48 hours in advance.
"What began with an exploratory chat about flooding in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is now a useful, lifesaving system. The team have worked hard to make this work and not been afraid to test it in real exercises with emergency services and partners here first. Applied worldwide, this can save lives and livelihoods."
Simon Cole, Leicestershire Police Chief Constable and LLR Prepared Chair
Previsico Team