TaFF project

Overview

Description

Extreme rainfalls and flash floods are occurring more frequently and are resulting more often in loss of lives and severe damages. Recent examples such as the flash floods in Germany, Slovenia, Italy, FYROM and Peru attest to the devastating effects on human populations associated with these phenomena. Whereas Member States of the European Union seem to be well prepared for flood containment and water pumping, scenarios during which extreme rainfalls cause flash floods, landslides, mudflows, etc. require a different approach including tactics, organisational structure and qualification. The speed and violence with which flash floods, mudflows and landslides occur leave little time for improvised response. A standardised approach is crucial. While localized knowledge does exist within Member States, the fractionalized character limits the development from anecdotal experiences to a coherent and widely available baseline of know-how. The consortium consisting of Civil Protection agencies including firefighters from Germany, Greece and Slovenia, aims to make full use of the potential hidden within the experts of the Union Civil Protection Participating States and its neighbours (IPA Countries, PPRD South and Switzerland). Best practices will be gathered through research, while workshops with experts will be held to create specific products such as guidelines and tactical guidance documents. Trainings and exercises will be used to test the developed products and create a new pool of flash flood response experts within the Mechanism. The consortium intends to provide a full process beginning with localized knowledge and ending with a comprehensive response approach that can be used to improve flash flood response in the EU. Its written products will serve as a starting point for the inclusion of new insights gained during future flash floods, ensuring a continually improved the response by Member States to flash floods, mudflows and landslides.

Partner organisations