Some initial thoughts on how to start and run your own Flood Action Group:

Start with Why

• why are you starting a group?
• what community will be served by the group? what do they want? what do they need?
• what area will it cover?
• who do you hope will join your group? why?
• what do you want the group to achieve in the short and long term?

Knowledge

To build confidence and credibility, build your knowledge:

• find out how homes, property, businesses, farmland have been affected by floods (talk to your neighbours and their neighbours?)
• know the land, know the watercourses:
  • where does the water come from? where does it go to?
  • has it always been like this? when did things change? check local and national maps
  • are there any conservation areas or SSSIs?
  • what land is at particular risk of flooding?
• understand the differences between:
  • rivers, streams, ditches, watercourses
  • groundwater, surface water, flash flooding, field run-off
• Riparian Responsibility
  • rules and permissions (Environment Agency)
  • rights and roles (Environment Agency)
  • who is responsible? (Parliament)
• understand infrastructure and what it does:
  • drains, gulleys, culverts, trash screens, sluices, weirs
  • water pipes, sewage pipes, sewage pumping stations, conduits for other utilities
• understand roles and responsibilities:
  • what is the town or parish council responsible for?
  • what about the local authority? do they have a working group responsible for flood coordination?
  • Drainage Boards
  • the Environment Agency
  • which water company supplies water and processes sewage in your area?
  • Flood Wardens - how many do you have?
  • how well prepared are residents?
• what opportunities are there? what can be improved, how, and why?

Members of your group

These sorts of people might be good for your FLAG:

• people who care about the causes of flooding, and are willing to do something about it.
• poeople who are practical and hands-on, who can safely participate in activities in/around watercourses.
• people who get out and about, perhaps they walk their dog along the river?
• nature-lovers, people concerned about wildlife and ecology.
• somebody willing to organise the group (bonus skills: a good listener, communicator, decision-maker, can work with the system not against it).

This is a work in progress. More soon.