Facing Hydrometeorological Extreme Events

Isabelle La Jeunesse, PhD HDR, is Lecturer in Environmental Geography at the University of Tours and the laboratory CNRS Citeres, Tours, France. Her research focuses on the impacts of human activities on geochemical cycles and on local adaptation to global changes. Corinne Larrue, PR, is full Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at the Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France, and was co-director of the Paris School of Planning, one of the most important institutes for urban planning in France. She was also Chairwoman of the scientific committee of Seine Normandie Waterboard.

List of Contributors xvii

Editors xxi

The Series Editor xxiii

Series Preface xxv

Part I: Introduction 1

1 Governance Challenges Facing Hydrometeorological Extreme Events 3
Isabelle La Jeunesse and Corinne Larrue

1.1 Introduction 3

1.2 Facing hydrometeorological extreme events 3

1.3 Floods 5

1.4 Drought 8

1.5 Coastal storms 11

1.6 Governance issues related to hydrometeorological extreme events 15

Notes 19

References 20

2 Overview of the Content of the Book 23
Isabelle La Jeunesse and Corinne Larrue

2.1 Floods 24

2.2 Droughts 24

2.3 Coastal storms 24

Part II: Floods 27

II.1: Actors Involved in Flood Risk Management 29

3 European Actors Facing Floods Risks 31
Thomas Schellenberger

3.1 European actors in the field of civil security: A competence which develops within a strict framework of cooperation between the Member States 32

3.2 European actors in the field of the environment: Powers that are paradoxically limited 34

3.3 European actors in the field of agriculture: Could there be specific powers to deal with floods? 37

3.4 Conclusion 39

Notes 39

References 40

4 Multi‐actor, Multilevel Assessment of Social Capacity for Community Engagement in Flood Risk Preparedness: Results of Implementation in Five European Cases 41
Lila Oriard Colin

4.1 Introduction 41

4.2 Social capacity building framework for community engagement 44

4.3 The capacity assessment tool 46

4.4 Indicators and case findings 47

4.5 Conclusions 52

References 53

II.2: Strategies, Instruments, and Resources Used to Face Floods 55

5 Flood Risks Perceptions and Goals/Ambitions 57
Ann Crabbé

5.1 Introduction 57

5.2 The problem stream: Perceptions on increased flood risks 58

5.3 The policy stream: Perceptions on the solutions needed to deal with increased flood risks 60

5.4 The political stream: Willingness to take action 62

5.5 International policies 63

5.6 European directives and policy documents 64

5.7 Experiences with flood risk management in other countries 65

5.8 Research on impacts and adaptation 65

5.9 Economic costs (of inaction) 65

5.10 Facilitating factors 66

5.11 Factors contributing to agenda‐setting 66

5.12 Conclusions 66

Note 68

References 68

6 Instruments for Strategies to Face Floods through Prevention, Mitigation, and Preparation in Europe: The Age of Alignment 71
Mathilde Gralepois

6.1 Introduction 71

6.2 Conceptual framework 75

6.3 Comparison. Similarities and differences in flood instruments’ implementation in Europe 77

6.4 Discussion. Political effects, power relations, and governance choices in flood management: What do flood instruments teach? 86

6.5 Conclusion 94

Notes 94

References 95

II.3: Lessons from Cases of Flood Governance 99

7 A House of Cards: The Challenge of Establishing Societal Resilience to Flooding Through Multi‐Layered Governance in England 101
Meghan Alexander and Sally Priest

7.1 Introduction 101

7.2 Deciphering multi‐layered governance 102

7.3 Methodology 103

7.4 Flood‐risk governance and implications for societal resilience 105

7.5 Reflections on the ‘house of cards’ of flood risk governance 110

Notes 111

References 111

8 Understanding Dutch Flood‐Risk Management: Principles and Pitfalls 115
Mark Wiering

8.1 Introduction 115

8.2 Historical background 116

8.3 The concept of public interest 117

8.4 Solidarity and subsidiarity 117

8.5 Resilience 120

8.6 Challenges and pitfalls 120

8.7 Conclusion and recommendations 121

References 123

9 Flood Governance in France: From Hegemony to Diversity in the French Flood‐Risk Management Actors’ Network 125
Marie Fournier

9.1 Flood‐risk management governance: A stakeholders’ network still dominated by central government and municipalities 126

9.2 Inter‐municipalities as new players within the French FRM governance 131

9.3 Where are citizens in FRM? 134

9.4 Conclusion 138

Notes 138

References 139

10 Flood‐Risk Governance in Belgium: Towards a Resilient, Efficient, and Legitimate Arrangement? 141
Hannelore Mees

10.1 Introduction 141

10.2 Evaluation framework 142

10.3 Methods 144

10.4 Flood risk governance in Belgium 144

10.5 Comparing intra‐state developments 145

10.6 Evaluating resilience, efficiency, and legitimacy 149

10.7 Conclusion 152

Notes 153

References 153

Part III: Droughts 157

III.1: Actors Involved in Drought Risk Management 159

11 European Actors and Institutions Involved in Water Scarcity and Drought Policy 161
Ulf Stein and Ruta Landgrebe

11.1 Introduction 161

11.2 Actors in the European Union related to WS&D policy 162

11.3 Roles and powers of European actors and institutions involved in WS&D policy 163

11.4 Mapping European actors and institutions involved in WS&D policy 165

11.5 Discussion 167

11.6 Conclusion 169

References 169

12 National and Local Actors of Drought Governance in Europe: A Comparative Review of Six Cases from North‐West Europe 171
Gül Özerol

12.1 Introduction 171

12.2 Methodology 172

12.3 Assessment of the national and local actors of drought governance 174

12.4 Conclusions and recommendations 182

References 186

III.2: Strategies, Instruments, and Resources Used to Face Droughts 189

13 Awareness of Drought Impacts in Europe: The Cause or the Consequence of the Level of Goal Ambitions? 191
Isabelle La Jeunesse

13.1 Introduction 191

13.2 Drought governance analysis based on two methodological approaches 192

13.3 Case studies in NWE 194

13.4 Case studies in the Mediterranean region 196

13.5 Drought perceptions and goal ambitions in NWE 197

13.6 Drought perceptions and goal ambitions in the Mediterranean region 198

13.7 Conclusions 199

Acknowledgements 201

References 201

14 Strategies and Instruments to Face Drought and Water Scarcity 203
Hans Bressers, Nanny Bressers, and Stefan Kuks

14.1 Introduction 203

14.2 Reactive measures 205

14.3 Preventive measures 208

14.4 Adaptive measures 210

14.5 Supportive measures 212

14.6 Discussion and overview 215

References 217

III.3: Lessons from Cases of Droughts Governance 219

15 Multilevel Governance for Drought Management in Flanders: Using a Centralized and Data Driven Approach 221
Jenny Tröltzsch

15.1 Introduction 221

15.2 Water management in Flanders 222

15.3 Past and future drought events 224

15.4 Governance dimensions for Flemish drought management 225

15.5 Summary and recommendations 229

Notes 231

References 231

16 Drought Governance in the Eifel‐Rur Region: The Interplay of Fixed Frameworks and Strong Working Relationships 233
Rodrigo Vidaurre

16.1 Introduction 233

16.2 The water resources system in the Eifel‐Rur region 234

16.3 Beyond the water board: The role of other governance levels in Eifel‐Rur’s water management 236

16.4 The drought perspective on Eifel‐Rur’s water governance 237

16.5 Conclusions: Factors for current and future success 241

Notes 243

References 244

17 Adaptation of Water Management to Face Drought and Water Scarcity: Lessons Learned from Two Italian Case Studies 245
Claudia Cirelli and Isabelle La Jeunesse

17.1 Introduction 245

17.2 Water management in Italy and the autonomous regime 246

17.3 The Rio Mannu catchment 248

17.4 The Noce catchment 249

17.5 Comparative analysis and discussion 251

17.6 Conclusions 256

Acknowledgements 257

Notes 258

References 258

18 Power Asymmetries, Migrant Agricultural Labour, and Adaptation Governance in Turkey: A Political Ecology of Double Exposures 261
Ethemcan Turhan, Giorgos Kallis, and Christos Zografos

18.1 Introduction 261

18.2 Double Exposures and political ecology of vulnerability 263

18.3 Case study and methods 265

18.4 A political ecology of Double Exposure in Kapı village 268

18.5 Discussion 273

18.6 Conclusion 275

Acknowledgements 276

Notes 276

References 277

19 Drought Governance in Catalonia: Lessons Learnt? 283
Alba Ballester and Abel La Calle

19.1 Introduction 283

19.2 Drought management in Spain 284

19.3 Drought management in Catalonia 287

19.4 Drought crisis in Catalonia 2007–2008 289

19.5 Drought planning in Catalonia after the crisis 296

19.6 Deliberative public participation in drought management: Need, obligation, and opportunity 298

19.7 Conclusions 299

Notes 299

References 299

20 What Could Change Drought Governance in Europe?: A Comparative Analysis between Two Case Studies in France and the UK 301
Isabelle La Jeunesse, Hans Bressers, and Alison Browne

20.1 Introduction 301

20.2 Vilaine catchment and Arzal dam 302

20.3 Somerset Levels and moors 303

20.4 Methodology 303

20.5 Results and discussion 306

20.6 Conclusions 310

Acknowledgements 311

References 311

Part IV: Coastal and Wind Storms 313

IV.1: Actors Involved in Coastal Risks Prevention and Management 315

21 Sustainable Communities and Multilevel Governance in the Age of Coastal Storms 317
Yves Henocque

21.1 Introduction: Addressing a social‐ecological system 317

21.2 Harmonizing coastal management, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation goals through meaningful public participation 318

21.3 As a response, are national climate change strategies efficient enough? 322

21.4 Key principles and responses for building sustainable, hazard‐resilient communities 327

21.5 Conclusion: ‘Hazard‐resilient’ communities vs. ‘waves of adversity’ 335

Notes 336

References 337

IV.2: Strategies, Instruments, and Resources Used to Face Coastal Risks Prevention 339

22 European Challenges to Coastal Management from Storm Surges: Problem‐Structuring Framework and Actors Implicated in Responses 341
Suzanne Boyes and Michael Elliott

22.1 Storm surge threats in European coasts 341

22.2 European governance 346

22.3 Discussion and conclusions 354

22.4 Conclusions 357

References 358

23 Perceptions of Extreme Coastal Events: The Case of the French Atlantic and Mediterranean Coasts 363
Lydie Goeldner‐Gianella and Esmeralda Longépée

23.1 Contemporary society is increasingly unaware of risks related to the sea 365

23.2 Multiple factors behind the gradual dwindling of the ‘culture of coastal risks’ 374

23.3 What recommendations for public policy emerge from this research into the perceptions and representations of risks? 382

23.4 Conclusion 387

Acknowledgements 387

Notes 387

References 388

IV.3: Lessons from Cases of Coastal Risks Governance 391

24 After Xynthia on the Atlantic Coast of France: Preventive Adaptation Methods 393
Denis Mercier, Axel Creach, Elie Chevillot‐Miot, and Sophie Pardo

24.1 Introduction 393

24.2 A normal storm in terms of natural hazard but a major coastal flood due to the concomitance of the meteorological and marine agents 394

24.3 A tragic human and expensive material toll due to the addition of natural factors and management issues 396

24.4 Post‐Xynthia policy: A new strategy for coastal management in France 397

24.5 Life‐saving maps: New geographical tools for a better coastal management 400

24.6 Discussion about these different methods 405

24.7 Conclusion 407

Acknowledgements 408

References 408

25 Coastal Flooding and Storm Surges: How to Improve the Operational Response of the Risk Management Authorities: An Example of the CRISSIS Research Program on the French Coast of Languedoc 413
Brice Anselme, Paul Durand, and Alexandre Nicolae‐Lerma

25.1 Introduction 413

25.2 The coastal flood hazard and its likely evolution 417

25.3 Vulnerability of the stakes 420

25.4 Social representations and perceptions of the coastal flooding risk 423

25.5 Crisis management 425

25.6 Conclusion 428

References 430

26 Lessons Learnt from Coastal Risks Governance on Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, France 433
Virginie K.E. Duvat and Alexandre K. Magnan

26.1 Introduction 433

26.2 Context of the study 435

26.3 Impacts of TC Bejisa and post‐cyclone stakeholders’ responses 442

26.4 Key findings and challenges for adaptation to climate change 452

26.5 Conclusion 455

Acknowledgements 457

References 457

27 Lessons from Cases of Coastal Risks Governance in the United Kingdom 461
Brian Golding, Thomas Waite, and Virginia Murray

27.1 Introduction: Windstorms and their impacts in the UK 461

27.2 Events that have shaped governance of natural disasters in the UK 464

27.3 New developments in the warning environment 471

27.4 How the warning systems work now 473

27.5 Current and future issues 477

References 479

Part V: Conclusions, Perspectives 483

28 Hydrometeorological Extreme Events’ Effects on Populations: A Cognitive Insight on Post‐Traumatic Growth, Resilience Processes and Mental Well‐Being 485
Mauro Galluccio

28.1 Introduction 485

28.2 Resilient ecological systems for a psychological concept 487

28.3 Psychosocial factors and post‐traumatic growth 487

28.4 Building resilience to mitigate social vulnerability 488

28.5 Post‐traumatic growth: Training for preventive psychological strategies 490

28.6 Modern initiatives to coordinate a global governance 491

28.7 The EU coordination to build up integrated resilient governance to decrease impacts on health and wellbeing due to hydrometeorological extreme events 494

28.8 Elements of conclusion 495

References 496

29 Overview of Multilevel Governance Strategies for Hydrometeorological Extreme Events 499
Corinne Larrue and Isabelle La Jeunesse

29.1 Governance specificities depending on hydrometeorological extreme events 500

29.2 Actor systems facing hydrometeorological extreme events 502

29.3 Perception and strategies 504

Note 504

Index 505