Flood Prevention Action Programmes (PAPI)

Conurbation of La Rochelle – France

Project leader: Communauté d’Agglomération de La Rochelle

Dates : 2019-2022

Classification

Risks

Solutions

Actors

Costs

Summary

The Flood Prevention Action Programmes (PAPI) implemented by the City of La Rochelle address the increasing risks of marine submersion. This programme includes three areas of action: prevention, forecasting and protection of the populations. In the long run, the objective is to set up a local strategy for the integrated management of marine submersion risks. In addition to the strengthening of knowledge, the implementation of protection and accommodation solutions, the city has undertaken information, awareness-raising and consultation work with all stakeholders, thus, promoting a cross-cutting approach.

Actions

The Flood Prevention Action Programmes (PAPI) implemented by the La Rochelle Agglomeration are based on and support the development of the Coastal Risk Prevention Plan, coastal hazard definition studies, the Local Intercommunal Urban Planning and the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. 

The PAPIs and the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy are organised into 7 sub-work areas: (1) improvement of risk knowledge and risk culture, (2) hazard forecasting, (3) improvement of crisis management, (4) integrating risk vulnerability in urban planning, (5) protection of goods and people at the local level, (6) flow management (hydraulics and expansion fields), (7) protection of people (grey protections).

In La Rochelle Urban Community, hard and soft protection, accommodation and managed retreat measures have all been implemented. The PAPI details the benefits and limitations of each of these solutions. 

As part of the PAPIs, the Urban Community has organised over 200 public and technical meetings since 2012. 

The Agglomeration has conducted a study on knowledge enhancement based on coastal hazards modelling for 20-30 years and 100 years. In addition, it has undertaken awareness-raising activities based on information leaflets, web animations and school interventions (3,500 children since 2016), conferences, exhibitions, as well as full-scale warning and evacuation exercises. Its action draws on the training of elected officials (around 50) and technicians in flood risks and crisis management.

Thus, the Urban Community has developed: educational resources (leaflet, pedagogic support, training, etc.), studies to improve knowledge, flooding sections of the PLU‘s OAPs, programmes to support work to reduce people’s vulnerability, identification of the  marshes function as expansion fields, hard protection facilities (70% of the work carried out in 2020, 100% in 2022, i.e. almost 25km of diking system created).

The aim is to involve and train State services, regional and local authorities, representatives of civil society and economic actors. 

Outcomes

In total, almost 80% of the planned actions have been implemented. These actions were conducive to the enhancement of knowledge studies, the development of risk culture, setting up regular warning exercises involving public services and the population, and also regulating urban planning in risk areas to develop a resilient habitat. 

  • Working in partnership with every public stakeholder. 
  • Involve citizens in the process
  • Encourage a cross-cutting approach

Protection measures alone are not sufficient to protect the area of La Rochelle from marine submersion risks and the impacts of global warming. This project requires funding guarantees for actions and regular stimulation of the risk memory. 

Partners

Technical partners: Urban Community of La Rochelle, State services, Departments and Municipalities

Financial partners: State, Department, Region, Municipalities

Resources

French Ministry of the Environment’s Call for proposals and PAPI: