FlashFloodBreaker focuses on greater water safety

In the Interreg project FlashFloodBreaker, 13 partners from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and France are working together to combat flooding and increase water safety. Within this project, the VMM will work on improving the visualisation of forecast data to assist in making operational decisions in the field.

Water

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North-western Europe is facing an increasing number of flood disasters as a result of climate change. Flash floods are a rapid rise in water levels in low-lying areas that occurs within just 3-6 hours after heavy rainfall. Such extreme events cause fatalities, enormous losses and damage.

Goal of the project

In the project, all partners are working to better prepare citizens and businesses, including by setting up specific information campaigns, compiling an overview of possible measures that citizens can take, and improving flood forecasts. Knowledge and experiences are shared so that the tools developed can be used internationally.

VMM focuses on early predictions and greater awareness

The project aims to develop user-friendly early warning systems for local authorities, which could potentially be extended to businesses and citizens. The website waterinfo.be already provides a wealth of information, but this is not yet linked to a warning tool. Within this project, the VMM therefore wants to develop a tool that provides better visualisation of local data with linked automatic notifications.

Awareness of the possible consequences of climate change, better preparation for it and, where possible, assistance from the authorities will ultimately lead to better protection and less damage. Studies are being launched to find out how water-conscious citizens, businesses and local authorities are and how this can be improved.

FlashFloodBreaker partners in Europe

The FlashFloodBreaker project has been approved by the EU funding programme Interreg North-West Europe. This has made €6 million in European funding available. The project started in early 2024 and will run for three years.

Germany

• Emschergenossenschaft – Lead Partner 
• Stadt Duisburg - Feuerwehr Duisburg 
• RWTH Aachen University Institut für Wasserbau und Wasserwirtschaft 
• Lippeverband
• The Netherlands
• Stichting Toegepast Onderzoek Waterbeheer
• Provincie Limburg
• Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier
• Belgium
• Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij
• Service public de Wallonie
• Université de Liège
• France
• Service Départemental d’Incendie et de Secours de la Moselle 
• Ireland
• Munster Technological University
• Luxemburg
• Université du Luxembourg