They are as follows:

• The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment in which significant historical events are identified and then the areas of potential significant risk are established (APSFR);
• Development of Flood Hazard and Risk Maps for the identified APSFRs;
• Development of Flood Risk Management Plans, including a Program of Measures to reduce the risk of flooding.

Each step contributes to the systematic approach to reducing flood risks and to adopting effective, realistic and affordable measures.

Those steps are part of a standard cycle developed by the European Commission to standardize flood risk assessments and the mitigation of flood risk across the EU Member States.

The 1st cycle for implementation of Floods Directive 2007/60/CE was concluded back in 2016. Every 6 years, the results of steps are reassessed, supplemented and updated. The 2nd Cycle of implementation is in progress with the stage of preliminary flood risk assessment (PFRA) completed in 2019, with the stage for developing Flood Hazard and Risk Maps in progress, to be completed after the public consultations at the end of 2022, and the implementation of measures will take place starting from 2023.

A flood hazard map shows where events (such as fluvial, pluvial, floods caused by increased sea levels in coastal areas, caused by the logging and also by insufficient drain/drainage systems for waters and accidental floods) are most likely to occur according to different probability scenarios, in which location and to what depth and extent.

Based on the hazard map, the risk map shows which property, buildings, cultural heritage, housing, environment, and private assets are at risk of being affected by the floods.

The 2nd cycle Flood Risk Management Plans are strategic documents and the key tool for implementing Floods Directive 2007/60/EC. The main objective of these plans is to establish a framework for the flood risk assessment and management, the strategy related to measures and relevant measures at River Basin Administration level.

Plans under the 1st cycle for the implementation of Flood Directive 2007/60/CE are re-updated during the 2nd implementation cycle – FRMP.

The purpose of FRMP2 is to reduce the negative consequences of floods for the human health, economic activity, the environment and cultural heritage, in certain areas with a potential significant flood risk, deemed as a priority.

FRMP2 provide priority measures necessary for reducing the flood risk at the level of an area with a potential significant flood risk. Consequently, citizens are informed about planned measures to be taken in order to mitigate flood risks they are facing in Romania. This differs depending on the geographic position of your house. You can check it by accessing the Flood Hazard and Risk Maps.

FRMP2 is the re-updated version of the Flood Risk Management Plans under the 1st cycle and consider the identification of new areas with a potential significant flood risk and of new risks occurred meanwhile (effects of climate change). Then, the 3rd cycle will start for the implementation of the Floods Directive 2007/60/CE, and FRMP2 will be updated to become FRMP3 and so on and so forth.

Programs of measures consist of carefully selected sets of measures that are feasible to take in order to reduce flood risks. Such structural measures include building or strengthening dikes and dams, floodplain restoration, excavation works to extend river gullies /river beds, but also non-structural measures, including planning and prevention of flood risks, as well as evaluation plans, strengthening the expertise of the staff within water authorities and building the institutional capacity or regulatory changes.

FRMP2 will be completed by the end of 2022.

All the steps to follow are not taken lightly and require an extensive effort. Additional expertise is required to conduct the different activities that have to be subcontracted through public procurement procedures, which is also a legally and administratively lengthy process.

At that time, the planning cycle will be repeated since flood risk management is the systematic and regular assessment of flood hazards and the risks they pose, development of possible measures and strategies to alleviate those risks, followed by the planning and implementation of the most relevant measures. Besides, planned measures are to be implemented.

FRMP2 are developed at Units of Management level (UoM). In Romania, these are the 11 River Basin Administrations and the Danube River. Physically, the UoMs cover the whole of Romania, but the Hazard and Risk Maps included in the plans will only focus on the areas identified as having a potential significant flood risk (APSFR).

The central public authority in the water field is the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests by the Department for Flood Risk Management and Dam Safety. The “Romanian Waters” National Administration (ANAR), with its head office in Bucharest, its 11 subordinated territorial River Basin Administrations and the National Institute for Hydrology and Water Management (INHGA), together with other institutions and authorities at central level (ministries), a series of national, county and local institutions, with specific responsibilities and tasks, have an important role in the flood risk management.

By means of a stakeholder engagement process, other authorities, organizations and companies, NGOs and individual citizens can bring their contribution to the FD implementation by expressing their opinions on draft plans and by suggesting relevant improvements.

At national level, a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has been set up, including representatives of different authorities, organizations and NGOs. This TAG is frequently consulted on overall and strategic issues during the implementation of steps 2 and 3 of the Floods Directive.

Apart from the TAG, there are also several Technical Working Groups in place. They consist of similar organizations and are consulted on different tangible and operational issues that are addressed during the documentation development process.

Your organization can get involved in different ways. If you feel your organization is possibly affected by the provisions of the FRMP2 or your organization can contribute to the planning process, please feel free to contact us.

When developing draft flood risk management measures at river basin level and the related strategy, the RBAs will organize meetings to be attended by relevant stakeholders. During such meetings, stakeholders can express their opinions and suggestions on draft measures and, later on, on draft strategies.

The draft FRMP2 will go through a 6-month public consultations, during which period anyone interested can share their insights on draft plans.

Individual citizens will be informed of all relevant activities via an extended information campaign, including this website in particular. Citizens and especially vulnerable or marginalized communities can delegate representatives to attend such meetings, where the relevant measures will be tackled and selected. Finally, citizens can express their opinions, suggestions or objections during the public consultation period, which will be open for 6 months.

Yes. Depending on the organization you represent, you will be invited to deliver your input for one or more of the documentation development stages: the Flood Hazard and Risk Maps and/or the Flood Risk Management Plans and related programs of measures.

You can express your opinion during dedicated meetings, in writing or during the nationwide public consultation procedure.

Soon, one will make public the venues for public debates, their agendas and calendar of activities related to your involvement.

Yes. A calendar of engagement activities will be soon made publicly available on this site and relevant stakeholders will also receive direct invitations.

Any input, opinion or suggestion will be considered and, if well-argued and relevant, this will be taken into account upon completion of the FRMPs and of related programs of measures.

The answer to this question will be provided at a later stage during the planning process.

Yes. Upon completion of FRMP2, a report will be drafted explaining how all the input received during the public consultation procedure is considered and possibly integrated into the final version of FRMP2.

Yes, you can object to measures. Whether your objection results in a change of measures or of strategy depends on the arguments and relevance of your very objection, if well-argued or legally substantiated.

Yes. Upon completion of FRMP2, a report will be made available explaining how all the input received during the formal consultancy procedure has been taken into account and possibly embedded into the final version of FRMP2. This report will be posted on the website: www.inundatii.ro.

No. There is no zero risk to floods, because floods are natural phenomenon, just like storms. The proposed measures will alleviate and reduce the flood risks according to the set objectives.

No. Because floods differ in probability, magnitude/extent, frequency of occurrence and location. Therefore, dedicated, especially designed measures are taken at different locations, especially in areas with the highest risk (APSFRs).

Disaster management, with regard to floods, is the containment of an event of flooding, including all the activities in order to minimize the damage caused by floods.

Yes. There is no zero risk to floods worldwide. To alleviate the negative consequences of floods, it will still be necessary to have plans in place and authorities prepared to be able to act accordingly.

Measures included in the disaster management can be:

• The evacuation of people away from a flooded or flood threatened area;
• The containment of the flooding by putting temporary emergency barriers in place;
• The rescue of people being stuck in flooded areas;
• The provision of medical aid;
• The provision of food and drinking water in case of a destroyed road and other infrastructure;
• Others.