LIFE PRIMES

The LIFE PRIMES project aims to build resilient communities through their engagement and proactive participation in the operations of early warning and flood risk prevention measures. The project is conceived to respond to the European challenge in the area of adaptation management, in particular early warning integrated systems, through the achievement of the following specific objectives:

Standardising the procedures of risk management and flood prevention at trans-regional level, enhancing the coordination and management at civil protection level;

Establishing a user-friendly web platform where all necessary information is collected and organised;

Boosting the proactive approach to risk management and flood prevention of local communities through their involvement in implementing soft adaptation measures and actions, to strengthen their resilience against flood risk; and

Establishing and spreading innovative forms of collaboration among civil protection agencies and civil society, raising awareness on adaptation to climate change and on the impact of risk alert patterns.

Expected results: The overall expected result is an Integrated Early Warning Model able to strengthen interaction with citizens, improve warning procedures (faster warning alert management) and allow data exchange. At the same time, this will create awareness of the climate change risks, stimulating actions of prevention and voluntary adaptation. Specific results are expected at the following levels:

Technical level

A common trans-regional baseline scenario obtained by simulations of the same meteorological, climatological and marine parameters and climate indices;

Standardised procedures and risk management systems in case of extreme events, strengthening the coordination between different levels of civil protection;

Faster warning alert management through simplified data flows and full usability of relevant information by the web-portal.

Community level

A potential 10-15% reduction of the damage suffered by population of areas identified on movable property and to a lesser extent on real estate;

A decrease in households/people impacted by floods and a consistent reduction of related casualties; and

An increase of financial resources allocated in municipalities and regions’ budgets for the safety of areas affected by the PRIMES project through a stronger commitment by the mayors of the municipalities involved.

Environmental level

A 5%-10% reduction in the cost of recovery, storage and disposal of waste and materials carried by the floods;

A significant reduction (possibly 100%) of the hydraulic hazard of flooding of natural watercourses where there are hydraulic structures/infrastructures which can be operated, implemented in line with the Floods Directive (2007/60/EC) as well as in the framework of artificial channels reclamation;

Reduced risk of flooding in the river network of pilot areas, due to the improved and increased maintenance of the minor drainage network; and

Environmental benefits in preserving biodiversity and ecosystems, due to a better maintenance of the territory.

European Level

Manual of procedures for the homogenisation and implementation of prevention and warning systems; and

More than 600 local civic AAPs (adaptation action plans) developed over three years by citizens involved in the project.