Flood safety & crisis management

Young coastal professionals who knew little about the water safety policy of the Netherlands joined Y-NCK for a crash course on flood safety at Rijkswaterstaat Lelystad.

Wouter Rozier (expert in flood safety at Rijkswaterstaat) taught participants all they needed to know about the Dutch water safety policy: how the risk of a flood is determined, the safety goals and how they are translated into standards for the primary flood defences, what ‘basic safety’ means for everyone behind a primary flood defence and how it is ensured. Moreover, he provided insights into crisis management: how to prevent a crisis and what to do if a crisis is threatening to arise.

Next, participants visited the Water Management Centre of the Netherlands (WMCN). The WMCN is the information centre for the Dutch water system, bundling all products and services concerning information about water. The WMCN provides daily information to users of the Dutch water system regarding water levels, flood risks, and (bathing) water quality. In extreme situations, including water shortages, water pollution, and the threat of flooding, the WMCN advises national and regional water authorities about the expected condition of the water.

The informative afternoon ended with drinks!

Program: