18 million-Euro plan approved to invest in reducing and mitigating flood risks by 2027 - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores approved the Flood Risk Management Plan for the Autonomous Region of the Azores 2022-2027 (PGRIA), at the proposal of the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM). It provides for an investment of more than 18 million Euros in reducing and mitigating the risks arising from floods in the Azores.

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, noted that "the approval of the PGRIA is a fundamental step towards mitigating the risks associated with floods, guaranteeing the safety of the population and the protection of property."

Alonso Miguel recalled that "floods are a natural phenomenon that cannot be avoided. However, it is possible and desirable to reduce the risk and the harmful consequences associated with them, especially in a region like the Azores, which is particularly vulnerable to this type of phenomenon." In this regard, he added that "the high drainage density and the small size of the hydrographical basins in the archipelago are conducive to the occurrence of flash floods that are unpredictable in terms of location and intensity."

"This latent vulnerability means that prevention and preparation in this field are urgently needed, defining general principles for management and response while safeguarding the situations that are most likely to occur," he said.

The revision of the PGRIA was based on three distinct phases: reassessing Flood Risks in the Region, drawing up Flood Zone Maps and Flood Risk Maps and, finally, updating the Flood Risk Management Plan.

The Regional Secretary noted that "unlike the previous planning cycle, the risks associated with river flooding have been considered as well as the risks associated with coastal flooding."

With this revision of PGRIA, there are now 11 hydrographical basins at risk.

Six new hydrographical basins have been identified: Grotas da Areia and Cinzeiro, in São Miguel; Ribeira da Casa da Ribeira and Ribeira de São Bento, in Terceira; Ribeira Seca, in São Jorge; and Ribeira do Dilúvio, in Pico. These add up to the basins already included in PGRIA's first planning cycle: Ribeira Grande and Ribeira da Povoação, in São Miguel; Ribeira de Agualva and Ribeiras do Porto Judeu, in Terceira; and Ribeira Grande, in Flores.

Furthermore, four critical areas at risk of flooding and coastal overtopping were identified, namely the seafront between São Roque and Cais do Pico on the island of Pico as well as the seafronts of São Roque/Rosto de Cão, Santa Cruz/Lagoa and Ribeira Quente on the island of São Miguel.

He explained that "a set of 37 measures to be implemented by the end of 2027 has been defined to achieve the strategic and specific goals, divided into 18 risk management measures: seven under the institutional and regulatory framework, three under information and citizen participation and nine under monitoring and the development of applied research."

Alonso Miguel also pointed out that "the overall estimated investment for the implementation of the measures proposed in this Plan amounts to 18.09 million Euros, with around 94% of this investment relating to risk management measures."

"For each measure defined, descriptive sheets have been drawn up. These include the reasons explaining the measure, the implementation actions, the timetable and prioritisation of implementation, the estimated cost, the entities responsible for its implementation, and the performance indicators for monitoring and evaluating the PGRIA," added the Regional Secretary.

Alonso Miguel emphasised that "the approval of this Plan has taken a fundamental step towards reducing and mitigating the risks associated with flooding in the Azores, ensuring a significant development in the Region's capacity to protect people, property and infrastructures. It will also safeguard economic activities and preserve the environment and natural heritage, making a decisive contribution to adapting to climate change."