In a bold move to help communities better prepare for flooding, Scotland is introducing a new initiative aimed at improving property-level flood resilience. Flood Re, in partnership with the Scottish Flood Forum, will unveil a new mobile resource called the Flood Bus, which will travel across the country to educate residents, professionals, and communities at risk about flood resilience measures.
A New Approach to Flood Preparedness
The Flood Bus, named Flo, is a specially designed vehicle that will serve as a hands-on demonstration of Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures and Build Back Better (BBB) repairs. Flo will be officially launched during the Scottish Flood Resilience conference, held on January 28-29, 2025, organized by Sniffer, an environmental knowledge broker. Stuart Logue, Interim CEO of Flood Re, will be among the key speakers at the event, discussing innovative approaches to flood resilience.
Following the conference, Flo will visit various communities starting with Perth, where it will support the Water’s Rising exhibition. From mid-March onwards, the Flood Bus will continue to tour flood-risk areas, providing vital flood preparedness resources to local residents and flood resilience groups.
Hands-On Learning and Virtual Reality Experiences
Flo isn’t just a static display — it’s designed to be an interactive learning experience. The vehicle will showcase a range of flood-resistant solutions and resilient repair strategies. Visitors can explore how small changes and investments can significantly reduce the impact of flooding. It will also offer an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience, allowing people to walk through homes that have been adapted with PFR measures. These include features like raised electrical systems, water-resistant doors, and flood barriers, all of which play a crucial role in protecting properties during severe weather events.
The bus will also provide information about the Flood Re’s Build Back Better scheme, which helps individuals and businesses repair and rebuild their properties using more resilient materials after flooding.
A Timely Launch Amid Rising Flood Risks
The Flood Bus comes at a crucial moment. As of the third quarter of 2024, Scotland had 17,829 insurance policies ceded to Flood Re, underscoring the significant impact of flooding in the region. The launch of Flo aims to bridge the gap between knowledge and action, offering practical, real-world solutions to those most at risk of flooding.
Flood Re’s Stuart Logue explained, “Flood resilience isn’t just a technical term – it’s a lifeline for communities. We know from experience that physical demonstrations of Property Flood Resilience measures play a crucial role in driving action, and Flo will bring greater understanding into how design changes can reduce the impact and cost of flooding.”
Raising Awareness and Building Partnerships
Carol Raeburn, Director of the Scottish Flood Forum, expressed enthusiasm about the role Flo will play in spreading awareness of flood resilience. She said, “The Flood Bus will be an important means to raise awareness of flood resilience for both residents and suppliers in flood-prone areas. It will also build understanding of the Build Back Better initiative, which is crucial for encouraging resilient repairs within the insurance industry.”
Flo will visit flood-risk communities across Scotland, providing an essential resource to help residents prepare for and recover from flood events. Through this initiative, Flood Re and the Scottish Flood Forum hope to empower households and businesses to better safeguard their properties and futures.
