Floods and drought
The variation in weather and water conditions is part of Finland's environmental conditions and affects people and society in many ways. Extreme ends of the variation, such as storms, floods and droughts, may threaten people's health and safety and endanger society's vital functions by harming, for example, water and energy supply or transport. Preparedness must be ensured even though the risks associated with extreme phenomena and natural disasters are smaller in Finland than in many other regions of the world. The importance of preparedness is emphasised as the vulnerability of society increases, for example as cities grow denser and climate change increases extreme weather events.
The primary objective is to prevent threats to human health and safety and to prevent and mitigate harmful consequences for communities. Property owners, public and private actors should be aware of the risks and take care of their own preparedness. Land use planning and construction are the most important tools in preventing the construction of new high-risk sites. In addition, damage can be reduced by investing in the maintenance and safety of water structures and effective flood prevention and rescue practices.
The Economic Development Centres are responsible for the development of management of flood and drought risks. Rescue authorities are responsible for urgent tasks aimed at rescuing and protecting people and property. The Flood Centre, which is a joint service of the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Finnish Environment Institute, is responsible for monitoring the water situation, forecasting floods and droughts and giving warnings.
Flood risk management is regulated by the Flood Risk Management Act and Decree. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry designates areas where the risks caused by flooding of water bodies or the sea are considered significant. Regional flood risk management plans will be drawn up for river basin and coastal areas with at least one significant flood risk area. The plans set out the objectives and measures to reduce, prevent and mitigate flood risks and to promote flood preparedness. Significant flood risk areas and plans are reviewed every six years.
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