By Saajeda Bandali, RAB Consultants
Effective flood response is fundamentally dependent on the quality of pre-incident planning. It requires clearly defined roles, robust collaboration and, most importantly, the ability of multiple organisations to work together under pressure, adapting rapidly as situations evolve. When multi-agency plans are clear, accurate, coherent and usable, they become the difference between a well-managed incident and operational chaos.
With this in mind, Saajeda Bandali and Nicola Hemming from RAB Consultants recently worked alongside the Environment Agency to perform a comprehensive review of every Multi-Agency Flood Plan (MAFPs) from Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) across England, as well as London’s Borough Resilience Forums (BRFs), in order to report to Defra on the status of flood planning nationally. Our work was independently assured by Yung-Fang Chen from Coventry University, whose role provided a critical, independent perspective on the methodology and findings, helping to ensure consistency across reviews and strengthening the overall credibility and robustness of the assessment.
Why multi-agency flood plans matter
MAFPs set out the strategic and tactical arrangements for managing flood incidents across multi-agency partnerships. They are a critical component of local resilience, supporting preparedness, response and recovery by clarifying how organisations work together before, during and after flood events.
By bringing together the roles of Category 1 and Category 2 responders, along with other partners, into a single coordinated framework, these plans do more than tick compliance boxes; they actively support decision-making during incidents and provide a clear structure for recovery afterwards.
Purpose of the assessment
The review aimed to provide a detailed and consistent evaluation of how well these plans support strategic and tactical multi-agency flood response. It sought to combine assurance with practical insight, with four main objectives:
- Evaluate each plan using a structured checklist and scoring matrix
- Provide clear evidence and justification for the scores and overall grades
- Produce a summary report for each plan highlighting strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement
- Ensure the review process was robust and aligned with recognised international best practice
This approach meant the assessment was transparent, repeatable, and rooted in recognised standards for emergency planning and resilience, giving LRFs and BRFs confidence in the results.
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How the review was carried out
Each plan was assessed against a consistent set of criteria, allowing meaningful comparison across LRFs and BRFs. The review went beyond simple compliance, looking at practical usability and operational effectiveness. Key areas considered included:
- Completeness of content
- Usability during live incidents
- Alignment with statutory guidance
- Operational clarity for responders
By applying this consistent framework, we were able to identify where plans met expectations, where gaps remained, and where improvements could enhance multi-agency flood response.
A strong foundation already in place
Across the board, the findings were encouraging. Most MAFPs demonstrate a solid foundation for multi-agency working, with clear articulation of roles and responsibilities supporting coordinated response. There is also strong alignment with statutory guidance, reflecting the considerable effort already invested by LRFs and BRFs.
One particularly positive area was recovery planning. Many plans showed well-developed approaches to post-incident activity recognising that recovery is just as critical as response in building long-term resilience.
Opportunities to strengthen consistency
As with any national picture, there is variation. The review identified opportunities to improve consistency, usability, and operational clarity across plans.
To support this, a set of practical recommendations has been developed and shared with LRFs and BRFs. These are designed to be actionable, helping partnerships refine their plans so they are not only compliant, but genuinely effective when it matters most.
Supporting continuous improvement
Flood risk is evolving, and so too must the plans that underpin our response.
This review highlights that while Multi-Agency Flood Plans across England are largely fit for purpose and provide a strong platform for multi-agency flood response, there is real value in reviewing collectively and sharing good practice across the system.
By building on an already strong foundation, local resilience partnerships are well placed to further enhance preparedness, strengthen coordination, and ultimately improve outcomes for the communities they serve.
This article appeared in Issue 12 of Flood Industry magazine (May/June 2026), you can view it here.