The Flood Online Reporting Tool (FORT) allows members of the public, flood wardens, and councillors to report flooding. The intelligence gathered can determine the probable sources of flooding and identify which flood RMA is likely to act as lead. Reporting is an important trigger for Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) involvement. The system can automatically send reports to relevant authorities, linking communities with the RMA who can work with them to increase their resilience.
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Three aspects which need to be covered when communicating with stakeholders and communities about FORT are:
Why - It is vital that people understand the benefit of reporting flooding.
How - People need to know how to use the tool, particularly if they are flood wardens or community representatives.
When - A greater understanding is needed of when to use the tool, including that historic flooding can be reported as well as recent flooding.
Integrating FORT onto the BRIC web platform allowed the team to collect feedback from project partners, stakeholders and the community. The team provided demonstrations of the tool and asked participants to fill in a short survey via the SurveyApp. That feedback is being used to enhance FORT by improving usability, accessibility and awareness. This process has also increased stakeholders’ awareness of the tool, who may need access to a reporting system in their area.
