Nearly five years after the floods of July 2021, the Walloon Government continues rebuilding the affected valleys and draws lessons from the disaster. Reform of the disaster relief framework, improved crisis management, new stormwater basins and continued works: several decisions have been taken to better protect citizens and prepare Wallonia for extreme weather events.
Reform of the legal framework for natural and agricultural disasters
Ten years after its creation and in light of the lessons learned from the 2021 floods, the Walloon Government is modernising the compensation scheme for natural and agricultural disasters to make it simpler, faster and more effective.
The main lines of the reform can be summarised as follows:
- a single Walloon regulatory framework for both natural and agricultural disasters;
- simplified and more digitalised administrative procedures, incorporating lessons learned from the 2021 floods and the effects of climate change. In practice, the insurer will now handle the procedures on behalf of the client;
- shorter recognition and compensation timelines and better predictability of the various stages of the procedure and its outcome.
The Government is also working with the other Regions, the Federal government and the insurance sector to guarantee, in the event of a major disaster, full compensation for citizens even if the legal intervention ceilings are reached.
A first regional plan specifically dedicated to floods
The Government has adopted the first regional plan specifically dedicated to floods. This complements the general Walloon Crisis Plan and aims to improve the coordination and responsiveness of the various services in the event of a flood-related crisis.
This new system has already been tested during a full-scale exercise and mobilised during the stormy episodes at the end of May. These experiences made it possible to identify several areas for improvement to further strengthen Wallonia's response capacity.
At the same time, Wallonia continues to develop and support a series of actions on preparedness and awareness-raising regarding risk culture.
Better monitoring of waterways
The Walloon Government continues to implement the new framework for dams and reservoirs to strengthen public safety, better prevent risks and improve the management of strategic water infrastructure.
In addition, a new public tender will be launched to ensure the monitoring and maintenance of around a hundred measurement points in the Walloon hydrological network. This network provides real-time information on rainfall, river and reservoir levels, and dam operation, to better anticipate major weather events.
A study to verify the effectiveness of flood control measures
A new study conducted by ULiège-Gembloux between 2028 and 2030 will analyse several natural solutions to better retain water upstream of the valleys. Hedge replanting, agricultural and forestry measures, and devices promoting water infiltration will be studied to slow runoff and limit flood risks in valley floors.
"Nearly five years after the 2021 floods, our responsibility is twofold: to continue reconstruction where necessary, but also to better prepare Wallonia for the consequences of climate change. This means infrastructure works and more effective warning systems, but also a broader reflection on land-use planning and how to better retain water upstream of the valleys," says Minister-President Adrien Dolimont.