Adaptation and preparedness for extreme weather events

The goal of the assessment

The main question of the assessment was whether Helsinki has adapted to and prepared for extreme weather events as planned. Extreme weather events include heavy rains, storms, seawater and stormwater floods and prolonged heat waves, high temperatures and drought. The matter was examined mainly from the point of view of the Urban Environment Division. The assessment also included interviews with Rescue Services, among other parties. The assessment was carried out collaboratively by the audit services of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.

Conclusions

Helsinki has plans and guidelines in place for heavy rains, storms, seawater flooding and stormwater management, but the responsibilities of different parties are not clear in all respects. Work is underway to set the level of flood preparedness. Rescue Services are well prepared to respond to extreme weather events, but in terms of preparedness, reactive action alone is not sufficient. So far, the City has paid less attention to the risks posed by heat waves. Heat-induced stress weakens the well-being of children and older people, in particular, and increases the need for prehospital care, among other things. In principle, green areas and the green factor are taken into account in the planning, design and construction of new areas on a plot-by-plot basis, but the preservation and addition of trees and green areas may take a backseat to efficient construction. The City’s renovation investments have not been sufficient in terms of flood and stormwater management and the prevention of the urban heat island effect. From the point of view of extreme weather events, the most challenging area is the inner city.