Vigicrues (Vigilance Crues) is France's comprehensive flood information service operated by SCHAPI (Service Central d'Hydrométéorologie et d'Appui à la Prévision des Inondations) and the network of 19 regional flood forecasting services (SPC). The system provides 24-hour flood forecasts through a color-coded vigilance map (green, yellow, orange, red), real-time water level data from over 1,700 monitoring stations, and behavioral guidance for citizens and authorities. Available via website and mobile app, Vigicrues democratizes flood risk information, enabling communities to take preventive actions.
Map
France's Vigicrues Flood Forecasting and Warning System
General Information
ISIG
Hydrological monitoring, meteorological data, and community engagement to protect lives and property
France experiences significant flood risks with 17 million people living in flood-prone areas. Major floods in 1999, 2002, and 2003 causing billions in damages and loss of life prompted reform of flood warning systems. The 2003 Bachelot Law mandated creation of a unified national flood forecasting service. Vigicrues launched in July 2006, replacing fragmented regional systems with standardized, accessible flood information for all citizens.
Needs Addressed
Vigicrues addresses critical gaps in flood risk management in France: fragmented warning systems across regions, technical information inaccessible to citizens, delayed information transmission to local authorities, lack of real-time monitoring for rapid flood events, and absence of standardized risk communication. The system transforms complex hydrological data into information for different stakeholders
The system considers vulnerable populations through: simplified visual communication (color codes) for those with limited French proficiency, mobile alerts for isolated elderly populations, coordination with social services for evacuation assistance, and special protocols for healthcare facilities and schools in flood zones. Local authorities use Vigicrues data to prioritize assistance to vulnerable residents.
The system considers vulnerable populations through: simplified visual communication (color codes) for those with limited French proficiency, mobile alerts for isolated elderly populations, coordination with social services for evacuation assistance, and special protocols for healthcare facilities and schools in flood zones. Local authorities use Vigicrues data to prioritize assistance to vulnerable residents.
France's flood preparedness includes: Plans de Prévention des Risques d'Inondation (PPRI) for land use planning, communal safeguard plans (PCS) in 11,000+ municipalities, ORSEC plans for emergency response coordination, regular exercises (EU-funded projects like EURIDICE), and public awareness campaigns. Vigicrues provides the information backbone for these preparedness activities.
Infrastructure supporting Vigicrues includes: 1,700+ automatic hydrometric stations, radar precipitation networks, high-speed data transmission systems, redundant servers and backup systems, and integration with Météo-France systems. The network covers 23,000 km of monitored rivers, with ongoing expansion to smaller watersheds.
The system democratizes technical information previously restricted to experts. Still, citizens have no direct involvement in the co-creation of tools nor in decision-making. They are trained and made aware about risk contingency planning, prevention, management, and recovery.
Public website with real-time data (vigicrues.gouv.fr); Mobile application with push notifications; API for integration with local systems; Annual public consultations on system improvements; Training sessions for local authorities; School education programs on flood risks; Media partnerships for warning dissemination; Social media presence (@vigicrues)
Citizens primarily receive information but influence the system through: feedback on user interface improvements, reporting of local observations during floods, participation in municipal flood preparedness planning, and contributing to post-event evaluations. Local authorities have greater influence, adapting warnings to local contexts and providing field observations to improve forecasts.
Long-term resilience building occurs through: regular exposure to flood risk information creating risk awareness, educational materials helping citizens understand flood dynamics, integration with local preparedness planning, and development of local flood memory through historical data access. The system transforms flood risk from abstract threat to manageable challenge.
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Population Size
Population Density
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
Several interesting innovations are featured in the system: first, 24-hour forecasts provide actionable lead time for preparations; hourly updates on actual water levels allows for real time monitoring; the alert levels (with different colors) include specific recommended actions for citizens, who are granted clear and timely information through dedicated apps with accessible interfaces. Not only the interface is accessible, but the whole data architecture is available, with free API access for developers and researchers. Historical data access is also a relevant component, allowing users to observe +30 years of flood records for risk understanding.
French, with english version available for the main features
SCHAPI (Service Central d'Hydrométéorologie et d'Appui à la Prévision des Inondations), Ministry of Ecological Transition
SCHAPI, created in 2003, builds on decades of expertise on hydrogeological features and risks in France. The organization coordinates 19 regional flood forecasting services with 500+ specialized staff. It manages Europe's densest hydrometric network and has responded to major floods including 2010 Var floods, 2016 Seine floods, and 2020 Storm Alex, continuously improving methods based on operational experience.
SCHAPI (national coordination and methodology); 19 Services de Prévision des Crues (regional forecasting); Météo-France (meteorological data); Ministry of Ecological Transition (policy and funding); Préfectures (emergency response activation); Mayors (local implementation); Fire and rescue services (SDIS); Critical infrastructure operators (energy, transport); Media partners (warning dissemination); Research institutions (INRAE, BRGM)
Human Resources:
- 500+ specialized hydrology staff across SPC network
- 24/7 operational teams during flood events
- IT support and development teams
- Communication specialists
Financial Resources:
- Annual budget: €40 million
- Infrastructure maintenance: €10 million/year
- Development projects: €5 million/year
- EU co-funding for specific projects
Technical Resources:
- Hydrometric station network
- High-performance computing for modeling
- Redundant data centers
- Satellite and radar integration
- Development: 2003-2006 (3 years)
- Initial operation: 2006-2010 (national coverage achieved)
- Expansion: 2010-2016 (enhanced capabilities, mobile access)
- Modernization: 2016-present (AI, climate adaptation)
- Continuous cycle: Daily operations, annual reviews, 5-year strategic plans
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
The main challenge of extending coverage to flash floods was addressed by creating Vigicrues Flash, using rainfall-runoff modeling for ungauged watersheds. Public understanding issues led to interface redesign with clear behavioral guidance at each alert level. Small communes lacking technical capacity received specialized training and simplified tools, with encouragement for inter-communal cooperation. Climate change impacts on historical models prompted partnerships with research institutions and more frequent recalibration. Technical language barriers were overcome through visual communication and multi-language support, particularly for elderly and non-French speaking populations.
Technical failures are mitigated through redundant servers and backup procedures. Communication breakdown risks are addressed via multiple dissemination channels including web, mobile, media, and municipal systems. Forecast uncertainty is managed through transparent confidence level communication and ensemble forecasting. User complacency is countered with regular awareness campaigns and post-event communication. Cybersecurity threats are handled through strict separation of public and operational systems, with regular security audits and analog backup procedures.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
Vigicrues achieves sustainability through interconnected legal, financial, and social foundations. The 2003 Bachelot Law and EU Water Framework Directive obligations ensure stable funding regardless of political changes, while the proven 1:5 cost-benefit ratio in damage reduction maintains broad political support. Social sustainability emerges from citizens expecting flood warnings as a basic public service, creating political pressure for continuation. Technical sustainability relies on open standards and modular architecture enabling continuous updates, while the open API strategy has created an ecosystem of third-party developers invested in the system's success. Deep institutional embedding across 19 regional centers and hundreds of municipalities, who have built emergency procedures around Vigicrues data, makes abandonment practically impossible.
The system's scalability shows through expansion from 17,000 to 23,000 kilometers of monitored rivers, while Vigicrues Flash extended coverage to 30,000 ungauged watersheds using innovative rainfall-runoff modeling instead of traditional water-level monitoring. French overseas territories successfully adapted the core system for tropical conditions, demonstrating transferability across diverse climates and hydrological regimes. Urban adaptations integrate sewer monitors and weather radar for neighborhood-scale warnings, showing how the framework scales from rural rivers to complex metropolitan drainage. The model has influenced European flood warning development, though successful transfer requires adapting governance structures and communication approaches to local contexts. Integration potential with coastal warnings, drought monitoring, and the European Flood Awareness System points toward evolution into comprehensive multi-hazard frameworks addressing compound climate risks.
Machine learning applications enhance forecast accuracy by identifying complex patterns in decades of flood data, though these supplement rather than replace proven physical models to maintain interpretability and trust. The system integrates diverse data streams including IoT sensors, satellite precipitation estimates, and crowd-sourced observations through sophisticated quality control algorithms ensuring additional information improves rather than degrades forecasts. Mobile technology has transformed user interaction, with location-aware services showing personalized flood risk and planned augmented reality features to visualize potential water levels in users' immediate environment. The open API strategy catalyzed unexpected innovations, from agricultural decision tools integrating flood risk into planting schedules to tourist safety applications, creating value beyond government capacity. Current AI research explores natural language processing for automated reporting and computer vision for social media flood mapping, though operational deployment requires careful validation given life-safety responsibilities.
Initial infrastructure setup totaled €50 million, including €30 million for the monitoring network, €15 million for IT systems development, and €5 million for training and implementation across regional services.
Annual operational costs reach €40 million, with €25 million for specialized staff across the network, €10 million for infrastructure maintenance, and €5 million for continuous development and system improvements.
Effectiveness is produced by accessibility and the integration of community observation rather than technical sophistication: allowing clear information to be addressed to citizens is key to the success of Vigicrues. Open data policy builds trust and enables innovation through third-party applications. Warning systems must connect to concrete emergency plans through regular exercises. Climate change demands continuous system adaptation. Multi-channel communication is essential for diverse populations. Digital literacy, education and technology must advance together for effective flood risk reduction.