Prevention and Preparedness 2026–2027 Flood Response and Evacuation Plan for Port Louis presented

The Prevention and Preparedness 2026–2027 Flood Response and Evacuation Plan (FREP) for the City Centre of Port Louis was presented on Friday 31st July 2026 at the City Council of Port Louis, with the objective of strengthening disaster risk awareness, preparedness, and community resilience across all sectors of society.

The Commanding Officer and Officer in Charge of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Premanand Budhoo; the Director of the Land Drainage Authority, Mr Rishi Raj Hauzaree; and other key stakeholders were present.

It is recalled that a FREP for the City Centre of Port Louis has been developed to enhance coordination among stakeholders and ensure effective measures are in place to safeguard lives, protect livelihoods, and improve the City’s capacity to respond to flood events.

In his address, the Officer in Charge of the NDRRMC emphasised that Port Louis, as the country’s economic, financial, and administrative hub, faced flood risks due to its geographical setting, with intense rainfall, surface runoff, and tidal conditions increasing vulnerability in several areas.

“The FREP,” he said, “marks an important step towards strengthening preparedness through coordinated action among key stakeholders, including the Mauritius Police Force, the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service, the Land Drainage Authority, the City Council of Port Louis, the Mauritius Meteorological Services, together with public, private, and community partners.” He stressed that effective disaster management would depend on clear coordination, timely warnings, practical measures, and shared responsibility across all sectors.

Moreover, DCP Budhoo stressed that preparedness could not depend solely on accurate forecasts, but required early action based on risk information, including protecting vulnerable areas, managing traffic, maintaining access to essential services, and ensuring that people understand their role before the occurrence of an emergency. He thus acknowledged the contribution of those that had voluntarily joined the flood preparedness initiative.

The Officer in Charge of the NDRRMC further underlined that Mauritius, as a Small Island Developing State, must adopt an integrated approach to disaster risk reduction in the face of interconnected challenges such as flooding, cyclones, coastal hazards, and climate change. DCP Budhoo stressed that disaster risk reduction required a shift from a culture of response to one of preparedness while highlighting the importance of training, exercises, early warning systems, and continuous collaboration to ensure that Port Louis can anticipate, respond to, and recover from extreme weather events.

03 August 2026

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