Floods are among the most frequent and devastating natural disasters. Since 2000, more than 1.6 billion people have been affected, and the economic damage is enormous. The reasons are man-made: the climate crisis and ever-expanding cities are driving up the risk. As is so often the case, people living in poor countries are particularly affected.
Effective flood prevention
This raises the question of what solutions exist for effective flood prevention. Several approaches exist:
Politically, locally coordinated prevention strategies must be implemented. Technical resources such as early warning systems, AI, and the analysis of satellite data must also be better utilized. It is important to involve vulnerable communities, which can often contribute their traditional knowledge to prevention and support the ecological aspect, for example, through the maintenance of mangrove forests or the protection of wetlands.
Germany at high risk, Philippines once again at the top
The report concludes that the Philippines is the country with the highest risk of natural disasters. However, it also notes that Germany has a high risk of flooding. The 2021 flood disaster in the Ahr Valley made it clear that a lack of preparation, weak warning systems, and institutional fragmentation can be fatal even in a highly developed country.
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