Author(s): Helmut Habersack; Jochen Burgel; Heinz Stiefelmeyer; Gerald Krapesch
Linked Author(s): Helmut Habersack
Keywords: Extreme floods; Integrated flood management; Flood risk
Abstract: Natural disasters such as floods or droughts have always had strong effects on humankind. In the 20th century, the number of extreme flood disasters increased. In summer 2002 and 2005 heavy floods also affected many regions of Austria, with severe consequences for people, settlements and industrial areas. This calls for pressing ahead with the implementation of integrated flood management, including measures for immediate protection and relief efforts as well as ecologically oriented flood prevention. The project FloodRisk was based on the 2002 flood event documentation. The analysis marks the next step in creating basic provisions for strategic decisions of integrated flood management. A cause and effect analysis of the event is based on the results of a total of 46 subprojects in fields such as meteorology, hydrology, geomorphology, natural disasters, economic aspects, the law, spatial planning and disaster protection. This approach yielded suggestions for future improvements (“lessons learned”) and suitable implementation strategies of an integrated flood management.
Year: 2007