Guidelines for Reducing Flood Losses

On the occasion of World Water Day (22 March) the publication Guidelines for reducing flood losses was launched in Geneva, New York, Bangkok and Harare. This publication aims at providing decision-makers with a range of options to consider for reducing losses associated with flooding. As an inter-agency effort reflecting the multisectoral nature of disaster risk reduction, the guidelines draw on the experience of various partners including the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA NOAA), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR),with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). To receive a hard copy of the publication, please contact isdr@un.org

Executive Summary

Floods have the greatest damage potential of all natural disasters worldwide and affect the greatest number of people. On a global basis, there is evidence that the number of people affected and economic damages resulting from flooding are on the rise at an alarming rate. Society must move from the current paradigm of post-disaster response. Plans and efforts must be undertaken to break the current event-disaster cycle. More than ever, there is the need for decision makers to adopt holistic approaches for flood disaster management.

Extreme flooding events are not relegated to the least developed nations, but can also devastate and ravage the most economically advanced and industrialized nations. In the last decade there has been catastrophic flooding in Bangladesh, China, India, Germany, Mozambique, Poland, the United States and elsewhere. When floods occur in less developed nations, they can effectively wipe out decades of investments in infrastructure, seriously cripple economic prosperity, and result in thousands of deaths and epidemics. The majority of the deaths associated with such disasters can be found within the most vulnerable members of society, namely women and children. The greatest tragedy is that most of these deaths, associated post traumatic stresses, and social and economic hardships can be either avoided or dramatically reduced through pre-, during, and post-disaster investments in preparedness activities and associated infrastructure, flood plain policy development, effective watershed land use planning, flood forecasting and warning systems, and response mechanisms.

It is recognized that comprehensive assessments of risks from natural hazards such as flooding, mud/land slides, and extreme wind and rain are necessary for society to better understand the risks which they face daily. Assessment of risk and the involvement of the community in the decision making, planning and implementation process can help lead to sustainable solutions. Solutions must reflect the human dimension and must also consider the impacts of changing land use on flooding, erosion, and landslides. Integrated water management practices must be embraced. Societies have much to learn from new approaches such as better forecasting techniques and applying experience gained from flood events and mitigation efforts employed elsewhere. Implementation will only be sustainable if solutions are suitable for the community at risk over the long term. As storms will continue to occur, risk assessment and planning followed by actions are needed to help reduce the overall risk to society, the economy and the environment.

These guidelines are oriented to the needs of the decision-maker and provide a description of the range of mitigation options that need to be considered when making efforts to reduce losses from flooding. The guidelines are designed to provide an introduction to the general area and to introduce the reader to various measures to mitigate the impacts associated with floods. A bibliography is provided that cites detailed material available for the planning and implementation stages. These guidelines are not meant to address floods resulting from storm surge, ice or debris jams, or the failure of human-made structures.

Table of Contents

full version
	Acknowledgements Foreword Executive Summary Table of Contents
	Introduction
	1. Socio-Economic Aspects of Water-Related Disaster Response
	1.1 Social Aspects of Disaster Reduction and Response 1.2 Economic Aspects of Disaster Reduction and Response 1.3 Response Strategies 1.4 Public Awareness and Communication
	2. Key Elements of Flood Disaster Management
	2.1 Risk Management and Flood Plain Delineation 2.2 Supportive Technologies 2.3 Flood Plain Management 2.4 Watershed Management 2.5 Climate Variability and Change 2.6 Development of Policies, Strategies and Plans 2.7 Emergency Preparedness and Response
	3. Integrated Flood Forecasting, Warning and Response System
	3.1 Defining an Integrated System 3.2 The Hydrometeorological Network for Forecasting 3.3 Meteorological Support 3.4 The Forecast Centre
	4. Establishing an Integrated System
	Bibliography
	Annex
	Case Study 1: Community Education Case Study 2: Regional Cooperation in Southern Africa Case Study 3: An Instructional Programme for the Local Level Case Study 4: Access to Information - The RANET Project
	Acronyms