Flood risk management / Disaster risk reduction

Home»Expertise»Flood risk management / Disaster risk reduction» Flood preparedness

Flood preparedness

Because it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of flooding, society has to be prepared when things go wrong. There are several ways in which Deltares supports Flood Preparedness, including the development of real time early warning systems. This enables authorities to timely start implementing contingency plans, such as evacuations and mobilisation of rescue forces.

Flood forecasting and early warning

For flood early warning, Deltares has developed a leading software package (FEWS). It provides an open shell that binds together existing tools and data streams and turns them into a state-of-the-art hydrological forecast and warning system, for river and/or coastal areas. Many clients worldwide are using this package for assessments and decision-making. Deltares has also developed a tsunami early warning system.

It provides an open shell that binds together existing tools and data streams and turns them into a state-of-the-art hydrological forecast and warning system, for river and/or coastal areas. Many clients worldwide are using this package for assessments and decision-making. Deltares has also developed a tsunami early warning system.

Evacuation and recovery

Deltares gives advice on the design of multi-hazard evacuation plans, based on simulations of possible flooding scenarios and inundation modelling, but also building on local knowledge (‘tacit-knowledge’) and community involvement. Evacuation of a large area comprises a huge logistic operation. Sound information is needed and has to be communicated to a large number of parties. Deltares is working on concepts and tools to facilitate this information need. In the Netherlands we assist our government in implementing FLIWAS, the Flood Information Warning System at national, regional and local level. Together with partner institutes we are developing a National Evacuation Module.

Deltares has expertise in the planning and design of vital infrastructure (transport, electricity, water supply) in order to improve evacuation plans, safeguard vital utilities during a disaster and reduce the recovery time. Triggered by the flood experience of Hurricane Katrina a network has been established of American and Dutch experts in the field of disaster management. This network, called Netherlands/US Water Crisis Research Network (NUWCREN), should develop insights to support the efforts of the Dutch government to prepare for, respond to, and recover from water related crisis situations. Deltares was contracted by the Dutch Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Water management to coordinate this network.

Raising risk awareness and community resilience

Preparedness with adequate warning and response plans are the key elements for increasing the resilience of communities. Being more aware of the risks helps citizens and businesses to take timely measures to reduce flood impacts. Citizens will, however, only adopt a more flood sensitive behaviour if they perceive recommended actions as useful and if they think they are able to act upon them. The perception of citizens on self-efficacy and response efficacy of recommended actions is crucial to successful risk communication. Deltares has easy access to a network of experts in human and social sciences to support tailor-made flood risk communication.