Flood: Case Study

The 2002 European Flood(s) was one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent years. The physical roots of the flood can be traced to heavy rainfall in the Eastern region of the Alps, which resulted in flooding in Northern Italy, Bavaria and the Austrian state of Salzburg. The flood water gradually moved eastwards through the Danube river, although overall damage in the region's urban centers' shorelines were not as severe as in the areas affected by the floods later.

Scientists argue that deforestation could also be a contributing factor to the extent the flood spread and the damage caused as removing trees (and soil along with it) results in weakened, less firm soil which is not able to absorb water.

Consequences

As with any flood, ramifications encompass both a human and economic level. Looking at the death toll of 106 individuals, the flood was relatively tame, however socially and economically, the flood was crippling. Officials convening at the European Union meeting immediately following the flooding estimated the total damages as approaching 22.6 billion Euro (nearly 22 million US dollars). Additionally, with fewer than 20% of the total losses to businesses and houses covered by insurance, the responsibility of cleaning up not only damage to residential structures, but also factories and re-affirming tainted infrastructure was relegated to the respective governments involved, creating a significant monetary debt and inability to deftly address the budgetary problems. Germany, quite possibly the hardest hit of the countries from the flood was ravaged insofar as they were already experiencing an economic downturn. However, the relatively less expansive economy in a country like Austria suffered significant damages incurred directly from the floodwaters.

Citizen Response

Citizens in Germany and Austria self organized a mass, orderly evacuation through community groups and partnerships. These residents sought refuge in higher-level locales and left before the floodwaters fully engulfed their domiciles, even leaving with enough time to sandbag their houses in preparation, in some cases.
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Also, during the flood, civilian operated television and radio stations and newspapers generated intense news reports and scrutiny of weather facts and locations of help and support stations in France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. Detailed information of the flood was also put on numerous web pages, soliciting international support and donations for relief efforts.

Government Response

In Germany, Czech Republic, Austria and France, response to the disaster was led by regional authorities, the body most direct to impacted residents. As the scope and magnitude of the disaster increased, it increasingly becomes relegated to the prefecture, state and the national government. In this flood disaster, the disaster relief headquarters was established on a federal level to respond immediately to the victims, starting as a practice first in Germany and then following in the other countries.

In both Austria and Germany federal technical and military groups worked alongside civilian response groups to address the flooding on a more expansive level. The German civilian group, “German Technical Assistance” provided critical and cogent support for afflicted regions through sophisticated technology and government funding.

Sources Consulted

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