Revision as of 10:51, 20 February 2014 by
***** (***** | *****)Flood and drought events are most likely to become more often and severe in times of climate change. In arid regions this will bring times of water scarcity, whereas in coastal and mountainous areas flood events going together with massive erosion will occur (see also excess water). These events have impact on human life, habitat and economic activities, e.g. by washing off fertile topsoil in agricultural areas.
Preventive management and action plans for emergencies can reduce the negative impact of floods and droughts. Vulnerability assessments identify possible most affected groups. The development of adapted infrastructure can diminish the vulnerability in both cases, like better drainage systems for floods and additional water storage capacity for droughts. The preservation and rehabilitation of ecosystems further enhances the capabilities to deal with extreme weather, by offering storage or buffer capacities.
Further reading
GIZ (2005): Disaster risk management in rural areas of Latin America and the Carribbean. Selected instruments. http://star-www.giz.de/dokumente/bib/06-0443_I.pdf [accessed 17 April 2013]
GIZ (2008): Disaster risk management. Factsheet: India. Flood management in the Chennai metropolitan area. http://star-www.giz.de/dokumente/bib-2008/gtz2008-0439en-disaster-risk-management-india.pdf [accessed 17 April 2013]
