Integrated Heavy Rain Risk Management

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Risks of heavy rain events are increasing all over Central Europe. They can hit any location with only very short warning time. Every year people die, thousands lose their homes, and environmental damages like water pollution occur. In 2015 economic loss amounted to 1.2 billion Euros (GDV, 2016). The devastating impact of extreme rainfall is the most significant natural risk in Central Europe. Only in May/June 2016 20 people died in CE in heavy rain events. The project’s main objective is to improve integrated management capacities of public authorities to mitigate heavy rain risks. Partners from 6 countries jointly develop practice oriented innovative methods and new tools to reduce fatalities and damages. They implement alert infrastructure in the participating regions. The project will change the regions towards a safer place to live and work sustaining economic growth. Inhabitants, businesses and the environment will benefit from the project. The main joint outputs are: - A transferable toolbox with new tools and methods to assess, map and reduce heavy rain risks. - Implemented innovative forecast and smart warning tools for short warning time. - Implemented measures to reduce health and environmental damages and to improve emergency response. The project achieves a sustainable change at all levels of the public sector. New techniques and innovative tools are implemented with benefit for e.g. businesses, agriculture, cities and people. Trainings and educational measures increase capacities. Policy makers at regional, national and EU-level are part of the process. Recommendations for the integration of heavy rain risks into the EU floods directive are developed. The new tools go far beyond existing practice in CE and in Europe. The transnational strategic approach will effectively reduce these risks and damages. Experience of river flooding projects is considered, and developed further for heavy rain events.

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