Publication of Book on crisis management for flooding
The Netherlands US Water Crisis Research Network (NUWCReN)* has published a book on crisis management for flooding.
In Flood preparedness in The Netherlands: a US perspective, some aspects of Dutch crisis management for flooding and for the recovery period, are discussed. The experiences of the Americans with these situations is thereby relevant. The United States is regularly hit by floods and other disasters of all types and magnitudes and therefore the Americans have more experience than the Dutch, in dealing with them.
The book gives a description of what the American approach could mean for the Dutch situation. The following topics are discussed: self-reliance, command and control systems, vertical evacuation, public-private partnerships, health impacts and evaluation of disasters. Finally, some conclusions and recommendations are given for improvements in the Dutch crisis management practice.
Flood preparedness in The Netherlands: a US perspective can be ordered free of charge by contacting Saskia Hommes, Deltares, phone 088-3357754. This is also the address for more information.
* NUWCRen is a collaboration between American and Dutch research institutes in the field of crisis management during flooding. This collaboration started in 2009 in order to learn from US experience with flood events such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Netherlands realised that valuable lessons could be learned from the American experience in handling the aftermath of such a disaster. Therefore, the “Netherlands U.S. Water Crisis Research Network” was established, to promote the exchange of knowledge. Deltares, the knowledge institute for water, soil and subsurface, is the coordinator of NUWCReN.
