Preparation determines the speed and quality of flood recovery
Expert(s) |
Kymo Slager
|
Ferdinand Diermanse
How recovery following large-scale floods can be better prepared and organised was the focus of a three-day international workshop held this week in Belgium and Germany. Policy-makers, researchers, and practitioners from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Spain, among others, exchanged experiences regarding recent floods and formulated joint recommendations for future-proof recovery policies.
The workshop was organised under the umbrella of the European JCAR ATRACE programme and builds on lessons learned from, among other things, the floods in the summer of 2021 in the Vesdre river basin in Belgium and the Ahr river basin in Germany.
According to the participants, more recent events in Europe (such as in Valencia and Hauts-de-France) also underscore that recovery is not a technical exercise, but a long-term and complex social process.
Recovery starts with people
One of the key messages from the workshop is that recovery is first and foremost about people. Flood victims are often traumatised and have lost their homes, livelihoods or social networks. Early attention to basic needs such as housing, food and psychosocial support is therefore essential. Only once these basics are in place can structural recovery take shape.
A process lasting ten to fifteen years
During the workshop, speakers emphasised that recovery usually takes ten to fifteen years. This long-term perspective is often at odds with the desire of residents and administrators to return to the old situation as quickly as possible.
The need for rapid recovery makes it difficult to work simultaneously on sustainable solutions that limit future damage. According to the participants, clear communication about this challenge and the patience it requires is vital for maintaining trust.
Planning pays off, even in the face of extreme events
The floods in the Vesdre and Ahr valleys, among others, demonstrate that it is impossible to be fully prepared for exceptional water levels. Nevertheless, the discussions revealed that regions with pre-established recovery frameworks can act more swiftly and effectively.
International examples are the French ‘resilience continuum’ (where preparation, crisis response, recovery and long-term adaptation overlap and influence one another) and Birkmann’s five recovery phases (distinguishing between the emergency phase, stabilisation phase, temporary recovery, reconstruction and transformation).
Local knowledge at the heart, with support from higher levels
A recurring lesson is that local authorities know their area best and should therefore be given a leading role in the recovery. National and regional authorities can reinforce that role by making funding accessible, temporarily simplifying regulations and allowing for tailored solutions. Participants pointed out that complex procurement rules and fragmented funding streams unnecessarily delay recovery.
Don’t just rebuild, build smarter
The ‘build back better’ principle was widely endorsed, although it also became clear that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Effective recovery requires a smart combination of measures: from flood defences and adapted urban design to nature-based solutions and insurance instruments.
Examples from Wallonia show that giving space to the river and modest technical interventions can together reduce risk without losing the landscape.
Recommendations and follow-up
The workshop resulted in a provisional list of recommendations, including:
- embed recovery more explicitly in European and national flood policies;
- invest in risk analyses, scenarios and stress tests as a basis for recovery decisions;
- ensure rapid, flexible funding in the initial phase and greater resources in the longer term;
- strengthen early warning, communication and risk awareness;
- encourage cross-border cooperation;
- appoint a recovery coordinator swiftly with a clearly defined mandate.
“What makes this collaboration so special is that so many countries share their experiences openly and as equals. We experienced this once again during last week’s workshop. It is precisely through this international exchange that we can learn together more quickly what works and what does not in flood recovery,” says Jeroen Aerts (researcher at Deltares / VU and ultimately responsible for knowledge development within JCAR ATRACE).
The outcomes of the workshop are now being further developed into a policy paper, which will be presented to the European Union later this year. In doing so, the experts hope to contribute to a faster, fairer and more future-proof recovery following floods in Europe.
About JCAR ATRACE
JCAR ATRACE is a collaborative research programme on flood and drought management in regional river basins across Europe. The programme focuses on supporting regional authorities in better preparing for extreme climate events.
Deltares is the programme coordinator and works in collaboration with various research institutes from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg: RWTH Aachen University, VU Amsterdam, University of Twente, TU Delft, GFZ Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, University of Liège, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology and KU Leuven.
