The need to integrate flood and drought disaster risk reduction strategies
Philip J. Ward, Marleen de Ruiter, Johanna Mård, Kai Schröter, Anne F. Van Loon, Ted Veldkamp, Nina von Uexkull, Niko Wanders, Amir AghaKouchak, Karsten Arnbjerg‐Nielsen, Lucinda Capewell, María Carmen Llasat, Rosie Day, Benjamin Dewals, Giuliano Di Baldassarre, Laurie S. Huning, Heidi Kreibich, Maurizio Mazzoleni, Elisa Savelli, Claudia Teutschbein, Harmen van den Berg, Anne van der Heijden, Jelle M.R. Vincken, M. J. Waterloo, Marthe Wens
Abstract
Most research on hydrological risks focuses either on flood risk or drought risk, whilst floods and droughts are two extremes of the same hydrological cycle. To better design disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures and strategies, it is important to consider interactions between these closely linked phenomena. We show examples of: (a) how flood or drought DRR measures can have (unintended) positive or negative impacts on risk of the opposite hazard; and (b) how flood or drought DRR measures can be negatively impacted by the opposite hazard. We focus on dikes and levees, dams, stormwater control and upstream measures, subsurface storage, migration, agricultural practices, and vulnerability and preparedness. We identify key challenges for moving towards a more holistic risk management approach.