Adaptive flood risk management in urban areas

Abstract

In recent times a shift has occurred from traditional flood management focused on the prevention of flooding (reduction of the probability) only, to more adaptive strategies focused on the reduction of the impacts of floods as a means to improve the resilience of occupied flood plains to increased river discharge levels and sea level rise. This shift has had implications for the publicprivate divide in flood risk management. In many countries flood prevention strategies reside under the exclusive responsibility of the government, since measures such as dikes and other types of technological barriers are regarded as public goods from which all people (in a certain geographical area) benefit. With the introduction of adaptive strategies such as the wet- or dry-proofing of buildings non-state actors such as developers, housing corporations and residents also may have to bear responsibility for adaptation.