Karen Engel COT Institute for Safety, Security and Crisis Management Joseph E. Trainor University of Delaware-Department of Sociology, School of Urban.

Karen EngelKaren EngelCOT Institute for Safety, Security and Crisis ManagementCOT Institute for Safety, Security and Crisis Management

Joseph E. TrainorJoseph E. TrainorUniversity of Delaware-Department of Sociology, School of Urban Affairs and Public PolicyUniversity of Delaware-Department of Sociology, School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy

Core Faculty, Disaster Research Center Core Faculty, Disaster Research Center

John R. HarraldJohn R. HarraldVirginia Tech- Center for Technology, Security, and PolicyVirginia Tech- Center for Technology, Security, and Policy

Sue McNeilSue McNeilUniversity of Delaware-Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Delaware-Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Director, Disaster Research CenterDirector, Disaster Research Center

Greg ShawGreg ShawGeorge Washington University-Department of Engineering Management and Systems EngineeringGeorge Washington University-Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering

Marco ZannoniMarco ZannoniCOT Institute for Safety, Security and Crisis ManagementCOT Institute for Safety, Security and Crisis Management

Floods and Disaster Management in the NL: "God Created the world, but the Dutch created the NL

HazardsHazards

The NL does not face the range of natural The NL does not face the range of natural hazards that many other countries do. hazards that many other countries do.

The likelihood of hazards that are significant for The likelihood of hazards that are significant for other countries, such as hurricanes, other countries, such as hurricanes, earthquakes or droughts, is minimal in the NL. earthquakes or droughts, is minimal in the NL.

That being said, the flood risk is significantly That being said, the flood risk is significantly greater in the NL than in any other country in the greater in the NL than in any other country in the world. In fact, it is estimated that without the world. In fact, it is estimated that without the current system of engineered flood protection current system of engineered flood protection measures half of the country would be flooded measures half of the country would be flooded (Gerritsen, 2005).(Gerritsen, 2005).

Flood Prone Areas Flood Prone Areas

Natural VulnerabilityNatural VulnerabilityFor the NL Land use, Mitigation, and For the NL Land use, Mitigation, and Vulnerability go hand and hand. Vulnerability go hand and hand.

Since 800 A.D people have been trying to Since 800 A.D people have been trying to live in and manage the risks of the delta. live in and manage the risks of the delta.

This led to the development of Polders This led to the development of Polders that were managed by the people that that were managed by the people that worked the landsworked the lands

Man-made VulnerabilityMan-made Vulnerability

1717thth,18,18thth, and 19, and 19thth centuries were marked by centuries were marked by massive land reclamation projectsmassive land reclamation projects

As a result of the activities above, the NL is in a As a result of the activities above, the NL is in a unique reality. The Dutch terrain is mostly coastal unique reality. The Dutch terrain is mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed polders. The numbers lowland and reclaimed polders. The numbers speak for themselves. speak for themselves. – In total, 55% of the Dutch territory is below sea-level; In total, 55% of the Dutch territory is below sea-level;

– 60% of the Dutch population lives below sea level; and60% of the Dutch population lives below sea level; and

– 65% of the Dutch national gross product is produced 65% of the Dutch national gross product is produced below sea-level.below sea-level.

Water BoardsWater Boards

Historically, the ideas of ‘dry feet,’ sufficient water, and Historically, the ideas of ‘dry feet,’ sufficient water, and quality water resources have been considered vital to the quality water resources have been considered vital to the NL. NL.

Led to the creation of “Dike Counts” and later the Led to the creation of “Dike Counts” and later the waterboardswaterboards

The oldest “intact” form of governance in the country. The oldest “intact” form of governance in the country.

Idea was to keep water issues from being subject to the Idea was to keep water issues from being subject to the general political weighing of interests. Instead, The general political weighing of interests. Instead, The Water Board, a regional water authority, existsWater Board, a regional water authority, exists

Waterboard/Dyke RingsWaterboard/Dyke Rings

NL Water MitigationNL Water MitigationThe NL is known world wide for water The NL is known world wide for water mitigation. mitigation.

……but it is only since the 1950’s that the but it is only since the 1950’s that the country has really been focused on these country has really been focused on these systemssystems

This push was the result of This push was the result of 1953 floods that killed 1836.1953 floods that killed 1836.

Led to “Delta plan”Led to “Delta plan”

The Delta PlanThe Delta PlanSeries of public works Series of public works efforts aimed at shortening efforts aimed at shortening the length of the coastline the length of the coastline and subsequently the and subsequently the length of the potentially length of the potentially exposed area exposed area

Built to the 1:1000 year Built to the 1:1000 year markmark

Flood Vulnerability: From Water Crises to Flood Vulnerability: From Water Crises to Potential Water CatastrophePotential Water Catastrophe

While the NL has never enjoyed the levels of While the NL has never enjoyed the levels of protection against flooding that are in place protection against flooding that are in place today, human interventions have altered the today, human interventions have altered the nature of the threat.nature of the threat.

Counter-intuitively, this may have actually Counter-intuitively, this may have actually increased risks in some due to the societal, increased risks in some due to the societal, economic and geographical changes.economic and geographical changes.

Recent Developments in Water SafetyRecent Developments in Water Safety

Over the past 5 – 10 years the debate has begun to Over the past 5 – 10 years the debate has begun to include increasing attention for consequence reduction. include increasing attention for consequence reduction.

The new policy approach is based on the following three The new policy approach is based on the following three pillars (Wit, van der Most, Gutteling and Bockarjova, pillars (Wit, van der Most, Gutteling and Bockarjova, 2008): 2008): – Engineered MitigationEngineered Mitigation: revision of the preventive policy, including : revision of the preventive policy, including

updating required protection levels;updating required protection levels;– Land use MitigationLand use Mitigation: consequence reduction through spatial : consequence reduction through spatial

planning and robustness of infrastructure;planning and robustness of infrastructure;– Emergency management PreparednessEmergency management Preparedness: strengthen emergency : strengthen emergency

management system with respect to flooding, increase flood management system with respect to flooding, increase flood awareness throughout society and enable individual resilience in awareness throughout society and enable individual resilience in case of flooding. case of flooding.

Major Disaster Events Major Disaster Events

Pre-1953: “Deal with it”Pre-1953: “Deal with it”

The 1953 flood disaster: “Mitigation is The 1953 flood disaster: “Mitigation is the answer”the answer”

The Floods of the 1990’s: “Land Use The Floods of the 1990’s: “Land Use and Response Have a Place”and Response Have a Place”

Levels of CrisismanagementLevels of Crisismanagement

International

National

Provinces

S&S Region

Water authorities

Local

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Provinces and S&S-regionsProvinces and S&S-regions

12 Provinces 25 S&S regios

1414

Water-Authorities & CommunitiesWater-Authorities & Communities

1515

27 Water-autorities 441 communities

Recent Developments in NL Recent Developments in NL Emergency ManagementEmergency Management

NationalizationNationalization

RegionalizationRegionalization

Increased PreparednessIncreased Preparedness

Flood Management TaskforceFlood Management Taskforce

““Living with the Sea”Living with the Sea”

Delta CommitteeDelta Committee

Strengths Strengths

Amazing Flood mitigation systemsAmazing Flood mitigation systems

Emergency management system is quite Emergency management system is quite serious about local and regional serious about local and regional developmentdevelopment

The NL government has done a great deal The NL government has done a great deal of work to put in place a workable system of work to put in place a workable system for emergency responsefor emergency response

WeaknessesWeaknesses

The sole focus on mitigating flood risks in the NL The sole focus on mitigating flood risks in the NL has engendered a sense of safety and security has engendered a sense of safety and security even in inherently dangerous places. even in inherently dangerous places.

The role of societal assets in disaster The role of societal assets in disaster management structures. Disaster management management structures. Disaster management is meant to safeguard and protect people, but is meant to safeguard and protect people, but the general public is absent in most key planning the general public is absent in most key planning and developmental activities.and developmental activities.

How do you keep awareness and motivation How do you keep awareness and motivation preparedness when few events occur.preparedness when few events occur.

ConclusionsConclusions

The “struggle with water” has defined the past, The “struggle with water” has defined the past, present, and future of emergency management. present, and future of emergency management.

As in other countries it appears that major As in other countries it appears that major disaster events have has much to do with the disaster events have has much to do with the development of their modern emergency development of their modern emergency response approach. response approach.

While mitigation has dominated NL policy the While mitigation has dominated NL policy the modern system is moving towards balance.modern system is moving towards balance.

ConclusionsConclusions

The Dutch could provide a great deal of expertise and The Dutch could provide a great deal of expertise and guidance to US planners and engineers facing the issues guidance to US planners and engineers facing the issues of estimating safety standards, maintaining structures, and of estimating safety standards, maintaining structures, and developing protections. Meanwhile the US could provide a developing protections. Meanwhile the US could provide a great deal of input into the developing national response great deal of input into the developing national response structure and the doctrine in the NL.structure and the doctrine in the NL.

USA and NL countries could benefit from the increased USA and NL countries could benefit from the increased integration of other insights from the sciences. Particularly integration of other insights from the sciences. Particularly as issues of human behavior, organizational dynamics, as issues of human behavior, organizational dynamics, politics, risk communication, and the like are integrated politics, risk communication, and the like are integrated into emergency management, into emergency management,