Risk Prevention in Germany: Challenges in Building Risk Awareness / Dr Andre Bahr (Elementa, Germany)

Abstract: This talk will be about the progress and challenges of disaster prevention in Germany, with a focus on the difficulties of clearly communicating risks to the public and local authorities.

Natural hazards in Germany are causing billions in damages each year mainly from storms, floods driven by heavy rainfall and hail. In theory, Germany has a well-formalized chain of information and warning, ranging from the German Weather Service (DWD) to local disaster management authorities and the public. However, fragmented responsibilities and uneven standards across its 16 federal states remain major challenges. A major flooding in the Ahr Valley, western Germany, in 2021 highlighted these weaknesses: although early warnings were available and distributed, misinterpretation and delayed action on several administrative levels led to catastrophic consequences with over 100 fatalities.

This catastrophe demonstrated the urgent need for robust digital warning systems (e.g., Cell Broadcast) as well as the development of impact-based forecasts, which translate meteorological parameters into locally relevant, action-oriented guidance. Risk and hazard maps (especially for flash floods and river floods) have advanced significantly, but there is still a huge knowledge gap when it comes to informing the interested public about e.g. actual flood risks at a specific location. This shows that effective disaster risk reduction requires stronger integration of science, administration, insurers, and citizens.