ABSTRACT
Of all the ‘natural’ hazards to which humans are exposed, floods are probably the most widespread and account for most damage and loss of life (Alexander 1993). Floods also appear to have a special impact on their victims, instilling a fear of the consequences that often exceeds their actual impacts (Green and Penning-Rowsell 1989). They also can have serious secondary impacts on the economy of the regions affected, and they can markedly influence agriculture in disaster-affected areas for some time after the event has passed, by affecting cropping patterns and yields, as dramatically is the case in Bangladesh (Alexander 1993).
