Lessons for Flood Hazard and Disaster Management from the International Decade – and Future Challenges

As the first International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction approaches its conclusion it is difficult to draw accurate and comprehensive conclusions as to the major lessons learned from the great variety of measures that it initiated around the world to reduce the undesirable effects of floods. If there is any one clear lesson, it relates to the importance of accompanying typical measures with discerning evaluation of what results they actually achieved, for good or ill.