The extreme flood in June 2013 in Germany

Abstract

the June 2013 flood was the most severe large-scale flood in Germany, at least for the last 6 decades for which a hydrological flood severity has been calculated. Many gauges along the elbe and Danube rivers showed record water levels. the flood severity index, a measure which combines magnitude and spatial extension, is almost twice as large as the index of the august 2002 flood which has been the most expensive natural disaster for Germany to date. the enormous hydrological severity was caused by widespread and intense rainfall in combination with wet catchments due to exceptionally high rainfall in the month preceding the event. Preliminary damage estimates are in the order of 8.7 to 12 billion . Hence, the losses seem to be lower compared to the 2002 flood (11.8 billion for Germany). although detailed analyses have not been performed to date, it can be assumed that the investments and improvements in flood risk management since 2002 have reduced the flood risk and prevented higher damage.