The recent series of intense meteorological events in Europe over the last few years, including Storm DANA in Spain last week, has caused widespread damage, underscoring the critical need for robust disaster prevention measures. On 30 October 2024, areas across Spain, such as Valencia and Andalusia, saw rainfall exceeding 400 mm in just eight hours in some areas. This extreme weather led to severe flooding, a high number of fatalities, displacement of thousands, interruption of transportation, and significant, long-lasting economic losses.
Technical Land Planning and Hazard Mitigation: To mitigate future disasters, it is essential to employ land planning that integrates advanced forecasting measures. Geospatial data modelling and simulations of natural phenomena allow us to determine vulnerable areas and shape urban planning decisions that minimise risk. By utilising spatio-temporal analyses of environmental data in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) supported by machine learning (ML) models, we can map high-risk zones with increased accuracy, avoiding construction in flood-prone areas and design urban drainage systems that manage sudden rainfall surges effectively.
In 2019, Valencia experienced a similar DANA event, although with lesser magnitude. The economic impact from the 2019 DANA event amounted to 3 billion USD (equivalent to 2,7 billion euros) in damages, according to the International Disaster Database (Belgium – UCLouvain). Considering the significantly higher impact of the recent DANA event, yet to be calculated, these figures clearly indicate that proactive investments in disaster preparedness are not only environmentally wise but also economically prudent. Of course, the most important purpose of prevention measures is saving human lives. It should also be emphasised that prevention measures cannot eliminate the risk of casualties if urbanisation continues in risk-prone areas.
EFG Recommendations:
1. Enhanced Infrastructure and Data Collection: Public administrations must strengthen their capacity for geological and climate data integration, developing real-time warning systems and resilient infrastructure to protect critical areas. This includes developing risk-based maps based on geological maps and 3D subsurface models.
2. Climate-Resilient Urban Design: Local governments should revise existing urban plans to include retrofitting buildings and enhancing nature-based solutions in collaboration with grey infrastructure to withstand increasing storm intensity and frequency, based also on new climate models.
3.Human-Centric Early Warming Systems (EWS): Engaging local communities in resilience planning is vital. Public risk maps and early warning apps can empower citizens to take informed actions, fostering a collective culture of prevention while using their engagement as a resource for the EWS.
To reduce risks of climate-induced hazards, increase the safety of its citizens and environment, and minimise long-term costs, Europe must improve its disaster resilience by strategically aligning spatial planning, technology implementation, and community actions.
