88 M Kammerbauer and C Wamsler
comprises a further obstacle (Vetter et al. 2017, p. 325; Wamsler 2015, p. 30;
Pauleit & Wamsler 2016).
Private flood insurance can be an important hazard governance mechanism
both before and in the aftermath of a flood disaster, as it ‘enables individual risk
taking and provides a financial safety net in the face of uncertainty’ (Krieger
& Demeritt 2015, p. 4). It can support both disaster risk management and climate change adaptation approaches. Flood insurance in Germany is embedded within an all-hazards add-on insurance (Elementarzusatzversicherung) for
private homeowners, who can purchase it voluntarily, yet coverage is relatively
low (38 per cent of homeowners in 2015) (Krieger & Demeritt 2015, pp. 7–9;
GDV 2015; Thieken et al. 2016). Households that purchase flood insurance are
supposed to receive compensation in order to finance post-disaster rebuilding and reconstruction efforts (Ewald 1991, Krieger & Demeritt 2015, pp. 2–4;
O’Malley 2004; Thieken et al. 2016). Only a few examples of flood insurance
combined with risk mitigation exist or are incentivised by reduced insurance
premiums or rewards (Thieken et al. 2016). Recurrent discussions on whether
to create mandatory flood insurance remain unsuccessful on the grounds of
the perception that the government would become the ‘insurer of last resort’
(Krieger & Demeritt 2015, p. 19). At the same time, it was decided that from
2019 onward governmental funding for rebuilding after disaster will no longer
be available to homeowners if a related insurance product is available on the
market (Kammerbauer & Wamsler 2018).
Summary of empirical research findings
Flood impacts on demography
The households that participated in the survey comprise 14 per cent of all
households in the impacted area. 66 per cent of respondents are female,
while the regional average is 51 per cent (Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik
und Datenverarbeitung 2013, p. 6). 96 per cent are citizens of the Federal
Republic, matching the average in the governmental district of Lower
Bavaria (Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik und Datenverarbeitung 2014,
p. 12). The remaining 4 per cent are from other EU countries. The average
age of respondents is 54.5 years and is above the Lower Bavarian average of
44 years (Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik 2016, p. 6). Our data indicate
changes in employment, with a decrease from 28 per cent to 25 per cent.
15 participants are retirees at the time of the survey. Individual health is also
a concern: 23 per cent state health is a significant problem and 34 per cent
describe health as a very significant problem. 41 per cent report that health
issues have started to occur after the flood.
Housing tenure
70 per cent of participants are long-term residents (20 years and longer).
76 per cent live in a single-family residential home. 81 per cent of survey
comprises a further obstacle (Vetter et al. 2017, p. 325; Wamsler 2015, p. 30;
Pauleit & Wamsler 2016).
Private flood insurance can be an important hazard governance mechanism
both before and in the aftermath of a flood disaster, as it ‘enables individual risk
taking and provides a financial safety net in the face of uncertainty’ (Krieger
& Demeritt 2015, p. 4). It can support both disaster risk management and climate change adaptation approaches. Flood insurance in Germany is embedded within an all-hazards add-on insurance (Elementarzusatzversicherung) for
private homeowners, who can purchase it voluntarily, yet coverage is relatively
low (38 per cent of homeowners in 2015) (Krieger & Demeritt 2015, pp. 7–9;
GDV 2015; Thieken et al. 2016). Households that purchase flood insurance are
supposed to receive compensation in order to finance post-disaster rebuilding and reconstruction efforts (Ewald 1991, Krieger & Demeritt 2015, pp. 2–4;
O’Malley 2004; Thieken et al. 2016). Only a few examples of flood insurance
combined with risk mitigation exist or are incentivised by reduced insurance
premiums or rewards (Thieken et al. 2016). Recurrent discussions on whether
to create mandatory flood insurance remain unsuccessful on the grounds of
the perception that the government would become the ‘insurer of last resort’
(Krieger & Demeritt 2015, p. 19). At the same time, it was decided that from
2019 onward governmental funding for rebuilding after disaster will no longer
be available to homeowners if a related insurance product is available on the
market (Kammerbauer & Wamsler 2018).
Summary of empirical research findings
Flood impacts on demography
The households that participated in the survey comprise 14 per cent of all
households in the impacted area. 66 per cent of respondents are female,
while the regional average is 51 per cent (Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik
und Datenverarbeitung 2013, p. 6). 96 per cent are citizens of the Federal
Republic, matching the average in the governmental district of Lower
Bavaria (Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik und Datenverarbeitung 2014,
p. 12). The remaining 4 per cent are from other EU countries. The average
age of respondents is 54.5 years and is above the Lower Bavarian average of
44 years (Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik 2016, p. 6). Our data indicate
changes in employment, with a decrease from 28 per cent to 25 per cent.
15 participants are retirees at the time of the survey. Individual health is also
a concern: 23 per cent state health is a significant problem and 34 per cent
describe health as a very significant problem. 41 per cent report that health
issues have started to occur after the flood.
Housing tenure
70 per cent of participants are long-term residents (20 years and longer).
76 per cent live in a single-family residential home. 81 per cent of survey