Chapter 15
Flood Risk Management System
in Poland
Renata Graf
Abstract Flood, as a hydrological phenomenon with socio-economic significance,
is classified among the most dangerous and costly extreme occurrences in the world
and Europe. Because of the growing flood risk recorded in the European Union
countries, in 2007, there was implemented the Floods Directive on the assessment
and management of flood risks. The new flood risk management system in Poland,
based on a technical protections system and non-technical flood prevention methods
includes preliminary risk assessment, preparation of flood hazard and flood risk maps,
and risk management plans. Preliminary assessment involves the identification of
places with significant flood risk, which is determined by analysis of the immediate
impact of the flood on human life and health, and various areas of economic activity
with the infrastructure, as well as the effectiveness of existing flood control structures.
Flood risk management plans are a planning document delineating actions which are
to realise the main flood risk management objectives. The models dealing with flood
risk management implemented in Poland, in connection with the Floods Directive,
represent the strategies: “Moving flood away from the people”, “Moving people away
from flood” and “Learning to live with flood”. The first strategy is altering flood to
meet the requirements of human activity, the second accommodate human economic
activity to flood and the third proposes reducing an area’s flood and inundation
susceptibility during a flood. Considerable significance is now attributed to the socalled non-technical methods, organisational-legal and planning measures, with on
the other hand stressing the efficacy of comprehensive flood protection solutions,
which are adapted to the hydrological conditions and the extent of land development
of catchments. Comparison of elements of flood risk management strategies and the
Polish experience in flood loss reduction has shown that a reasonable avenue is a
compilation of technical and non-technical actions, and selection of an optimal one,
which will make possible the realisation of the directive’s guidelines.
R. Graf (B)
Department of Hydrology and Water Management, Institute of Physical Geography and
Environmental Planning, Adam Mickiewicz University, Bogumiła Krygowskiego 10, 61-680
Pozna´ n, Poland
e-mail: rengraf@amu.edu.pl
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Zeleˇ náková et al. (eds.), Management of Water Resources in Poland, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61965-7_15
281
Flood Risk Management System
in Poland
Renata Graf
Abstract Flood, as a hydrological phenomenon with socio-economic significance,
is classified among the most dangerous and costly extreme occurrences in the world
and Europe. Because of the growing flood risk recorded in the European Union
countries, in 2007, there was implemented the Floods Directive on the assessment
and management of flood risks. The new flood risk management system in Poland,
based on a technical protections system and non-technical flood prevention methods
includes preliminary risk assessment, preparation of flood hazard and flood risk maps,
and risk management plans. Preliminary assessment involves the identification of
places with significant flood risk, which is determined by analysis of the immediate
impact of the flood on human life and health, and various areas of economic activity
with the infrastructure, as well as the effectiveness of existing flood control structures.
Flood risk management plans are a planning document delineating actions which are
to realise the main flood risk management objectives. The models dealing with flood
risk management implemented in Poland, in connection with the Floods Directive,
represent the strategies: “Moving flood away from the people”, “Moving people away
from flood” and “Learning to live with flood”. The first strategy is altering flood to
meet the requirements of human activity, the second accommodate human economic
activity to flood and the third proposes reducing an area’s flood and inundation
susceptibility during a flood. Considerable significance is now attributed to the socalled non-technical methods, organisational-legal and planning measures, with on
the other hand stressing the efficacy of comprehensive flood protection solutions,
which are adapted to the hydrological conditions and the extent of land development
of catchments. Comparison of elements of flood risk management strategies and the
Polish experience in flood loss reduction has shown that a reasonable avenue is a
compilation of technical and non-technical actions, and selection of an optimal one,
which will make possible the realisation of the directive’s guidelines.
R. Graf (B)
Department of Hydrology and Water Management, Institute of Physical Geography and
Environmental Planning, Adam Mickiewicz University, Bogumiła Krygowskiego 10, 61-680
Pozna´ n, Poland
e-mail: rengraf@amu.edu.pl
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Zeleˇ náková et al. (eds.), Management of Water Resources in Poland, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61965-7_15
281