288
R. Graf
On the global scale, an increasing flood risk level is a determinant of the multirisk which also comprises the threat and consequences of the occurrence of extreme
climatic, meteorological and geophysical events, e.g., droughts, storms, fires, slides,
and earthquakes. The risk profile for Poland, prepared by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (source: UNISDR/CRED), shows that the
highest human exposure is with regard to the occurrence and aftermath of drought,
to a lesser extent flood, whose consequences apply to the property and persons living
in the flood prone-areas, located mostly within river valleys.
15.4 Flood Risk Management in Poland
15.4.1 Criteria for Flood Risk Identification
The Flood Directive underscores that complete flood protection is impossible, flood
damage and losses only being able to be reduced in their severity and that instead of
reacting during a flood, flood risk should be controlled and managed in advance [11].
According to Kaczmarek [51], the risk is the measure of the condition of an extreme
event which leads to risk or loss. The risk means the measure of a threat or hazard,
which results from probable events independent on human activity or from possible
consequences of making a decision [52, 53]. Flood risk in the meaning of the directive
is “a combination of the probability of a flood event and the potential adverse consequences to human health, the environment, cultural heritage, and economic activity”,
and the goal of risk management is the reduction of the risk occurrence probability
and losses due to flood by introducing appropriate mechanisms and instruments. The
character of each type of risk is determined by three basic factors: the event, that
is risk occurrence circumstances, probability, and consequences. The flood hazard
problem becomes particularly important, especially during a flood occurrence when
interest in flood protection is increased.
Flood risk is a combination of flood occurrence probability and potentially loses,
which are the sum of exposure and susceptibility resulting from natural and socioeconomic circumstances. Exposure means the state of land development of a threatened area, defined by the structures, infrastructure, and communities present in
a threatened area [54]. Whereas flood susceptibility understood as the resistance
of infrastructure located in inundation and flooding-prone areas, is characterised
by the preparation of people and structures for a flood. Flood risk increases as a
consequence of heavy meteorological conditions. Also, it increases due to reduced
catchment retention and improper floodland development, which leads to increased
hydrotechnical and economic risk [55].
The highest flood risk category (I – very high risk) pertains to a threat to human
life, flooding of residential and utility buildings, and damage to motorways and
main bridges. In spatial terms, it is assigned to embanked rivers in cities and areas
being urbanised as well as built-up river valleys without protection. Moderate flood
R. Graf
On the global scale, an increasing flood risk level is a determinant of the multirisk which also comprises the threat and consequences of the occurrence of extreme
climatic, meteorological and geophysical events, e.g., droughts, storms, fires, slides,
and earthquakes. The risk profile for Poland, prepared by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (source: UNISDR/CRED), shows that the
highest human exposure is with regard to the occurrence and aftermath of drought,
to a lesser extent flood, whose consequences apply to the property and persons living
in the flood prone-areas, located mostly within river valleys.
15.4 Flood Risk Management in Poland
15.4.1 Criteria for Flood Risk Identification
The Flood Directive underscores that complete flood protection is impossible, flood
damage and losses only being able to be reduced in their severity and that instead of
reacting during a flood, flood risk should be controlled and managed in advance [11].
According to Kaczmarek [51], the risk is the measure of the condition of an extreme
event which leads to risk or loss. The risk means the measure of a threat or hazard,
which results from probable events independent on human activity or from possible
consequences of making a decision [52, 53]. Flood risk in the meaning of the directive
is “a combination of the probability of a flood event and the potential adverse consequences to human health, the environment, cultural heritage, and economic activity”,
and the goal of risk management is the reduction of the risk occurrence probability
and losses due to flood by introducing appropriate mechanisms and instruments. The
character of each type of risk is determined by three basic factors: the event, that
is risk occurrence circumstances, probability, and consequences. The flood hazard
problem becomes particularly important, especially during a flood occurrence when
interest in flood protection is increased.
Flood risk is a combination of flood occurrence probability and potentially loses,
which are the sum of exposure and susceptibility resulting from natural and socioeconomic circumstances. Exposure means the state of land development of a threatened area, defined by the structures, infrastructure, and communities present in
a threatened area [54]. Whereas flood susceptibility understood as the resistance
of infrastructure located in inundation and flooding-prone areas, is characterised
by the preparation of people and structures for a flood. Flood risk increases as a
consequence of heavy meteorological conditions. Also, it increases due to reduced
catchment retention and improper floodland development, which leads to increased
hydrotechnical and economic risk [55].
The highest flood risk category (I – very high risk) pertains to a threat to human
life, flooding of residential and utility buildings, and damage to motorways and
main bridges. In spatial terms, it is assigned to embanked rivers in cities and areas
being urbanised as well as built-up river valleys without protection. Moderate flood