Flood Warnings at the Local Level: Tools and Experiences in Their Implementation

Abstract

In recent years, we are observing a change in approach to natural disasters, including floods. It consists of a departure from actions focusing on protection from hazards, in the direction of actions focusing on risk management and on the behavior of inhabitants and crisis intervention forces in hazard situations. These changes mean that flood warning systems are becoming a tool more important than before in flood damage mitigation; their main aim should be to enable citizens to take effective action. In this article, we present experiences from the building of a local warning system in the Klodzko Valley, an area located in southwestern Poland, which is at risk for flash flooding.