Globally, the frequency and magnitude of floods are steadily increasing to a systematic occurrence. Accompanied by loss of lives, damage, and economic loss floods negatively influence livelihoods and well-being in many countries. Around the globe, countries invest millions in flood risk awareness campaigns that have little effect on the actual preparedness and resilience against floods.
Flooding cannot be wholly controlled or prevented due to uncertainties in the magnitude, timing, and geographical extent of floods. A flood forecasting and early warning system is the key flood risk management measure at the basis of increased resilience and preparedness against floods. It allows making critical decisions for early action to minimize the loss of lives, damage, and loss of economical and environmental value.
Developing an effective FEWS requires knowledge of risk, handling substantial amounts of historic and forecast data, such as ground and satellite observations and numerical weather predictions and hydrological and hydrodynamic models, timely and accurate warnings, dissemination and communication, and actual response capabilities.
The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) strongly advocates for an increase in the availability of FEWS to reach the targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At Nelen & Schuurmans, we actively contribute to reaching those targets and shape the development of state-of-the-art FEWS. We combine our knowledge of flood risk, hydrology, and hydrodynamics with our expertise in data science and software development. On the cutting edge of these domains, we specialize in the development and implementation of flood forecasting and early warning systems in countries around the globe.
