The benefit of continental flood early warning systems to reduce the impact of flood disasters

When flood events are extreme or affect regions of high vulnerability, they can become life threatening and devastating.They can also interrupt supply chains and cause significant socio-economic impacts worldwide. -The EU has implemented a comprehensive policy framework to reduce flood impacts in the EU and worldwide. -The JRC supports the EU policies on civil protection, disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change with state ofthe art European and global flood early warning systems. It manages the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. -A study on the monetary benefit of flood early warning systems in Europe suggest major savings can be achieved. -The recently launched Global Flood Partnership, co-chaired by JRC, fosters transfer of knowledge from the EU todeveloping countries and aid organisations. This report summarises current European policies in place to deal with flooding in the different phases of the disaster management cycle. A description of the development of pan-European flood early warning capability (EFAS) is provided as well as how the system fits into the responsibility chain between national services and EU civil protection. An estimate of the potential monetary benefit of EFAS in Europe is clearly indicates the added value. It further addresses gaps of such systems in other regions such as Africa and demonstrates how methodology of EU systems could be transferred for better preparedness for flooding in vulnerable regions. The recently launched Global Flood Partnership shows great potential to facilitate such transfer.