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The Human Health Consequences of Flooding in Europe: a Review

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Extreme Weather Events and Public Health Responses

Summary

Floods are the most common natural disaster in Europe. The adverse human health consequences of flooding are complex and far-reaching: these include drowning, injuries, and an increased incidence of common mental disorders. Anxiety and depression may last for months and possibly even years after the flood event and so the true health burden is rarely appreciated. Effects of floods on communicable diseases appear relatively infrequent in Europe. The vulnerability of a person or group is defined in terms of their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of a natural hazard. Determining vulnerability is a major challenge. Vulnerable groups within communities to the health impacts of flooding are the elderly, disabled, children, women, ethnic minorities, and those on low incomes. There is a need for more good-quality epidemiological data before vulnerability indices can be developed. With better information, the emphasis in disaster management could shift from post-disaster improvisation to pre-disaster planning. A comprehensive, risk-based emergency management program of preparedness, response, and recovery has the potential to reduce the adverse health effects of floods, but there is currently inadequate evidence of the effectiveness of public health interventions

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Public & Environmental Health Research Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WCIE 7HT, UK-London, UK

    Dr. S. Hajat & Dr. R. S. Kovats (Lecturer)

  2. 1800 Diagonal road, Suite 355, Alexandria, VA, 22314, USA

    Dr. K. L. Ebi (Senior Managing Scientist Exponent)

  3. Global Change and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Via Francesco Crispi, 10, I-00187, Rome, Italy

    Dr. B. Menne

  4. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WCIE 7HT, UK-London, UK

    Dr. S. Edwards

  5. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WCIE 7HT, UK-London, UK

    Prof. A. Haines (Dean)

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  1. Dr. S. Hajat
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  2. Dr. K. L. Ebi
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  3. Dr. R. S. Kovats
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. European Public Health Association (EUPHA), Germany

    Wilhelm Kirch (Past President) (Past President)

  2. Public Health Research Association Saxony, Medical Faculty, Technical University Dresden, Fiedlerstr. 27, D-01307, Dresden, Germany

    Wilhelm Kirch (Past President) (Past President)

  3. Special Programme on Health and Environment, WHO Regional Office for Europe, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Via Francesco Crispi, 10, I-00187, Rome, Italy

    Roberto Bertollini

  4. Global Change and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Via Francesco Crispi, 10, I-00187, Rome, Italy

    Bettina Menne

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Hajat, S., Ebi, K.L., Kovats, R.S., Menne, B., Edwards, S., Haines, A. (2005). The Human Health Consequences of Flooding in Europe: a Review. In: Kirch, W., Bertollini, R., Menne, B. (eds) Extreme Weather Events and Public Health Responses. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-28862-7_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-28862-7_18

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