Background: There is a great wealth of knowledge to be exploited in minimizing flood damages. This knowledge base includes both scientific knowledge (climate characteristics, weather forecasting, flood propagation modelling, modelling of vulnerability, design of mitigation measures, development of management strategies and instruments) and practical knowledge or experience arising from implementation and execution of flood mitigation measures (issuing existing precautionary instruments, flood warning, evacuating population, executing emergency measures reducing damages during floods, etc.). Effective flood mitigation becomes particularly challenging when dealing with transboundary floods.

Finally, there is an emerging issue in event management of floods – protection of major hydro technical structures against terrorism. Consequences of terrorist attacks on dams would have tragic consequences, with formation of a dam-break flood wave and it is propagation through the river valley. Thus, it is the goal of the proposed workshop to address all the above issues to advance the science of flood risk management designed to minimize it and to learn from recent extreme floods in Central Europe and elsewhere how to develop effective flood mitigation measures. Analyses of flood hazards combine estimation of flood characteristics and understanding of hydrological processes leading to floods. The current methods of analysis will be reviewed, with focus on frequency analysis (and potential modifications required by climate change), regional flood analysis, probable maximum flood (PMF) methods, and conceptual modelling.

Vulnerability expresses the sensitivity of flood prone areas to be damaged in a social (loss of life), economic (destruction of buildings and infrastructure) and ecological sense (toxicological impacts). In many cases it provides the most effective options for the reduction of flood damages. Non-structural flood management measures play the important role when floods are forecasted. Based on the consideration of flood hazards and vulnerability a comprehensive framework of measures, instruments and strategies for flood risk management will be discussed.

During the last decade, political, economical and social changes in the transition countries have influenced almost every element of the public sector, including water services. There is an urgent need for exchange of information among various countries on this issue and for identification of best approaches to achieving this transition. Thus, the proposed workshop with its focus on both the countries in transition as well as the countries of the traditional NATO countries should lead to an effective exchange of information and to the strengthening of co-operation among the experts from NATO and Partners for Peace countries.

Purpose: NATO Advanced Research Workshops (ARW) are advanced-level meetings focusing on special subjects of current interest. The main purpose of this ARW is to critically assess the existing knowledge on flood risk management, including the measures applied in urban, agricultural and natural areas, and promote close co-operation among scientists from different countries and with different professional experience. Large emphasis is placed on workshop discussions.

Language: The ARW will be conducted in English. To fully contribute to, and benefit from, the workshop program, all participants must be proficient in this language.