15 February 2012
World Bank Publishes Guide on Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management in East Asia
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The World Bank published a guide on integrated flood risk management in urban settings, with case studies and guidelines designed to assist policy makers and stakeholders in better understanding and preparing for this recurrent phenomenon.

The guidebook aims to raise the awareness of the public on how to manage the risks posed by flooding and outlines an integrated approach to flood management.

World Bank13 February 2012: The World Bank has published a guide on integrated urban flood risk management in East Asia and the Pacific, including specific tools and guidelines, as well as case studies and examples from cities in the region that are especially vulnerable to flooding in the face of long-term climate change trends.

The guide is based on the recognition that, in light of rapid urbanization in East Asia and the Pacific region, the population is particularly vulnerable to devastating flooding, which can lead to large scale economic damage and long-term effects such as loss of education resources, disease, and food insecurity.

The guidebook aims to raise the awareness of the public on how to manage the risks posed by flooding and outlines an integrated approach to flood management, including: the construction of drainage channels, incorporating “urban greening” such as wetlands and environmental buffers; the creation of flood warning systems; and improved land planning to counter the effects of potential flooding. The guidebook also advocates for a more cohesive information dissemination system involving web-based flood reports and accessibility to hydrological and hydro-meteorological data. It notes that this will necessarily involve cooperation from various sectors of government, the public sector, civil society, and other organizations.

The guide was published with the financial support of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). [Publication: Cities and Flooding: A Guide to Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management for the 21st Century] [World Bank Press Release]

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