ABSTRACTS 'Extreme Discharges' - CHR-KHR

Floods in Europe - Loss experience of the last 25 years
Tobias Ellenrieder
Munich Reinsurance Company
Königinstrasse 107, D-80791 München, Germany
tellenrieder@munichre.com
Munich Re´s Geo Risks Research has been collecting information on losses from natural disasters since the
early seventies and built up the world's largest data base of the kind: MRNatCatService. Statistical analyses
drawn form these data show that economic and insured losses resulting from natural catastrophes have increased
dramatically in Central Europe as well as worldwide during the last decades. At the same time, a significant
increase in extreme hydrological events has been observed.
The poster presents an analysis of the temporal development of flood events and flood losses on (a) a global and
(b) a regional scale (Central Europe) for the last 25 years. In this context, a flood event is defined as an inundation
(by river flood and flash flood) affecting either economic values or human lives. With respect to the lower
quality of loss information in the past, only flood events with a loss amount higher than 1 Mill. US$ were consulted.
There is an increase in both the number of flood events and annual economic losses in Central Europe. The same
can be observed on a global scale. However, the European statistics are clearly dominated by the August
2002 event in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.
Losses resulting from flood events are caused by various factors. Fast flowing water can damage buildings and
other structures (such as infrastructure), often in combination with the impact of transported sediments. Standing
water deteriorates goods by soaking furniture, electrical appliances and buildings, often coming along with
mould formation.
Compared to other natural perils like windstorm, earthquake etc., about one third of the economic losses in Central
Europe are caused by floods. However, the insured damages make up only 20% of the total insured losses
which is due to the smaller insurance penetration in the countries investigated.
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