The DKKV is…
German Committee for Disaster Reduction e.V. (ger.: Deutsches Komitee Katastrophenvorsorge e.V.)
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RESILIENT VOICES: Take part in surveys on inclusive disaster risk reduction
As part of the EU-funded Erasmus Plus project RESILIENT VOICES, two new surveys on disaster preparedness have been launched. The aim is to gain a better understanding of how different population groups perceive risks such as storms, floods or heatwaves, and what...
DKKV Promotional Award 2026 now open for submissions
The German Committee for Disaster Reduction (DKKV) is once again announcing its annual award for 2026. The award recognises outstanding Bachelor’s and Master’s theses in the field of disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management. The award is aimed in...
New publication: Managing natural hazards and climate risks in elections
Extreme weather events and geological hazards are increasingly posing a challenge to democratic processes. The new report “Managing natural hazards and climate risks in elections” by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) analyses...
WaX collection on water extremes in HESS/NHESS: Innovative approaches to floods and droughts continues to grow
The scientific collection “Water extremes: innovative approaches to managing floods and droughts” in the journals Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (NHESS) and Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS) focuses on innovative approaches and methods for dealing...
Disasters Avoided: A Model for Effective Disaster Prevention
In the latest issue of the “Disasters Avoided Newsletter”, the Disasters Avoided initiative highlights a key factor for effective disaster prevention: the right mindset. Over the coming months, the newsletter series will examine the six core components of the model...
Climate communication in transition: Japan seeks new terms for record-breaking heatwaves
In the face of increasing heatwaves and new temperature records, Japan is breaking new ground in climate communication. A recent study by the University of New South Wales shows how language, perception and public engagement are being specifically used to raise...
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What is disaster risk reduction?
Storms, natural hazards and extreme events can quickly become a danger to people and the environment. But climate change, extreme urbanisation, power outages and fires also offer potential hazards.
A disaster occurs when the functioning of a community or society is impaired or interrupted and, as a result, high human, material, economic and ecological losses occur that cannot be managed alone.
Precautionary measures can help to reduce the consequences and impact of the disaster. Depending on the hazard and personal circumstances, the precautionary measures to be taken may vary.
Find out more about potential hazards and individual precautionary measures on our topic pages.