The DKKV is…

German Committee for Disaster Reduction e.V. (ger.: Deutsches Komitee Katastrophenvorsorge e.V.)

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DKKV Promotional Award 2026 now open for submissions

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...

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SURE Research Survey

SURE Research Survey

The SURE Facilitation and Synthesis Project (F&SR) at HafenCity University Hamburg invites members of the SURE community to take part in an online survey. The aim is to gain a better understanding of how decision-makers shape sustainable urban development and what...

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Activities Report 2025 Now Also Available in English

Activities Report 2025 Now Also Available in English

An eventful year lies behind us: With the Activities Report 2025, DKKV provides a comprehensive overview of its activities, events, and developments over the past year – now also available in English. Structured around DKKV’s three core areas of work – fostering...

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Survey by the WCRP Global South Inclusion Task Team

Survey by the WCRP Global South Inclusion Task Team

The WCRP Global South Inclusion Task Team (GSITT) is conducting an anonymous survey regarding its events. Anyone who has previously participated in WCRP events or projects is eligible to participate. The goal is to identify barriers and enablers for better and more...

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The DKKV on Bluesky
SURE startet Umfrage zu #Entscheidungsprozessen in der nachhaltigen #Stadtentwicklung: Ziel ist es, besser zu verstehen, wie Entscheidungsträgerinnen und Entscheidungsträger nachhaltige Stadtentwicklung gestalten und welche Unterstützung sie dafür benötigen. Mehr: dkkv.org/sure-startet...
16.06 2026 - 14:18
MyRisk Flyer in gedruckter Version: Diese Woche erschienen die ersten gedruckten Flyer sowie ein Kalender, welche über Disaster Risks in urbanen Räumen aufklären. Mehr: dkkv.org/myrisk-flyer...
16.06 2026 - 07:32
ZKA Spotlight: Klimaanpassung und Hochwasservorsorge: Rückblick auf die Ahrtal-Flut: Mit dabei: Ronja Winkhardt-Enz vom Deutschen Komitee Katastrophenvorsorge e.V. & Vera Engelmann vom Zentrum KlimaAnpassung Mehr: dkkv.org/veranstaltun...
15.06 2026 - 13:56
DLR legt erste Ergebnisse zur Aufarbeitung seiner Geschichte vor: Seit 2023 untersuchen Historiker:innen die Entwicklung der deutschen Luftfahrtforschung von den Anfängen im Jahr 1907 bis zum Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs Mehr: dkkv.org/dlr-legt-ers...
15.06 2026 - 12:18
Mehr als 150 Organisationen fordern Hitzeschutz im Katastrophenschutz: Hintergrund sind zunehmende und intensivere Hitzewellen, die laut Experten erhebliche Risiken für Gesundheit, Infrastruktur und Wirtschaft darstellen. Mehr: dkkv.org/mehr-als-150...
15.06 2026 - 12:08

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.