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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UNDRR Publication: When digital systems fail

UNDRR Publication: When digital systems fail

A recent UNDRR report warns of the growing risks posed by an increasingly interconnected digital infrastructure. As key sectors such as healthcare, financial systems and emergency services become ever more interdependent, digital disruptions can now unfold much more...

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Printed version of the MyRisk Flyers

Printed version of the MyRisk Flyers

The BMFTR-funded MYrisk project, on which the DKKV is collaborating with the University of Cologne, amongst others, has been in its final phase since last year. This week saw the publication of the first printed leaflets and a calendar, which raise awareness of...

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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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The DKKV on Bluesky
GNDR veröffentlicht Fahrplan für lokal verankerte Frühwarnsysteme: Ziel ist es, Frühwarn- und Vorsorgemaßnahmen stärker an den Bedürfnissen gefährdeter Gemeinschaften auszurichten und lokale Akteure stärker in Planung und Umsetzung einzubinden. Mehr: dkkv.org/gndr-veroeff...
24.06 2026 - 09:23
DWD: Saisonale Klimavorhersage für Juni bis Oktober 2026: Der neue Bericht zeigt für den Untersuchungszeitraum unter anderem hohe Wahrscheinlichkeiten für erhöhte Temperaturen. Mehr: dkkv.org/dwd-saisonal...
24.06 2026 - 09:02
DLR sucht studentische Experimente für Forschungsraketen und Stratosphärenballons: Studierende können bis zum 8. Oktober 2026 Forschungs- und Technologieexperimente einreichen, die auf Höhenforschungsraketen oder Stratosphärenballons durchgeführt werden sollen. Mehr: dkkv.org/dlr-sucht-st...
24.06 2026 - 08:55
Aus gegebenem Anlass: Pixi-Wissen zu Starkregen und Dürre: Bereits letztes Jahr erschien in Zusammenarbeit mit dem DKKV das Pixi-Wissen-Buch zum Thema Starkregen und Dürre. Im Dezember folgte ein Youtube-Video zu dem Thema. Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbTB...
24.06 2026 - 06:46
Online-Veranstaltung: Krisen, Katastrophen, Kontrollverlust? 10. Open Campus Gefahrenabwehr Mehr: dkkv.org/veranstaltun...
23.06 2026 - 12:33

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.