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...
International Day in Memory of the victims of Earthquake
In 2025, the United Nations General Assembly established the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes, which has since been observed annually on the 29th of April. Through this day of remembrance, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction...
Only three days left until the application deadline for the DKKV Promotional Award
Only three days left until the application deadline: The German Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction (DKKV) is once again inviting entries for its 2026 promotional award for outstanding Bachelor’s and Master’s theses in the field of disaster prevention and disaster...
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...
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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.