The DKKV is…

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

Newsblog

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...

read more
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...

read more
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...

read more
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...

read more

Follow us

The DKKV on Bluesky
DKKV-Magazin 02/2026: "Bildung im Bevölkerungsschutz" jetzt verfügbar: dkkv.org/publikation/...
18.06 2026 - 07:58
#UNDRR Publikation: When digital systems fail: Ein aktueller UNDRR-Bericht warnt vor den wachsenden #Risiken einer zunehmend vernetzten digitalen Infrastruktur. Mehr: dkkv.org/undrr-publik...
18.06 2026 - 06:59
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

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.