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

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hurricane Melissa in Jamaica

hurricane Melissa in Jamaica

In Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa reached wind speeds of almost 300 kilometers per hour. Melissa is a Category 5 hurricane, the highest category, which moved towards Jamaica. It was to be the strongest hurricane ever recorded over the Caribbean state. The UN Office for...

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Forest europe Newsletter October 2025

Forest europe Newsletter October 2025

Forests play a central role in times of global uncertainty – as sources of energy, habitats, and protective factors for people and the climate. How Europe’s forest sector can prepare for geopolitical crises will be the focus of the upcoming online dialogue...

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The DKKV on Bluesky
Neuer DWD-Bericht zur Hitzewelle im Juni: Bereits ungewöhnlich früh im Jahr wurde Deutschland von einer langanhaltenden Hitzeperiode erfasst, die durch eine stabile Hochdrucklage ausgelöst wurde. Mehr: dkkv.org/neuer-dwd-be...
14.07 2026 - 08:24
Vegetationsbrand in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern breitet sich aus: Mittlerweile brennt eine Fläche von rund 155.000 Quadratmetern. Circa 340 Einsatzkräfte sind vor Ort. Mehr: dkkv.org/vegetationsb...
14.07 2026 - 07:04
Waldbrandgefahr in Deutschland bleibt hoch Mehr: dkkv.org/waldbrandgef...
13.07 2026 - 10:57
Szenariowürfel als Instrument reflektiver Risikokommunikation. Ein Beitrag von Tamara L. Orschler Jetzt auf unserer Website lesen: dkkv.org/szenariowuer...
13.07 2026 - 06:08
Mindestens zwölf Tote bei Waldbrand in Andalusien Mehr: dkkv.org/mindestens-z...
10.07 2026 - 06:52

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.