The DKKV is…

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

Newsblog

Opening of the new AI centre at the German Weather Service

Opening of the new AI centre at the German Weather Service

The German Weather Service (DWD) has opened its new AI centre in Offenbach to make targeted use of artificial intelligence for weather and climate applications. The centre combines internal and external expertise and is developing, among other things, a modular AI...

read more
Wildfire in France

Wildfire in France

France is currently experiencing its largest wildfire in more than 75 years. The fire spread rapidly in the south of the country in the mountainous Corbières region, affecting more than 16,000 hectares [1,2]. A total of 15 municipalities have been affected, numerous...

read more
Flash flood in the Himalayas

Flash flood in the Himalayas

Sudden and heavy rain caused landslides and flash floods in the Himalayas. The weather service had earlier issued a severe weather warning [1,2,3]. The village of Dharali in the state of Uttarakhand, located in the foothills of the Himalayas in north-eastern India and...

read more
New issue of the Disasters Avoided newsletter

New issue of the Disasters Avoided newsletter

The july issue of the Disasters Avoided Newsletter focuses on the central role of financing and insurance solutions in proactively reducing disaster risks. The newsletter features an interview with Cherie Gray, Global Lead of Sustainability & Market Development at...

read more

Follow us

The DKKV on Bluesky
Der Else Kröner Fresenius Preis 2025 geht dieses Jahr an Dipanwita Sarkar von ASHA für ein Projekt mobiler Kliniken, das Menschen in entlegenen Regionen medizinisch versorgt. Die Preisverleihung findet am 14.10.2025 in Berlin statt (Anmeldung erforderlich). Mehr: dkkv.org/else-kroener...
17.09 2025 - 07:48
Vom 9.–11.10.2025 findet in Dresden die #FLORIAN statt – Deutschlands Leitmesse für #Feuerwehr, Rettungs-, Katastrophen- und #Zivilschutz. Es gibt ein breites Fachprogramm; neu sind Bereiche zu moderner #Warntechnik und klimaresilientem #Bevölkerungsschutz. Mehr: dkkv.org/florian-2025...
16.09 2025 - 10:46
#Bundesinnenminister Dobrindt plant mit einem „Pakt für den #Bevölkerungsschutz“ Investitionen von rund 10 Mrd. € bis 2029 für u. a. 1.500 Fahrzeuge, neue #Schutzräume, moderne #Warnsysteme & mehr Übungen. Auch bestehende Räume sollen zu Schutzräumen umgerüstet werden. Mehr: dkkv.org/dobrindt-wil...
16.09 2025 - 10:24
Die Bewerbungsphase für den internationalen #JointMaster #Geography of Environmental #Risks and Human #Security des Geographischen Instituts der Uni Bonn und des #UNU-EHS ist gestartet. Studienstart ist im Oktober 2026, Bewerbungsschluss der 15. Dezember 2025. Mehr: dkkv.org/call-for-app...
16.09 2025 - 09:23
Heute (15.09.) war das DKKV bei der #Eröffnung des neuen #IQIB Standorts in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. Neben der offiziellen Eröffnung gab es u. a. Themeninseln zu Projekten des IQIB, bspw. der IQIB-Akademie und der Weltraumforschung, sowie Podiumsdiskussionen. Mehr: dkkv.org/eroeffnung-d...
15.09 2025 - 15:19

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 urbanization, 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.