The DKKV is…
German Committee for Disaster Reduction e.V. (ger.: Deutsches Komitee Katastrophenvorsorge e.V.)
Newsblog
Severe winter storm brings large parts of the United States to a standstill
A powerful winter storm swept across large parts of the United States over the weekend, placing more than 140 million people under winter storm warnings. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain led to hazardous road conditions, major travel disruptions, and widespread power...
AHEAD project invites stakeholders to its mid-term meeting in Brussels and online
The EU-funded AHEAD project (Advanced Disaster Damage and Loss Data Information System for Enhanced Impact-based Knowledge) is developing an innovative information system for the systematic collection and use of disaster damage and loss data. The aim is to provide an...
Power outage in Berlin – results of quick response research
On Saturday, January 3, 2026, there was a significant interruption to the power supply in the Berlin district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf. The districts of Nikolassee, Whensee, Zehlendorf, and Lichterfelde were affected by the outage for a period of around 4.5 days. The...
News Flash from the Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Center
The European Commission’s Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre (DRMKC) has published the first Flash News edition of 2026, bringing together recent developments, publications, and tools from the European disaster risk management community. The edition strengthens...
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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 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.