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From a nationwide perspective, at present, only around 1/3 of the former flood plains can now be used to retain the water in the event of major flooding. In large river basins such as the Rhine, Elbe, Danube and Oder, in some sections only 10 % - 20 % of the former riverine meadows remain (BfN “Auenzustandsbericht - Flussauen in Deutschland” Bonn, 2009). As well as changes to the rivers and water meadows, climatic factors also influence the scale, frequency and timing of flood events.

In Germany, there are a wide range of measures available in various different sectors for addressing flood risk management:

• Land precautions, e.g. restriction of construction in flood plains, flood-adjusted usage in flood risk areas, representation in regional plans
• Natural water retention, e.g. decentralised rainwater seepage, reduction of land sealing, retention and reintroduction of water meadow sites, recovery of flood plains
• Technical flood prevention, e.g. dykes, dams, retention basins, property protection, protection of oil tanks
• Construction precautions (building to cater for floods)
• Risk precautions, e.g. formation of reserves, insurance policies
• Supply of information, e.g. flood warning
• Behavioral precautions, e.g. public education and preparation for flooding with specific recommended actions for the general public
• Preparation for risk aversion in disaster plans, e.g. alarm and deployment plans, drills and training of rescue teams.