Project

The European Community has suffered from disastrous floods in recent years, which caused enormous damage and left hundreds of people dead in several European countries. The flooding occurred across regional borders and involved neighbouring states along the rivers Elbe (2002), Odra (1997), Rhine (1993 and 1995) and many more. The economic losses were extremely high and affected not only local regions but also the whole European Community. Europe has to face further flood catastrophes due to the change of climate and due to further building activities in flood-prone regions.

As one prerequisite to minimize costs for rehabilitation, there is an urgent need for protecting the common European moveable and immoveable cultural heritage against flood and other environmental hazards and the threatening conditions resulting from this. These services should include monitoring and supervising of drying and repairs as well as a comprehensive damage assessment.

According to Article 7 of the new DIRECTIVE 2007/60/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks, guidelines and recommendations for strategies for prevention and mitigation of damage of cultural heritage against flood will be developed. These strategies has to be included in flood risk management plans.

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