Author(s)

M. Zeleňáková

Abstract

In recent years, the growth of population and the diffusion of settlements over flood vulnerable areas have increased the impact of floods worldwide. Natural disasters such as floods have constituted a major problem in many countries worldwide. Floods have caused immense economic and social losses, mainly as a result of unplanned urbanization, uncontrolled population density and not strictly inspected construction by authorities. Flood damages that have arisen on watercourses and hydraulic structures on the territory of the Slovak Republic have been huge. The most affected area is the eastern part of Slovakia, where the most complex situation is in the Laborec, Topľa, Ondava, Torysa, Latorica and Hornád river basins in the recent years, mainly in 2010. This contribution presents flood risk assessment and management in these territories. Keywords: flood risk assessment, flood risk management, directive 2007/60/EC. 1 Introduction A new comprehensive approach on flood risk assessment and management on a European level has been triggered, especially after the large-scale flooding of 2002 in central Europe, with an estimated damage of 16.5 billion US$ (2002: 1 US$ = 1€). The European Commission issued a Communication about flood risk management [1] in 2004. This initiative was followed by the adoption by the European parliament and the council of Directive 2007/60/EC on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risks [2] on 23 October 2007. The purpose of Directive 2007/60/EC [2] is to establish a framework for the assessment and management of flood risks, aiming at the reduction of the adverse consequences

Keywords

flood risk assessment, flood risk management, directive 2007/60/EC