ESS-52306 Disaster-Proof Planning and Preparedness in Water Management

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Continuation courses:

SDC-31306 Property Rights, Natural Resources and Conflict; SDC-34306 Conflict, Development and Disaster; SDC-34806 Humanitarian Aid and Reconstruction.

Contents:

This course addresses emergency planning and preparedness in the context of post-disaster recovery with integrated flood management (IFM) and the disaster risk reduction cycle as point of departure. Strategies to maximize resilience and the efficient use of flood plains while minimizing losses of life and economic damage, for instance through adaptation of land use, are analysed and discussed. The course takes an holistic view with technical and social perspectives from risk management and crisis management. Topics covered range from the use of scenario's and models in designing disaster risk reduction strategies according to the cycle, pro-active measures to prevent the development of dangerous situations (e.g building restrictions in flood prone areas), measures aimed at prevention and /or limitation of consequences (e.g. building of dikes, arrangements for vertical evacuation), strategies which enhance preparedness to deal with disasters (e.g. awareness) to activities to address the immediate effects of the onset of an emergency as communication and early warning systems. Attention will be paid to recovery strategies following the disaster response, including the balance between incidental recovery and structural rehabilitation. The course will take an international perspective with case studies from e.g. the Netherlands/Europe, USA and China, paying attention to technical approaches and institutional arrangements and the importance of attuning design and practices to the context.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course, the student is expected to be able to:
- to understand and analyse the principles and practices of integrated flood management;
- to understand and analyse the role of emergency planning ,preparedness and recovery in the context of IFM, drawing on insights on the origins and impacts of hydrological extremes;
- to understand and analyse the importance of contextual elements in the design and implementation of IFM;
- to understand and analyse how socio-institutional and technical dimensions of risk and crisis management interact;
- to analyse and develop proposals for emergency planning ,preparedness and recovery with a view to enhance resilience against hydrological extremes.

Activities:

Classroom lectures with active participation of the students; use of audio-visual material and assignments, supervised study and tutorial, excursion.

Examination:

- written test with open questions (50%);
- case study report (30%);
- case study oral presentation (15%);
- case study active participation (5%).

Literature:

Will be made available at start of course.