Speaker
Description
The impacts of the 2021 flood disaster in Europe have highlighted the criticality and protective value of critical infrastructures (CI), as well as the necessity for comprehensive risk assessments in proactive spatial planning and disaster management. These assessments serve both as an informational basis for maintaining the necessary supply for the population during disasters (at least concerning basic functions and services) and as a starting point for a dialogue process with CI operators.
Using the example of a rural region in Western Germany affected by the 2021 flood, and in co-production with a newly established regional network of administrations and CI operators, this study presents a comprehensive two-part risk assessment approach: (1) a quantitative, indicator-based risk assessment of 405 facilities in the electricity and gas sectors, focusing on flooding and heavy rainfall; and (2) a qualitative analysis of dependencies between selected infrastructure systems (i.e., electricity, telecommunications, emergency and rescue services, transport) through expert interviews and workshops, along with the identification of intervention points that can help disrupt cascading effects.
The results indicate that all 405 facilities examined in the electricity and gas sectors are potentially at risk due to flooding events. The study identified significant interdependencies among different CI sectors; for instance, power supply failures lead to disruptions in medical services at hospitals, while emergency access routes are blocked by flooding. Notably, a lack of redundancy and communication failures during the flood hampered effective disaster management efforts throughout the region.
In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of integrated risk management strategies that take into account interdependencies among CI sectors. Maintaining the collaborative framework initiated by this study for ongoing dialogue among stakeholders will be crucial for developing adaptive capacities against future disasters. This analysis not only provides valuable insights into current risks but also lays the groundwork for proactive measures to enhance resilience within CI networks in response to natural disasters and emergencies.
| Keywords | Critical infrastructure (CI); criticality; resilience; risk assessment |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
