Articles | Volume 23, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-973-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-973-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
03 Mar 2023
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 03 Mar 2023
| 03 Mar 2023
Performance of the flood warning system in Germany in July 2021 – insights from affected residents
Annegret H. Thieken
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of
Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
Philip Bubeck
Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of
Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
Anna Heidenreich
Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of
Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
Jennifer von Keyserlingk
Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of
Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
Lisa Dillenardt
Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of
Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
Antje Otto
Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of
Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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Total article views: 9,279 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
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Total article views: 7,706 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 7,299 with geography defined
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Total article views: 1,573 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,454 with geography defined
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| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 1 | 2529 | 27 |
| United States of America | 2 | 1867 | 20 |
| Netherlands | 3 | 505 | 5 |
| United Kingdom | 4 | 502 | 5 |
| France | 5 | 370 | 3 |
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 1 | 1846 | 23 |
| United States of America | 2 | 1700 | 22 |
| Netherlands | 3 | 452 | 5 |
| United Kingdom | 4 | 451 | 5 |
| China | 5 | 304 | 3 |
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 1 | 683 | 43 |
| United States of America | 2 | 167 | 10 |
| France | 3 | 69 | 4 |
| Netherlands | 4 | 53 | 3 |
| United Kingdom | 5 | 51 | 3 |
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Cited
47 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Improving the understandability of flood warning messages – Explorative study on design preferences S. Lindenlaub et al. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.104685
- Dynamism and stasis in the climate policies of German cities between 2018 and 2022 A. Otto et al. 10.1007/s11027-025-10218-9
- Fast urban inundation simulation with RIM2D for flood risk assessment and forecasting H. Apel et al. 10.3389/frwa.2024.1310182
- Explaining Changes in Threat Appraisal, Coping Appraisal, and Flood Risk-Reducing Behavior Using Panel Data From a Nation-Wide Survey in Germany P. Bubeck et al. 10.1177/00139165231176069
- Floods have become less deadly: an analysis of global flood fatalities 1975–2022 S. Jonkman et al. 10.1007/s11069-024-06444-0
- Field survey assessment of flood loads and related building damage from the July 2021 event in the Ahr Valley (Germany) D. Wüthrich et al. 10.1111/jfr3.13024
- Flood reconstruction – The unexpected rather frequent event at River Ahr in July 2021 T. Roggenkamp et al. 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104541
- Developing and pilot-testing warning messages for risk communication in natural disasters G. Ortiz et al. 10.1007/s10669-023-09924-z
- More Help Was Offered—But Was It Effective? First Responders and Volunteers in the 2021 Flood Disaster in Germany A. Fekete & B. Rhein 10.3390/geosciences14020046
- Who Is the Master of Disasters? A Comparative Analysis of COVID‐19 Crisis Response and Resilience in Democracies, Hybrid Regimes, and Autocratic States A. Kaim & I. Kubbe 10.1002/rhc3.70004
- Spatial counterfactuals to explore disastrous flooding B. Merz et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad22b9
- HESS Opinions: The sword of Damocles of the impossible flood A. Montanari et al. 10.5194/hess-28-2603-2024
- Rapid high-resolution impact-based flood early warning is possible with RIM2D: a showcase for the 2023 pluvial flood in Braunschweig S. Khosh Bin Ghomash et al. 10.5194/nhess-25-1737-2025
- Better prepared but less resilient: the paradoxical impact of frequent flood experience on adaptive behavior and resilience L. Köhler et al. 10.5194/nhess-23-2787-2023
- Risk social contracts: Exploring responsibilities through the lens of citizens affected by flooding in Germany in 2021 J. Ommer et al. 10.1016/j.pdisas.2024.100315
- Data-driven recommendations for enhancing real-time natural hazard warnings K. Saunders et al. 10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101274
- Causes of the exceptionally high number of fatalities in the Ahr valley, Germany, during the 2021 flood B. Rhein & H. Kreibich 10.5194/nhess-25-581-2025
- Why do people not prepare for disasters? A national survey from China Z. Han & G. Wu 10.1038/s44304-024-00001-2
- Disaster risk reduction on stage: An empirical evaluation of community-based theatre as risk communication tool for coastal risk mitigation and ecosystem-based adaptation P. Bubeck et al. 10.1016/j.pdisas.2024.100323
- How Exceptional Was the 2023–2024 Flood Sequence in the Charente River (Aquitania, South-West France)? A Geohistorical Perspective on Clustered Floods A. Duquesne & J. Carozza 10.3390/geohazards6010003
- Assessing the impact of early warning and evacuation on human losses during the 2021 Ahr Valley flood in Germany using agent-based modelling A. Silva et al. 10.5194/nhess-25-1501-2025
- Maßnahmen zur Hitze- und Starkregenvorsorge in Kitas und Pflegeeinrichtungen: Eine Evaluation von Risikowahrnehmung, Kommunikation und Informationsmaterialien A. Heidenreich et al. 10.1007/s00103-024-03876-8
- Content analysis of multi-annual time series of flood-related Twitter (X) data N. Veigel et al. 10.5194/nhess-25-879-2025
- Effectiveness of a Dam-Breach Flood Alert in Mitigating Life Losses: A Spatiotemporal Sectorisation Analysis in a High-Density Urban Area in Brazil A. Silva & J. Eleutério 10.3390/w15193433
- Changes in Human Vulnerability to Flood and Landslide: Evidences from Historical Data O. Petrucci 10.3390/su16166715
- Does Warning Performance Vary Between Administrative Districts and Across Watersheds for Rapid Onset Flood Events? A Case Study of the 2021 Flood in Germany A. Heidenreich et al. 10.1111/jfr3.70021
- Surprise floods: the role of our imagination in preparing for disasters J. Ommer et al. 10.5194/nhess-24-2633-2024
- The developing flood rich period: Science evidence and policy evolution for England. Is it time for place‐based socio‐ecological solutions? M. Newson & J. Lewin 10.1002/rra.4363
- Differences in disaster warning and community engagement between families with and without members suffering from chronic Diseases: The mediating role of satisfaction with warning service R. Hou et al. 10.1016/j.crm.2024.100607
- Use of ICTs to confront climate change: analysis and perspectives F. Escobar-Teran et al. 10.3389/fclim.2025.1436616
- Challenging AI for Sustainability: what ought it mean? S. Falk & A. van Wynsberghe 10.1007/s43681-023-00323-3
- Low-Cost, LiDAR-Based, Dynamic, Flood Risk Communication Viewer D. Laefer et al. 10.3390/rs17040592
- Context matters when evacuating large cities: Shifting the focus from individual characteristics to location and social vulnerability S. Rufat et al. 10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103925
- Aware but not prepared: understanding situational awareness during the century flood in Germany in 2021 K. Zander et al. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103936
- Strengthening resilience in reconstruction after extreme events – Insights from flood affected communities in Germany J. Birkmann et al. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103965
- Always on my mind: indications of post-traumatic stress disorder among those affected by the 2021 flood event in the Ahr valley, Germany M. Zenker et al. 10.5194/nhess-24-2837-2024
- When, at what speed, and how? Resilient transformation of the Vesdre river basin (Belgium) following the 2021 floods M. de Goër de Herve & W. Pot 10.1186/s12302-024-00928-3
- Are 2D shallow-water solvers fast enough for early flood warning? A comparative assessment on the 2021 Ahr valley flood event S. Khosh Bin Ghomash et al. 10.5194/nhess-24-2857-2024
- Resilience beyond insurance: coordination in crisis governance E. Platzer & M. Knodt 10.1007/s10669-023-09938-7
- More than heavy rain turning into fast-flowing water – a landscape perspective on the 2021 Eifel floods M. Dietze et al. 10.5194/nhess-22-1845-2022
- A multi-disciplinary analysis of the exceptional flood event of July 2021 in central Europe – Part 1: Event description and analysis S. Mohr et al. 10.5194/nhess-23-525-2023
- Kommunikationsdefizite in der Frühwarnung und Risikokommunikation G. Rusch 10.1007/s35152-024-1848-9
- Preparing for the unprecedented B. Golding et al. 10.5194/asr-20-85-2023
- The risk may not be limited to flooding: polluted flood sediments pose a human health threat to the unaware public A. Weber et al. 10.1186/s12302-023-00765-w
- Post-Flood Resilience Assessment of July 2021 Flood in Western Germany and Henan, China B. Manandhar et al. 10.3390/land12030625
- Critical Failure Factors of Flood Early Warning and Response Systems (FEWRS): A Structured Literature Review and Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) Analysis S. Samansiri et al. 10.3390/geosciences13050137
- Brief communication: On the extremeness of the July 2021 precipitation event in western Germany K. Lengfeld et al. 10.5194/nhess-23-1227-2023
38 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Improving the understandability of flood warning messages – Explorative study on design preferences S. Lindenlaub et al. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.104685
- Dynamism and stasis in the climate policies of German cities between 2018 and 2022 A. Otto et al. 10.1007/s11027-025-10218-9
- Fast urban inundation simulation with RIM2D for flood risk assessment and forecasting H. Apel et al. 10.3389/frwa.2024.1310182
- Explaining Changes in Threat Appraisal, Coping Appraisal, and Flood Risk-Reducing Behavior Using Panel Data From a Nation-Wide Survey in Germany P. Bubeck et al. 10.1177/00139165231176069
- Floods have become less deadly: an analysis of global flood fatalities 1975–2022 S. Jonkman et al. 10.1007/s11069-024-06444-0
- Field survey assessment of flood loads and related building damage from the July 2021 event in the Ahr Valley (Germany) D. Wüthrich et al. 10.1111/jfr3.13024
- Flood reconstruction – The unexpected rather frequent event at River Ahr in July 2021 T. Roggenkamp et al. 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104541
- Developing and pilot-testing warning messages for risk communication in natural disasters G. Ortiz et al. 10.1007/s10669-023-09924-z
- More Help Was Offered—But Was It Effective? First Responders and Volunteers in the 2021 Flood Disaster in Germany A. Fekete & B. Rhein 10.3390/geosciences14020046
- Who Is the Master of Disasters? A Comparative Analysis of COVID‐19 Crisis Response and Resilience in Democracies, Hybrid Regimes, and Autocratic States A. Kaim & I. Kubbe 10.1002/rhc3.70004
- Spatial counterfactuals to explore disastrous flooding B. Merz et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad22b9
- HESS Opinions: The sword of Damocles of the impossible flood A. Montanari et al. 10.5194/hess-28-2603-2024
- Rapid high-resolution impact-based flood early warning is possible with RIM2D: a showcase for the 2023 pluvial flood in Braunschweig S. Khosh Bin Ghomash et al. 10.5194/nhess-25-1737-2025
- Better prepared but less resilient: the paradoxical impact of frequent flood experience on adaptive behavior and resilience L. Köhler et al. 10.5194/nhess-23-2787-2023
- Risk social contracts: Exploring responsibilities through the lens of citizens affected by flooding in Germany in 2021 J. Ommer et al. 10.1016/j.pdisas.2024.100315
- Data-driven recommendations for enhancing real-time natural hazard warnings K. Saunders et al. 10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101274
- Causes of the exceptionally high number of fatalities in the Ahr valley, Germany, during the 2021 flood B. Rhein & H. Kreibich 10.5194/nhess-25-581-2025
- Why do people not prepare for disasters? A national survey from China Z. Han & G. Wu 10.1038/s44304-024-00001-2
- Disaster risk reduction on stage: An empirical evaluation of community-based theatre as risk communication tool for coastal risk mitigation and ecosystem-based adaptation P. Bubeck et al. 10.1016/j.pdisas.2024.100323
- How Exceptional Was the 2023–2024 Flood Sequence in the Charente River (Aquitania, South-West France)? A Geohistorical Perspective on Clustered Floods A. Duquesne & J. Carozza 10.3390/geohazards6010003
- Assessing the impact of early warning and evacuation on human losses during the 2021 Ahr Valley flood in Germany using agent-based modelling A. Silva et al. 10.5194/nhess-25-1501-2025
- Maßnahmen zur Hitze- und Starkregenvorsorge in Kitas und Pflegeeinrichtungen: Eine Evaluation von Risikowahrnehmung, Kommunikation und Informationsmaterialien A. Heidenreich et al. 10.1007/s00103-024-03876-8
- Content analysis of multi-annual time series of flood-related Twitter (X) data N. Veigel et al. 10.5194/nhess-25-879-2025
- Effectiveness of a Dam-Breach Flood Alert in Mitigating Life Losses: A Spatiotemporal Sectorisation Analysis in a High-Density Urban Area in Brazil A. Silva & J. Eleutério 10.3390/w15193433
- Changes in Human Vulnerability to Flood and Landslide: Evidences from Historical Data O. Petrucci 10.3390/su16166715
- Does Warning Performance Vary Between Administrative Districts and Across Watersheds for Rapid Onset Flood Events? A Case Study of the 2021 Flood in Germany A. Heidenreich et al. 10.1111/jfr3.70021
- Surprise floods: the role of our imagination in preparing for disasters J. Ommer et al. 10.5194/nhess-24-2633-2024
- The developing flood rich period: Science evidence and policy evolution for England. Is it time for place‐based socio‐ecological solutions? M. Newson & J. Lewin 10.1002/rra.4363
- Differences in disaster warning and community engagement between families with and without members suffering from chronic Diseases: The mediating role of satisfaction with warning service R. Hou et al. 10.1016/j.crm.2024.100607
- Use of ICTs to confront climate change: analysis and perspectives F. Escobar-Teran et al. 10.3389/fclim.2025.1436616
- Challenging AI for Sustainability: what ought it mean? S. Falk & A. van Wynsberghe 10.1007/s43681-023-00323-3
- Low-Cost, LiDAR-Based, Dynamic, Flood Risk Communication Viewer D. Laefer et al. 10.3390/rs17040592
- Context matters when evacuating large cities: Shifting the focus from individual characteristics to location and social vulnerability S. Rufat et al. 10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103925
- Aware but not prepared: understanding situational awareness during the century flood in Germany in 2021 K. Zander et al. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103936
- Strengthening resilience in reconstruction after extreme events – Insights from flood affected communities in Germany J. Birkmann et al. 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103965
- Always on my mind: indications of post-traumatic stress disorder among those affected by the 2021 flood event in the Ahr valley, Germany M. Zenker et al. 10.5194/nhess-24-2837-2024
- When, at what speed, and how? Resilient transformation of the Vesdre river basin (Belgium) following the 2021 floods M. de Goër de Herve & W. Pot 10.1186/s12302-024-00928-3
- Are 2D shallow-water solvers fast enough for early flood warning? A comparative assessment on the 2021 Ahr valley flood event S. Khosh Bin Ghomash et al. 10.5194/nhess-24-2857-2024
9 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Resilience beyond insurance: coordination in crisis governance E. Platzer & M. Knodt 10.1007/s10669-023-09938-7
- More than heavy rain turning into fast-flowing water – a landscape perspective on the 2021 Eifel floods M. Dietze et al. 10.5194/nhess-22-1845-2022
- A multi-disciplinary analysis of the exceptional flood event of July 2021 in central Europe – Part 1: Event description and analysis S. Mohr et al. 10.5194/nhess-23-525-2023
- Kommunikationsdefizite in der Frühwarnung und Risikokommunikation G. Rusch 10.1007/s35152-024-1848-9
- Preparing for the unprecedented B. Golding et al. 10.5194/asr-20-85-2023
- The risk may not be limited to flooding: polluted flood sediments pose a human health threat to the unaware public A. Weber et al. 10.1186/s12302-023-00765-w
- Post-Flood Resilience Assessment of July 2021 Flood in Western Germany and Henan, China B. Manandhar et al. 10.3390/land12030625
- Critical Failure Factors of Flood Early Warning and Response Systems (FEWRS): A Structured Literature Review and Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) Analysis S. Samansiri et al. 10.3390/geosciences13050137
- Brief communication: On the extremeness of the July 2021 precipitation event in western Germany K. Lengfeld et al. 10.5194/nhess-23-1227-2023
Latest update: 31 May 2025
Executive editor
This paper examines the warning deficits in conjunction with the major flooding event in Germany of summer 2021. The event caused many fatalities and enormous damage. The warning procedures proved to be insufficient, and after investigations it was decided to install a cell broadcast system in Germany, which is already in place today. The deeper investigations on the warning perceptions and the influencing factors is of major interest to readers beyond the scientific community.
This paper examines the warning deficits in conjunction with the major flooding event in Germany...
Short summary
In July 2021 intense rainfall caused devastating floods in western Europe with 184 fatalities in the German federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia (NW) and Rhineland-Palatinate (RP), calling their warning system into question. An online survey revealed that 35 % of respondents from NW and 29 % from RP did not receive any warning. Many of those who were warned did not expect severe flooding, nor did they know how to react. The study provides entry points for improving Germany's warning system.
In July 2021 intense rainfall caused devastating floods in western Europe with 184 fatalities in...
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