Karin M. DE BRUIJN
Delft University of Technology, Department of Water Management, Civil Engineering. Postbox 5048, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands. k.m.debruijn@citg.tudelft.nl
Flood disasters are increasing in frequency and severity. Therefore, it seems that current flood risk management strategies need to be reconsidered. One of the most important issues in flood risk management is to find a way to cope with uncertainties. In this paper a new approach to flood risk management is proposed based on a systems approach. This system approach allows the definition of resilience and resistance strategies. This paper argues that resilience strategies are able to cope more adequately with uncertainties and lower the probability of flood disasters. In the paper the systems approach, resilience strategies and the way they cope with uncertainties is explained and illustrated with examples from the Netherlands.