What are river floods?
Floods are the most common and most costly natural disasters in Europe. They are becoming more frequent and intensive due to climate change and have devastating effects, endangering lives and leading to heavy economic losses. Floods can also release pollutants stored in the ground, spreading them even more widely.
A river, or fluvial flood, occurs when the water level in a river or lake rises and overflows onto the neighbouring land. The rise in river water level could be due to excessive rain or snowmelt, and it also depends on land use. A river flood can cause downstream dams and dikes to break and flood nearby areas.
River floods can also overlap with flash floods – due to intense rainfalls - and/or coastal floods, caused by storm surges.
Climate Adaptation Actions & Resources
Step 1: Understand your risk
Start by understanding your flood risks with data maps and tools.
Find out if you are within a flood risk area by checking the European flood risk map viewers and find more details in the official Flood Hazard and Risk Maps of your country/region. Access data on the number, fatalities and economic losses due to river floods between 2004 and 2024 at the Risk Data Hub Atlas.
European Flood Awareness System (EFAS)
For the future, the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) is the first operational pan-European flood forecasting and monitoring system to support national and regional flood risk management authorities in arranging preparatory measures before an event strikes.
Step 2: Explore what others are doing
Explore how other regions or local communities are responding to the challenge.
 Promotion of the initiative in the local language Daniel Rebolj | Maribor, Slovenia, is implementing the Pekre Stream initiative to transform a flood-prone stream through urban green renewal. It combines flood protection, park planning, and Nature-based Solutions. |
 Aerial view of a canal in the Marais Poitevin wetland. Romuald Goudeau. | Remeandering and restoring a natural water course France is restoring its river and wetland in the Marais Poitevin, the largest wetland on the French Atlantic coast. |
 After riverbed widening from 40 to 110m at the Forchach bridge. Now, the formerly narrow section includes a barrier-free bridge and an attractive visitor facility, informing about the Lech River ecosystems BBA Reutte, B. Reiter | Turning grey solutions into Nature based Solutions Wild river ecosystem restoration through a two river revitalisation project at the River Lech in Austria and Germany. |
Find these and many other examples in the adaptation stories.
Step 3: Implement concrete actions
Start planning concrete actions to address your city´s unique challenges. Here are some to get you started:
Urban greening and blue infrastructure planning Munich, Germany is implementing a water management and restoration plan for the Isar river. | |
 Demolition of a building at risk in Lombriasco Municipality of Lombriasco | In Austria, since the 1970s, the national, regional, and local levels of government have been implementing a retreat process for private households and businesses along the Danube River, moving more than 500 households. |
 Installation of mobile barriers in Prague. Jaromír Kačer | Improved design for dikes and levees In Prague, the city is implementing a flood protection plan that combines grey infrastructure with green measures to address both slower-onset events and short-term, high-intensity rainfall. |
Step 4: Assess planned actions
Assess the effectiveness of your planned actions.
The REGILIENCE self-assessment tool can help avoid negative effects of adaptation actions which increase vulnerability, diminish well-being or undermine sustainable development. It’s available in 10 languages!
REGILIENCE Self-Assessment Tool
Step 5: Find funding opportunities
Find the right funding sources for your needs.
Access information on funding sources from EU institutions, agencies, and Member States in the Mission Portal´s funding database to support your flood adaptation strategies.
Step 6: Download the Quick Guide
Floods are the most common and most costly natural disasters in Europe. A river, or fluvial flood, occurs when the water level in a river or lake rises and overflows onto the neighboring land. The rise in the water level in the river could be due to excessive rain or snowmelt, and depends also on land use. A river flood can cause downstream dams and dikes to break and flood nearby areas. River floods can also overlap with Flash floods – due to intense rainfalls - and/or Coastal floods, caused by storm surges. Download this quick guide to learn more about the on the ground solutions for tackling river floods.
Major river floods in recent years
May 2023
In Emilia-Romagna, Italy, flooding caused 16 deaths, 15,000 people displaced, resulting in private properties, businesses, infrastructure and farms damaged, totalling over EUR 8.5 billion.
August 2023
In Slovenia, a flood led to 7 deaths, 16,000 people left without electricity, and damages totalling EUR 9.9 billion.
2024
30% of Europe's river network in at least 5 countries had high' floods, killing 335 people and affecting more than 410,000. Devastating floods in Valencia accounted for most lives lost.