Risk communication: information portal on natural hazards

The information page dealing with hazard processes, safeguards and areas at risk which has been online since 2010 is addressed to all interested citizens and was accessed more than 100,000 times in January 2010 alone.

It is the aim of the platform to provide easy-to-understand information in the framework of risk communication. The new design was used to revise the structure and the contents. The map part contains the most recent depictions of hazards with regards to flood/torrents, avalanches, landslides and rock fall.

According to the scale used, either the hazard maps that were prepared in the framework of the EU Flood Directive, or the results of run-off analyses conducted by the Federal Water Engineering Administration or the Hazard Zone Plans of the Federal Water Engineering Administration and of the Torrent and Avalanche Control service were depicted in the category “Flood/Torrents”.

Address search enables users to view information on hazards in the searched-for area. Under the category “Projects”, results from research and development will be shown in the future that deal with hazard processes and their impact on social and economic life in Austria and Europe. This is to foster the linking-up of knowledge in order to promote the required integrated perspective when dealing with natural hazards.  

The comprehensive collection of links in the category “Organisations” as well as on EU and international projects has been retained. Here, users can also find the many partners of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management that endeavour to raise the level of protection against natural hazards in Austria. Topical information provided in the case of events as well as image and video footage round off the design.