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Flood safety in the Netherlands: The Dutch response to Hurricane Katrina

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  • Wesselink, Anna J.

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss why the Dutch culture, although highly technological, remains vulnerable to flooding, with no apparent choice except to continue with its historically developed system for flood risk management. I show that this vulnerability is socially constructed. It has arisen as a result of a long history of technological choices the current political decisions related to financing and a general lack of risk awareness. The question whether there is a need or even a possibility to escape from the present technological lock-in seems to remain out of bounds for a society that imagines flood protection to be absolute. The need for similar absolute protection was demanded in New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina caused extensive flooding there. Because of its circumstances and its much shorter history, New Orleans appears to have an opportunity to deal with flood risk in more creative ways.

Suggested Citation

  • Wesselink, Anna J., 2007. "Flood safety in the Netherlands: The Dutch response to Hurricane Katrina," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 239-247.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:29:y:2007:i:2:p:239-247
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2007.01.010
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    Cited by:

    1. Löschner, Lukas & Nordbeck, Ralf, 2020. "Switzerland’s transition from flood defence to flood-adapted land use–A policy coordination perspective," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    2. Trond Husby & Henri L.F. de Groot & Marjan W. Hofkes & Martijn I. Dröes, 2013. "The Great North Sea Flood of 1953, The Deltaworks and the spatial distribution of people," ERSA conference papers ersa13p909, European Regional Science Association.
    3. Leeuw, S. de & Vis, I.F.A. & Jonkman, S.N., 2009. "Logistics aspects of emergency preparedness in flood disaster prevention," Serie Research Memoranda 0044, VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics.
    4. Eveline van Leeuwen & Peter Nijkamp & Piet Rietveld, 2009. "Climate Change: From Global Concern To Regional Challenge," Romanian Journal of Regional Science, Romanian Regional Science Association, vol. 3(2), pages 18-38, DECEMBER.

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