Lessons from analysing mortality from six major flood events in France(1930-2010)

Evolution of flood mortality is complex as several opposite factors come into play. On one side, flood risk has been aggravated due to an increase of the number of inhabitants within the area at risk, and to an increasing of simple-storey houses without safe area. On the other side, flood risk is better managed due to a better efficiency of warning offices and civil protection actors. It is intended to demonstrate the potential of historical information on past flood events to give a better understanding of the main factors leading to mortality during flood events. This paper focuses on a set of six fatal floods from 1930 to 2010 in France, with a variable number of fatalities (from 25 to 423). Information was gathered on the main characteristics of past flood mortality: number of fatalities, death location, date and time of death, death circumstances, age and gender of victims. Based on the six flood events, the paper shows contrasted patterns on flood mortality in terms of spatial distribution, death location (inside/outside buildings), age of flood victims. The main factors leading to flood mortality are considered, such as population exposed to violent and sudden flooding, vulnerable built environment, inadequate behaviour of individuals and warning failures.