Urban flooding occurs when rainfall exceeds sewer capacity, a river overflows or sea conditions prevent water from draining effectively.
In addition to removing water, resilient cities must store, absorb and direct it through many distributed spaces.
Surfaces that absorb water
Permeable paving, rain gardens and green areas allow rainfall to enter the ground. Parks can hold water temporarily without permanent damage.
Prepared buildings
Garage entrances, electrical installations, ground floors and evacuation routes require specific analysis. Small level changes can prevent significant losses.
Information before the emergency
Residents must know which areas to avoid and how alerts will arrive. A resilient city reduces damage and enables faster recovery.
Editorial sources
Photograph: frank müller from Beijing & Hamburg · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons