1. Loss data collection at the local level Experience from Germany
Heidi Kreibich1 & Annegret H. Thieken2
1German Research Centre for Geosciences – GFZ
2University of Potsdam

2. Flood loss data collection – development of a procedure
Objective:
Risk modelling (development of loss models, model testing and validation)
Forensic disaster analyses (understand damaging processes, quantify loss reduction via private precaution, learn from past events)

3. Flood loss data collection – development of a procedure
Development of guidelines for a good practice of flood loss data collection:
Comparison of different data collection methods
Suggestions for a minimal items set in different economic sectors
Suggestions for data collection, processing, management and documentation
Development of a flood loss database for Germany (HOWAS 21):
Collection of available data on flood losses
Community based use concept
Quality control of the data
Loss data collection after flood events in Germany:
Method: computer aided telephone interviews with flood affected private households and companies
Surveys undertaken after the floods in 2002, 2005/2006, 2010/2011, 2013

4. Flood loss data collection – development of a procedure
Development of guidelines for a good practice of flood loss data collection:
Comparison of different data collection methods
Suggestions for a minimal items set in different economic sectors
Suggestions for data collection, processing, management and documentation
Development of a flood loss database for Germany (HOWAS 21):
Collection of available data on flood losses
Community based use concept
Quality control of the data
Loss data collection after flood events in Germany:
Method: computer aided telephone interviews with flood affected private households and companies
Surveys undertaken after the floods in 2002, 2005/2006, 2010/2011, 2013
But: guidelines are “only” a scientific suggestion, not legally binding, no official recommendation
But: no funding available for the database
But: funding needs to be acquired on an ad hoc basis via third party research projects, i.e. no guarantee for regular loss data collection

5. Process to derive guidelines and min. standard
Workshop with representatives from public administration, insurance industry and academia in 2005
Expert survey (online, Delphi method with three rounds) to derive a catalogue of relevant items in 2006 and (Elmer, Kreibich, Seifert, Thieken (2010). Risk Analysis 30(1): )
Compilation of the guidelines and the data base (HOWAS 21) in 2007 and 2008
Review and revision of guidelines and data base in 2008 and (Chapter 4 in Thieken, Seifert, Merz, 2010 Hochwasserschäden)

6. Loss data collection methods
Building Surveyors: Polls:
- high level of standardisation - answers dependent on respondent
- consistent data quality - unknown data quality
- limited set of parameters - representativeness via sampling
- expensive method (100 € per case) - lower costs (25-40€ per case)

7. Loss data collection methods Characteristics of different polls
Building Surveyors: Polls:
- high level of standardisation - answers dependent on respondent
- consistent data quality - unknown data quality
- limited set of parameters - representativeness via sampling
- expensive method (100 € per case) - lower costs (25-40€ per case)
Characteristics of different polls
Commitment
Amount of questions
Return rate
Costs
On site interviews
Telephone interviews
Written-postal survey
Web-based survey

8. Development of minimum standards for loss data collection
Workshop (15 experts) and Delphi expert survey (55 experts)
Mean perception of importance for risk analyses of different loss categories in 6 sectors (1 = highly important; 6 = not important at all)

9. Catalogue of items that meet minimum requirements
Thieken et al. (2009) HYWa 53(3)

10. Guidelines for flood loss data collection
Contents
Introduction and definitions for flood loss data collection
Overview of loss data collection methods
Minimum Standards and suggestions for further information to be collected for various sectors
Suggestions for data collection organisation, data processing, quality control and storage
Documentation and quality control
Event and hazard description
Private households / residential properties
Companies and municipal infrastructure
Agriculture and forestry
Traffic and transport
Water courses and flood defences
Review by 25 external experts

11. Guidelines for flood loss data collection

12. Max. amount of possible interviews
Loss data collection via computer aided telephone interviews
Questions about:
characteristics of the flood,
characteristics of the building, the household or company, the inventory, machinery and equipment
damaged items, monetary losses
warning and emergency measures
precautionary measures
previously experienced floods
Bavaria
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
Number of Interviews per campaign
Flood events
2002
2005 / 2006
2010 / 2011
2013
Private households
1697
461
658
1652
Companies
415
227
147
557
Max. amount of possible interviews

13. Loss data collection via computer aided telephone interviews
Standardised questionnaires for private households: 180 questions, interview duration ca. 30 min; companies: 90 questions, interview duration ca. 15 min.
The software guides through the questionnaire, next question appears only if an answer to the previous one is keyed in. If one answer makes some following questions inapplicable, these are automatically not stated.
To avoid errors, only meaningful answers are accepted by the system. Wherever possible, answers were cross checked, e.g., if the given outside storage area is larger
than the given area of the premises, the interviewer was informed about this contradiction and prompted to clarify the situation.
Always more questions to the same topic, e.g. detailed questions addressing not
only total damage but also the area affected per story, the damage ratio, the type and amount of the most expensive item damaged, and the type and costs of all building repairs and all expensive domestic appliances affected. Damage estimates confirmed to be rel. reliable by a comparison of the damage data collected with official damage data (Thieken et al., 2005).
Questionnaires:

14. Flood damage database for Germany: HOWAS21