In 1969, the Georgian resort of Pitsunda and its beach were severely damaged by a storm. This was largely due to an ongoing process of coastal erosion caused by anthropogenic influences.
The Great Flood of 1962 was the most devastating natural disaster to strike Germany in the twentieth century. In Hamburg, over one hundred thousand people were trapped by the water, and 315 people died, despite massive rescue operations.
The North Sea flood of 1953 caused widespread damage and approximately 2,400 fatalities in the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium. As devastating as it was, the flood also triggered many changes in how the countries surrounding the North Sea manage their flood risk, including the development of improved warning systems and various protection schemes.
Historical documents provide detailed descriptions of ice-jam flood events and climate impacts in riverine communities.
The 1096 Earthquake and Tsunami extensively damaged coastal communities, but it was the shock to the capital that mattered more.
From channelizations to renaturations—the catastrophic flood of the Gürbe River in July 1990 prompted profound changes in approaches to flood protection.
Engineering the Lower Shinano River in northeastern Japan expanded the risk of other flood and tsunami damage.
An invasive mollusk called the shipworm (Teredo navalis) attacked coastal dikes in the Netherlands in the 1730s, leading to changes in the design of dikes.
