Storm-surge impact depends on setting

摘要

A storm surge on 5-6 December threatened urban centres and rural communities around the southern North Sea in a similar way to such an event 60 years ago. Causing more than 2,000 deaths, the 1953 flood was western Europe's most devastating in 100 years in terms of loss of life. Last month, however, a disaster was averted by advances in storm-surge forecasting, improved defences, early-warning systems and integrated crisis management.