Abstract:

Cyprus is experiencing negative impacts from flooding due to rainstorms in its urban
environment. There are no official figures on the extent of urban flood damage.
However, the information from insurance companies is that, although Cyprus lies in a seismic region and its climate is semi-arid, the extent of the urban flood damage is
more than the extent of earthquake damage. Main causes of such damages are the
lack of storm water drainage systems, the disruption of pre-existing natural
watercourses by urbanisation, the blockage of man-made watercourses, the everchanging land use. The main effects/ impacts of these damages are the flooding of basements and low lying floors, where could me caused damages to parked cars, central heating systems, stored goods. Some consequential damage is the loss of productive time, loss of guarantees/ warranties of electrical/ mechanical equipment.
This paper presents an institutional analysis, highlighting the gaps in planning,
implementation, maintenance of urban flood management systems. It includes a case study of flooding caused due to institutional gaps and proposes measures to reduce the risk of urban flood damage.