Flooding is one of the most devastating natural hazards worldwide, claiming thousands of lives annually, displacing millions and causing significant damage to infrastructure. Annually, an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people die due to floods—equivalent to about 20 deaths every day, with this toll being projected to rise as climate change, urbanization, and population growth exacerbate vulnerabilities in flood-prone regions (Blöschl et al. 2019; Jongman 2021). Despite significant advancements in flood forecasting and early warning systems (EWSs), the persistent loss of life underscores a critical gap: the failure to communicate warnings effectively, with clarity, timeliness and preciseness in instructions (Tupper and Fearnley 2023). Often, warnings are too generic, failing to translate the urgency of the situation into actionable guidance. This gap, in essence, is not a failure of technology or prediction of the hazard but a failure of communication. This commentary argues that the next leap in disaster risk reduction is not just technological but also psychological and social: transforming flood warnings into personalized, actionable messages tailored to individuals’ needs. Our goal is to ensure that warnings compel action, minimize uncertainty and confusion, and ultimately save lives.

PECHLIVANIDIS Ilias;  AFENTOULIDIS Spyros;  DI BALDASSARRE Giuliano;  PAPPENBERGER Florian;  SALAMON Peter;  UHLENBROOK Stefan; 

2026-03-02

NATURE PORTFOLIO

JRC141621

2397-3374 (online),   

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-026-02405-8,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC141621,   

10.1038/s41562-026-02405-8 (online),