INTRODUCTION - Modelling Uncertainty in Flood Forecasting Systems - page 2

or regional in their distribution (Samuels, 1999). Floods also cause impacts on society
that go beyond economical cost and facilities, including impacts such as family and
community disruptions, dislocation, injuries and unemployment. Figure 1.1 shows the
loss of human life and the number of people affected due to major natural disasters in the
world during 1966 to 1990 (see Fattorelli et al., 1999). During this period, the number of
people affected by floods far exceeded the number affected by all other major disasters
combined.
Figure 1.1. Consequences of the major disasters in the world (1966-1990): (a)
number of human lives lost, and (b) number of people affected
(source: Fattorelli et al, 1999)