Risk management of natural hazards in Switzerland

This document presents the current basic principles of the risk management of natural hazards in Switzerland. It acknowledges the considerable efforts made in the past few years on the road from conventional hazard protection to an integrated risk management by the federal government, the cantons and the municipalities, and describes an approach based on a balanced equilibrium of preparedness, response and recovery measures. It also defines the concept of residual risk, which considers social, economical and ecological criteria of well-being, and which ultimately leads to a sustainable risk management.