Table 8. Success stories in coping with extreme events. Location Success story Reference The Rhine and Mosel, Germany People living along the rivers are learning to deal with recurring floods by extending precautionary measures and improving distribution of information on flood protection. ICPR (1998) Kundzewicz et al. (2002) The Rhine, Germany Integrated river management programs that include, e.g., the restoration of flooplains through polder systems, are currently compensating for some of the adverse effects of straightening the Rhine and building dikes. Demuth (1999) The Mississippi and Missouri basins, USA The great Mississippi-Missouri flood of 1993 had a significant impact on U.S. flood management policy, which distributed management and responsibilities among federal, state, and local authorities. Josephson (1994) Japan A comprehensive flood control program was initiated in the late 1970s based on an integrated approach that promotes water storage and retardation in watersheds and structural measures for large rivers, including very expensive infrastructure such as superlevees. Kundzewicz and Takeuchi (1999) Thailand The country’s drought preparedness was improved through a system of prices and incentives and by strengthening the role of local water-user organizations. Binnie et al. (1997) Kundzewicz et al. (2002) The Yakima River, USA A spectrum of antidrought measures was introduced, including additional wells, trading water rights, subsidies for set-aside land, tax breaks for cattle sales, water conservation measures, etc. Glantz (1977) Kundzewicz et al. (2002)