Rescue personnel search for missing people in debris after flooding along the Tsukada River Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Sept. 23. | AFP-Jiji

Throughout history, floods have wreaked havoc on communities, but their frequency and intensity have escalated due to climate change. From Asia to Africa, Europe to the Americas, severe inundations periodically displace millions, destroy infrastructure and claim countless lives.

Rising temperatures increase evaporation, leading to more frequent severe downpours, including in vulnerable areas. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that as the planet warms, extreme weather events are intensifying, further straining regions ill-equipped to cope with natural disasters.

As unpredictable weather patterns driven by global warming become more common, governments and communities must rethink their approach to flood management, integrating technology, community awareness and adaptive infrastructure to minimize damage.

Japan, renowned for its disaster mitigation strategies, has also found itself increasingly vulnerable to floods, prompting a reassessment of how it prepares for such crises.

This was highlighted recently by the impact of severe flooding and landslides caused by unprecedented rainfall in the Noto Peninsula. Ishikawa Prefecture, especially the city of Wajima, has been hit the hardest, experiencing over 530 millimeters of rain in just 72 hours — the heaviest recorded rainfall since monitoring began.

Eleven people have been confirmed dead, several are still missing and over 100 communities were cut off due to rivers overflowing. The event prompted the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and military personnel were dispatched to assist in rescue operations as power outages affected thousands of homes.

This event has emphasized Japan’s unique vulnerability when it comes to flood preparedness due to its challenging topography and volatile climate as well as its aging population and dense urban centers. In response, combining technology with human-centered design can enhance readiness.

However, while solutions like smartphone apps that provide real-time updates about floods and shelter locations are popular in Japan, more must be done to ensure this information is accessible to all, especially older generations less familiar with technology.

Upgrading infrastructure also remains crucial. Japan’s extensive river networks, dams and flood barriers have served the country well but are beginning to show signs of strain. As storms grow more intense, reinforcing and modernizing these systems is essential. New construction projects should incorporate flood-resilient designs and retrofitting older buildings can prevent large-scale damage, ultimately reducing long-term repair costs.

Experts like Hiroshi Takagi, a professor and disaster management specialist at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, are calling for a shift in Japan’s flood preparedness strategy. Takagi stresses that Japan’s traditional reliance on structural flood defenses such as dykes and seawalls may not be enough in the face of increasingly severe natural disasters.

“While these defenses are effective against moderate hazards, we must assess whether they can withstand future super strong events,” Takagi says. “Relying solely on these structures might make us overlook the possibility of their failure.”

The specialist advocates for integrating non-structural measures into Japan’s approach. He highlights nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands and creating green spaces, to complement already existing flood defenses. “Japan has built numerous structural measures, but maintaining them as the population ages will be crucial,” Takagi notes. “Nature-based solutions can offer a buffer when hard countermeasures are overwhelmed.”

Japan’s recent disaster is just the latest in a series of catastrophic floods that have occurred around the globe this year. Central Europe has been severely affected, with entire towns submerged after weeks of heavy rain in countries including Austria, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. In Africa, floods displaced tens of thousands, particularly in Nigeria and the Sahel, where climate extremes are also exacerbating food insecurity and political instability.

These calamities expose common issues: outdated infrastructure, insufficient flood mitigation strategies and a lack of comprehensive climate resilience planning. The failure to adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions is proving costly, both in terms of human lives and economic damage.

Japan, often seen as a leader in disaster preparedness, particularly in urban areas, has made significant strides with initiatives like Tokyo’s massive underground flood tunnels, which redirect excess water. However, the devastation in Noto highlights the limits of even the most advanced systems. A more holistic approach that integrates hard infrastructure with natural solutions and community engagement will be essential going forward.

The 2018 floods in Japan, which killed over 200 people and displaced millions, serve as a reminder that no system is foolproof. Despite early warnings, many residents underestimated the storms’ severity, underscoring the need to improve community preparedness and individual awareness of flood risks.

Japan can learn valuable lessons from countries that have successfully adapted to worsening climate impacts. Bangladesh, for example, faces annual monsoon floods that displace millions. Over the past few decades, the country has developed innovative community-based flood management strategies, combining early warning systems with grassroots education campaigns to empower citizens. This decentralized approach has reduced casualties and facilitated faster evacuations.

The Netherlands, with a third of its land below sea level, is another global leader in flood management. Through the Room for the River initiative, the country has embraced the reality that floods cannot be entirely prevented. Instead, natural floodplains that give rivers more room to overflow without damaging urban areas have been created.

This balance between human needs and nature demonstrates that living with water, rather than fighting it, may be key to resilience.

Japan’s reliance on large-scale engineering solutions could be supplemented by more adaptive strategies and nature-based solutions could help reduce risks and enhance resilience, especially in urban areas. For example, the growing interest in “sponge” cities, where rainwater is absorbed by permeable materials and green spaces, is a promising development.

Japan has already made progress through the Climate Change Adaptation Act, which integrates climate risks into national planning. However, further investments are needed to strengthen preparedness. Local governments, especially in rural and coastal areas, require targeted funding, comprehensive risk assessments and capacity-building to enhance resilience. Without adequate resources, national climate adaptation efforts could falter in the face of mounting challenges.

Experts like Roy Wright, CEO of the United States-based Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, emphasizes the critical role of local governments in this picture. Wright notes that by conducting regular emergency drills, improving public awareness of risks and implementing robust evacuation plans, local authorities can significantly mitigate the impacts of disasters. Better construction standards, well-stocked shelters and clear communication systems are also essential in reducing casualties and damage.

As the threat of floods grows worldwide, the message is clear: No one can afford to be complacent. The next deluge could be just around the corner and how prepared we are today will determine how well we can weather the storm tomorrow.