The Rhine Floods 1995: effects

1 dead
250,000 people and millions of farm animals evacuated
1,550 km² farmland flooded
City centre of Cologne flooded to a depth of 2 metres
Hundreds of homes inundated
Flood tourism
Looting
Social disturbance and mental stress
Effects on cattle health
Extra costs of feeding cattle
Dutch government paid billions of euros in compensation to those affected - a huge strain on the economy
Fertile silt deposited on floodplain, but also some toxic mud
Water supplies polluted
The Germans and Dutch had time to react and take preventative measures

River Rhine Floods 1995