Data sources on small-scale disaster losses and response - A Swedish case study of extreme rainfalls 2000-2012

Societal interest to evaluate and learn from disasters is scale dependent. Low frequent hazards with small impacts are often invisible at national level from an evaluation point of view and limited possibilities exist to compile publicly available data on losses and management in the aftermath. This study presents an inventory of possible data sources for 14 extreme rainfall events in Sweden 2000-2012. The sources, such as official sectorial institutions and media, and their content are analyzed in relation to reliability and verification opportunities. The use of free-text fields in official reporting systems and questionnaires, primarily designed for basic data capture from daily occurring accidents, is highlighted as important to achieve enhanced data that can be used to verify information from other sources, especially media archives.