For centuries now, people have tried to protect settlements along the Danube against floods. For this reason, various flood control structures have been built resulting in a significant increase in safety.

All the flood protection equipment and control structures, however, have to be maintained and checked for their safety and proper operation on a regular basis. In the event of floods, emergency teams have clearly assigned competences and well-trained procedures to ensure a smooth disaster relief operation that also relies to a major extent on the personal commitment of the individual emergency services team members.

As the managing office of the Danube Flood Control Agency (DHK), via donau is responsible for preventive and protective measures with regard to the DHK’s flood control structures (dykes, weirs etc.).

This includes building and reconstruction work, as well as flood emergency management services. During relief operations, via donau secures the DHK's flood control structures. All other control structures are coordinated by the respective provincial disaster management services with local emergency services, such as flood protection associations, taking care of their maintenance and operation on site.

As part of its flood emergency management services, via donau secures approximately 200 kilometres of flood protection dykes, 16 bridges, 64 floodgates, as well as all company ports. In addition, via donau has to initiate the timely evacuation of construction sites in flood discharge areas. And last but not least, the company's hydrography experts perform flow rate measurements during floods.