Supplementary material to "The 2022 Drought Shows the Importance of Preparedness in European Drought Risk Management "

Droughts in Europe are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, with the 2022 drought surpassing previous records and causing widespread socio-economic impacts. This study, employs a Europe-wide survey that integrates data from 481 respondents from 30 European countries, involved in the management of the 2022 European drought, together with hydroclimatic data (i. e. , Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index; SPEI), to provide a holistic assessment of the effect of drought preparedness on response effectiveness and timeliness during the 2022 drought through statistical methods. It specifically assesses the role of forecasting systems and Drought Management Plans (DMPs) in improving preparedness and in facilitating more effective and timely responses. Additionally, the study investigates how drought management practices and awareness have evolved as a consequence of the 2018 European drought and how recent experiences shape water managers' perceptions. The findings emphasize the urgent need for a standardized, continent-wide drought risk management coordination to address the multifaceted nature of drought risk by integrating climatic and societal factors, and advocates for a Drought Directive as a means to achieve it. This research aims to inform policy development towards sustainable and holistic drought risk management, highlighting the crucial roles of preparedness, awareness, and adaptive strategies in mitigating future drought impacts. This study and its companion paperThe 2022 Drought Needs to be a Turning Point for European Drought Risk Management are the result of a study carried out by the Drought in the Anthropocene (DitA) network. S1. Questionnaire S1. 1. Content of the questionnaire ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Impacts and response during the 2022 European drought -questionnaireOver the span of just five years, Europe has been hit by two major drought events, the 2018-2019 drought, and 2022 drought which is still ongoing in parts of Europe. In particular, the latter has been reported as being the worst drought hitting the continent in 500 years. While drought risk has risen on the agenda in many European countries, Europe is still largely unprepared to manage severe, spatially large and recurring drought events with no European-wide drought management schemes in place. The Panta Rhei Drought in the Anthropocene working group is an interdisciplinary organization of researchers investigating drought impact and management. This questionnaire was devised to collect information from water managers and managers of drought-affected sectors that can be used to further our knowledge of drought impact and management from a European perspective. With your collaboration you will be contributing to the advancement of the knowledge on drought in Europe. By responding to this questionnaire you are giving your consent to use this data for scientific purpose. Please, take 15 minutes of your time to answer to this questionnaire. ____________________________________________________________________________ 1. What type of organization do you belong to? 2. At which level does your organization operate? 3. In which country is your organization located? 4. In which municipality/region do you operate (name, region, country)? 5. a. How does your organization identify that drought is happening? • Based on analysis of indices (e. g. SPEI; SPI. . . ) • Based on observed impact • Based on external reporting (e. g. bulletin from the meteorological service) • Based on internal reporting • My organization doesn't have a systematic way to define it • I don't know