The dissertation explores the use of emergency measures, particularly the BresDefender, to prevent or delay levee failure and mitigate the impacts of floods, focusing on the Netherlands' flood protection systems. Levees are vital for protecting low-lying areas, but there's always a risk of failure, leading to significant societal and material damage. Emergency measures like the BresDefender aim to reduce this risk. When extreme water levels are expected, crisis protocols are activated, leading to levee inspections and potential implementation of emergency measures. In times of resource scarcity or challenging conditions, the military may assist civilian authorities, as protecting against floods is one of their responsibilities. Given the increasing frequency of high-water events due to climate change, there's a need for more efficient use of military resources, termed as the 'adaptive army' concept. The BresDefender, initially designed for constructing temporary bridges, is explored for reinforcing levees. It can be submerged against weakened levees without heavy equipment, potentially reducing the risk of failure. Physical experiments and numerical models assess the BresDefender's effectiveness. It primarily impacts water infiltration and flow over levees during breaches. Experiments demonstrate its ability to reduce seepage flow and delay levee failure, providing additional time for response measures. The dissertation emphasizes the importance of the BresDefender's adaptation to levee irregularities. Flexible materials are crucial for optimal contact, enhancing effectiveness. A probabilistic model assesses the likelihood of successfully preventing levee breaches, highlighting the importance of proactive action and efficient logistics. Logistically, timely preparation and response are essential. The model identifies key stages, emphasizing the need for prompt damage detection and swift deployment of emergency measures. Overall, the research suggests that the BresDefender can enhance water safety if deployed promptly and adapted to levee conditions. Further optimization could make it a valuable tool for reinforcing levees and improving flood resilience, even in unforeseen circumstances.@en

Dikes are designed to withstand a load, with a certain finite probability of occurrence. In case of crises regarding to flood safety, the military is expected to prevent low-laying areas against flooding. Historical attempts show that the effectiveness of emergency measures and strategies are mainly successful caused by the adequate acts of the local people in charge. Based on a literature analysis of breach development, the available time for the application of emergency measures is estimated. This paper introduces the BresDefender strategy, an emergency response strategy, used by the military, to prevent or postpone dike failure. The current BresDefender strategy is a floating pontoon, which can placed on a weakened dike section. It is expected that it can be applied during two scenario’s. In the first scenario, the BresDefender is applied during the early stages of breach formation. In the second scenario, it restores the original crest height, where overflow is expected in the near future e.g. in case of macro instability. The BresDefender is expected to stabilize the weakened dike section. @en