What was the primary method for reducing flood losses before the 1960s?

The primary method for reducing flood losses before the 1960s was through structural flood control projects. These projects typically included the construction of levees, dams, and floodwalls designed to protect communities from the impact of flooding. Such structures physically alter the environment to manage water flow and provide physical barriers between floodwaters and built environments.

This approach was predominant because it represented a direct intervention technique focused on controlling natural water flow and minimizing the exposure of human settlements to the risks associated with flooding. Building infrastructure like levees and dams was seen as an effective way to safeguard agricultural lands and urban areas from flood events.

While other methods, such as emergency response teams and community evacuation plans, play important roles in flood risk management, they primarily focus on response and recovery rather than on direct prevention. Similarly, improving weather forecasting helps in predicting floods but does not mitigate them directly. Therefore, structural flood control projects were the cornerstone of flood loss reduction strategies before the 1960s.