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This study explores collaborative processes in the disaster response of critical water and health sectors following the 2021 floods in Western Germany. It identified key enablers and constraints for successful responses and their interactions. Growing dependence on critical infrastructures and exposure to natural hazards contribute to society's vulnerability to breakdowns, requiring adequate preparedness and a collaborative response during disasters.

A key takeaway is the demonstrated necessity to critically assess both enabling and constraining factors and their interactions, and incorporate these into crisis management, and preparedness action plans. Even a solution in accordance with formal mechanisms and policies may fail in reality, which was the case during the 2021 floods. Reasons often included insufficient preparedness and limited consideration of factors and their interactions such as trust, communication and their effects on collaborative processes in the disaster response. Findings also show that critical infrastructures, sector-specific needs, and interdependencies were insufficiently considered in planning and response. According to the authors, this is deeply concerning, considering the growing dependence on the continuous availability of critical infrastructures and the simultaneously increasing risks from natural hazards and climate change.