Initially, the return on experience - not very used in France - has been developped by Bruno Ledoux Consultant. It aims at studying the socio-economical impacts of recent floods and making use of results in potential damages simulations. This analysis deals with several french and foreign experiences. Whatever, it has been confirmed that their contributions are particularly enlightening and very instructive on crisis management (phase of public safety) and also on post-crisis situation management (recover time of economic activities). The return on experience teaches so that the quality of post-catastrophe management governs closely the extent of indirect impacts (economical disruptions, failures of networks, psychological impacts...).
Cases studied permit to shape on the one hand a method to lead more systematically returns on experience, and, on the other hand, recommendations to better anticipate and prepare for post-catastrophe situations.