On 26 December 1999 the storm Lothar hit Switzerland, followed by the storm Martin during the night from 27 to 28 December. High wind speeds and heavy gusts were characteristic of both storms, which caused great damage to forests, buildings and infrastructures. More than 12 million m3 of timber were damaged and the total cost amounted to 1.7 billion CHF. In this paper an overview of the meteorological conditions, the damage and the measures taken to deal with it is presented. It can be concluded that the consequences of the storm were well managed by most involved. However, improvements are possible for example, in the areas of the meteorological warning and communication of warnings and of communication between the different groups responsible for crisis management and recovery. Rapid decision-making according to clear criteria and the clear communication of a structured plan for coping with the damage in the forest could accelerate the recovery and lead to more satisfactory results.
