Established 2 July 2013 by joint decree of the Federal Minister of the Interior Hans-Peter Friedrich and Federal Minister of Defence Thomas de Maizière, the medal is awarded for approved service during the 2013 European floods.

The medal may be awarded to the members of the Bundeswehr, Bundespolizei, Technisches Hilfswerk, foreign armed forces, as well as civilians who provided assistance to the relief efforts of the federal agencies.

The obverse of the medal depicts stylized flood waters passing before partially submerged buildings.

The reverse bears the Bundesadler with the words Dank und Anerkennung (Gratitude and Appreciation) below.

In the center of the ribbon is worn a 10 mm (0.39 in) wide representation of the obverse of the medal.