On 26 December 1999 the extraordinarily violent hurricane Lothar hit Western Europe and Switzerland. It caused enormous damage above all in France, Germany and Switzerland. Since the damage was extensive and is expected to have long-term consequences for forests, the economy and society, the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL) commissioned the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL to conduct, under the leadership of SAEFL and in collaboration with other partners, an analysis of hurricane Lothar in Switzerland. This report - which is now available - first of all divides the extent of damage in Switzerland into sectors and provides comprehensive documentation of the damage. Secondly, the report documents and analyses the wide range of measures taken by those involved and affected during the course of the hurricane as well as afterwards. The strengths and weaknesses of the individual actors in coping with the event became apparent as a result of the study. This analysis made it possible to make suggestions for improvement both in terms of prevention and response to similar events as well as recommendations for future action.