We present a wavelet-based framework for the encoding of video in multiple descriptions. Using the proposed methodology, the generation of multiple descriptions is performed so that drift is eliminated at the decoder regardless of the number of received descriptions. Moreover, the proposed framework is flexible in the sense that it allows the encoding of video into an arbitrary number of descriptions. We also present a thorough analysis of rate allocation issues and propose three algorithms for the optimal allocation of redundancy. Experimental results for the transmission of video using two descriptions demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method.