Abstract
Floods are among the most destructive natural hazards that cost lives and disrupt the socioeconomic activities of residents, especially in the rapidly growing cities of developing countries. Jeddah, a coastal city situated in Saudi Arabia, has experienced severe flash flood events in recent years. With intense rainfall, extensive coastal developments, and sensitive ecosystems, the city is susceptible to severe flash flood risks. The objective of this article is to apply an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model to explore the impacts of flash flood hazards and identify the most effective approaches to reducing the flash flood impacts in Jeddah using expert’s opinions. The study utilizes experts’ judgments and employs the AHP for data analyses and modeling. The results indicated that property loss has the highest probability of occurrence in the events of a flash flood with a priority level of 42%, followed by productivity loss (28%). Injuries and death were rated the least priority of 18% and 12%, respectively. Concerning flood impact reduction alternatives, river management (41%) and early warning system (38%) are the most favorable options. The findings could assist the government to design appropriate measures to safeguard the lives and properties of the residents. The study concludes by underscoring the significance of incorporating experts’ judgments in assessing flash flood impacts.
Highlights
Recent decades have witnessed incessant and immeasurable impacts of floods across the globe.Floods are the most devastating and the costliest of natural disasters that destroy properties, and the lives of millions, accounting for nearly 34% of human loss caused by natural disasters [1]
To bridge this research gap and contribute to the growing literature on the topic, the present study aims to apply an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model to explore the impacts of flash flood hazards and identify the most effective approaches to reducing the flash flood impacts in Jeddah using expert’s opinions
The AHP model applied in the current study focused on risk assessment of flash flood hazards in the city of Jeddah
Summary
Recent decades have witnessed incessant and immeasurable impacts of floods across the globe.Floods are the most devastating and the costliest of natural disasters that destroy properties, and the lives of millions, accounting for nearly 34% of human loss caused by natural disasters [1]. Estimates show that between 1995 and 2015, 43% of all the documented natural disasters were caused by floods, disrupting the lives of 2.3 billion people around the globe, causing damages worth USD662 billion, and killing 157,000 people [2]. Urban areas are the primary contributors to climate change due to the concentration of major activities that generate greenhouse gas emissions. 15), roughly 70% of the global CO2 emissions are generated in urban areas, with buildings and transportation being the key contributors. These have triggered global warming and the occurrence of natural disasters such as floods. To help alleviate the devastating impacts of natural hazards, urban development stakeholders are increasingly directing
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