Abstract
Abstract. Flow velocity is generally presumed to influence flood damage. However, this influence is hardly quantified and virtually no damage models take it into account. Therefore, the influences of flow velocity, water depth and combinations of these two impact parameters on various types of flood damage were investigated in five communities affected by the Elbe catchment flood in Germany in 2002. 2-D hydraulic models with high to medium spatial resolutions were used to calculate the impact parameters at the sites in which damage occurred. A significant influence of flow velocity on structural damage, particularly on roads, could be shown in contrast to a minor influence on monetary losses and business interruption. Forecasts of structural damage to road infrastructure should be based on flow velocity alone. The energy head is suggested as a suitable flood impact parameter for reliable forecasting of structural damage to residential buildings above a critical impact level of 2 m of energy head or water depth. However, general consideration of flow velocity in flood damage modelling, particularly for estimating monetary loss, cannot be recommended.
Highlights
The concept of traditional flood protection is increasingly being replaced by comprehensive risk management, which includes structural and non-structural measures (Sayers et al, 2002; Hooijer et al, 2004)
For the flood damage to roads, this study presents initial results establishing flow velocity as a key parameter for the estimation of structural damage based on the analysis of individual road sections
A strong influence of flow velocity on flood damage could only be identified for structural damage of road infrastructure (Fig. 8)
Summary
The concept of traditional flood protection is increasingly being replaced by comprehensive risk management, which includes structural and non-structural measures (Sayers et al, 2002; Hooijer et al, 2004). Sayers et al, 2002; Ganoulis, 2003; Dawson and Hall, 2004; Merz and Thieken, 2004; Rose et al, 2007). In these contexts, flood risk encompasses two aspects; on the one hand the flood hazard characterised by its impact parameters such as water depth and its associated probability and on the other hand vulnerability, often due to exposure and susceptibility of affected elements (Mileti, 1999; van der Veen and Logtmeijer, 2005). Besides meteorological, hydrological and hydraulic investigations, such analyses require estimation of the consequences of flooding, which is normally restricted to detrimental effects, i.e. flood damage
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