Abstract
Abstract. Flood management is adopting a more risk-based approach, whereby flood risk is the product of the probability and consequences of flooding. Two-dimensional flood inundation modeling is a widely used tool to aid flood-risk management. The aim of this study is to develop a flood inundation model that uses historical flow data to produce flood-risk maps, which will help to identify flood protection measures in the rural areas of Sri Lanka. The LISFLOOD-FP model was developed at the basin scale using available historical data, and also through coupling with a hydrological modelling system, to map the inundation extent and depth. Results from the flood inundation model were evaluated using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images to assess product accuracy. The impacts of flooding on agriculture and livelihoods were analyzed to assess the flood risks. It was identified that most of the areas under paddy cultivation that were located near the middle and downstream part of the river basin are more susceptible to flood risks. This paper also proposes potential countermeasures for future natural disasters to prevent and mitigate possible damages.
Highlights
Flooding is one of the natural disasters that usually causes numerous problems, such as loss of life and economic losses, when it occurs in highly anthropogenic areas such as human settlements and industrial sites
According to a disaster report from the Disaster Management Centre, Sri Lanka, there is an exponential growth in the number of flood events each year and the number of people affected at the national level
Two different dates were used because it is recommended that flood inundation modelling is conducted when the maximum flood event has occurred (e.g. 3 February 2011), whereas satellite flood map analysis can be carried out when satellite overpass is available
Summary
Flooding is one of the natural disasters that usually causes numerous problems, such as loss of life and economic losses, when it occurs in highly anthropogenic areas such as human settlements and industrial sites. According to the EMDAT report (2013), out of all the natural disasters that occur worldwide, nearly half of the deaths and one-third of all economic losses are due to flooding. Such problems vary from one place to another based on the sources of flooding and the ambient developed landscapes. According to a disaster report from the Disaster Management Centre, Sri Lanka, there is an exponential growth in the number of flood events each year and the number of people affected at the national level. Holistic flood-risk management that reduces the negative impacts of flooding while increasing its positive impacts is highly needed in the region
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