The value of integrating information from multiple hazards for flood risk analysis and management

J T Castillo-Rodríguez,A Serrano-Lombillo,I Escuder-Bueno,L Altarejos-García

doi:10.5194/nhess-14-379-2014

Abstract

Abstract. This article presents a methodology for estimating flood risk in urban areas integrating pluvial flooding, river flooding and failure of both small and large dams. The first part includes a review of basic concepts on flood risk analysis, evaluation and management. Flood risk analyses may be developed at local, regional and national level, however a general methodology to perform a quantitative flood risk analysis including different flood hazards is still required. The second part describes the proposed methodology, which presents an integrated approach – combining pluvial, river flooding and flooding from dam failure, as applied to a case study: an urban area located downstream of a dam under construction. The methodology enhances the approach developed within the SUFRI project ("Sustainable Strategies of Urban Flood Risk Management to cope with the residual risk", 2009–2011). This article also shows how outcomes from flood risk analysis provide better and more complete information to inform authorities, local entities and the stakeholders involved in decision-making with regard to flood risk management.

Highlights

Flooding may occur as a combination of meteorological and hydrological extreme occurrences (WMO/GWP, 2008) or as the result of human-induced threats such as terrorism, vandalism or sabotage that may cause the failure or collapse of flood defence infrastructures
This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for urban flood risk analysis, integrating pluvial flooding, river flooding and flooding from dam failure
The basis of the use of FN-curves for urban flood risk analysis was presented in the “SUFRI Methodology for pluvial and river flooding risk analysis in urban areas to inform decision making” (Escuder-Bueno et al, 2011), developed within the SUFRI project (“Sustainable Strategies of Urban Flood Risk Management to cope with the residual risk”), 2nd CRUE ERA-Net funding initiative, in the period 2009– 2011 (Escuder-Bueno et al, 2011)

Summary

Introduction

Flooding may occur as a combination of meteorological and hydrological extreme occurrences (WMO/GWP, 2008) or as the result of human-induced threats such as terrorism, vandalism or sabotage that may cause the failure or collapse of flood defence infrastructures. Present requirements of residential and industrial areas have resulted in new urban developments in flood-prone areas, increasing risk for people and inducing significant economic costs in case of flooding. An analysis of global statistics (Jonkman, 2005) showed that inland floods (including drainage floods, river floods and flash floods) caused 175 000 fatalities and affected more than 2.2 billion people worldwide from 1975 to 2002. An example of these events is the disastrous flood in the Elbe River basin in August 2002 (Engel, 2004) that accounted for 58 fatalities and thousands of people evacuated. Coastal floods were not included in these statistics, but they may cause even more catastrophic floods in terms of loss of life, such as the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 (Jonkman et al, 2009), with more than 1100 fatalities in the state of Louisiana (USA)

Methods

Results

Conclusion