The frequency and magnitude of flooding is increasing and putting human lives and property at risk around the world. There are numerous tools used to help manage the risk in federal agencies' projects. The Army Corps of Engineers developed Flood Damage Reduction Analysis (HEC-FDA) software, FEMA developed the Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) toolkit, and each agency uses their respective model to produce economic damage estimates for natural hazards. Previous research that compares how the two models perform has not been found in the literature. A comparison of the model estimates is necessary to determine whether the same flood mitigation techniques would be applied with either agency. A major difference between the models is that HEC-FDA is only for river flooding, whereas BCA can be used to evaluate other natural hazards as well. Each model can produce an output of estimated damages for a particular flood event, such as the 1 percent or 0.2 percent annual chance exceedance flood event. There may be a difference in the model outputs because of the different damage curves used in each model. Then, based on the flood damage estimation reports, a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) is computed for each structure affected by the flood to determine feasibility of a flood mitigation project. To compare model results the same data were run through the two models, and a comparison of the BCR was analyzed. The results show variability in benefit cost ratios between HEC-FDA and the BCA toolkit; however, 90 percent of the structure inventory's BCR indicated the same mitigation method selection, and the statistical tests show that the two modeling programs' outputs are not statistically different.

Floods can have a devastating impact on life, property and economic resources. However, the systematic collection of damage data in the aftermath of flood events can contribute to future risk mitigation. Such data can support a variety of actions including the identification of priorities for intervention during emergencies, the creation of complete event scenarios to tailor risk mitigation strategies, the definition of victim compensation schemes, and the validation of damage models to feed cost-benefit analysis of mitigation actions. Volume highlights include: Compilation of real world case studies elaborating on the survey experiences and best practices associated with flood damage data collection, storage and analysis, that can help strategize flood risk mitigation in an efficient manner Coverage of different flooding phenomena such as riverine and mountain floods, spatial analysis from local to global scales, and stakeholder perspectives, e.g. public decision makers, researchers, private companies Contributions from leading experts in the field, researchers and practitioners, including civil protection actors working at different spatial and administrative level, insurers, and professionals working in the field of natural hazard risks mitigation Flood Damage Survey and Assessment: New Insights from Research and Practice will be a valuable resource for earth scientists, hydrologists, meteorologists, geologists, geographers, civil engineers, insurers, policy makers, and planners. Read an interview with the editors to find out more: https://eos.org/editors-vox/the-value-of-disaster-damage-data

Flood risk analysis is more complex in urban areas than that in rural areas because of their closely packed buildings, different kinds of land uses, and large number of flood control works and drainage systems. According to the 2015 China flood and drought report, more than 100 cities have suffered waterlogging per year since 2006. The numbers of waterlogged cities were 130 in 2008, 258 in 2010, and 234 in 2013, respectively. Nearly 62% of 351 cities were waterlogged between 2008 and 2010. The vast majority of flooding and waterlogging disasters are caused by local extreme rainstorms. This enables the determination of the critical points in terms of flooding impacts, and highlights the need to implement strategies to cope with these impacts. Nowadays, flood control has been replaced by flood management concept in terms of living with flood, making benefit of it, and minimizing its losses. The success in flood management in any region depends on the evaluation of different types of flood losses. For the assessment of flood damages, this requires the use of stage-damage functions for different categories of land use. This book aims to propose a practical framework for flood risk analysis and hazards assessment and flood control measures in rural and urban areas from leading experts in the field, researchers and practitioners, including professionals working in the field of natural hazards mitigation. Based on the concept of disaster risk triangle (hazard, vulnerability and exposure), a comprehensive analysis of methods and general procedures were proposed for urban flood risk analysis. Urban Flood Simulation Model (UFSM) and Urban Flood Damage Assessment Model (UFDAM) were proposed to estimate the flood risk. A review is presented of the methods used to construct stage-damage function curves for residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial category. A good compilation of real world case studies elaborating on the survey experiences and best practices associated with flood damage data collection, storage and analysis, that can help strategize flood risk mitigation in an efficient manner.

This book is intended to provide guidelines to engineer, town planner, economic analyst, researcher and authority on how to evaluate the efficiency of flood control schemes using cost-benefit analysis. As flood control project is very expensive, it is crucial to decide on which projects should be implemented in order to gain the most economical solution. The decision making process is based on the projects that provide highest benefit-cost ratio and maximum net benefit. By using this book, one will understand the basics of flood: hydrology, mitigation and implication. The method to assess the damages and the cost-benefit analysis technique are also described in details. Finally, a case study is shown as an example, in order to ensure that the readers will fully understand the necessary steps to calculate the cost-benefit parameters. Case study presented in this book is limited to the locality of the author. However, the readers can always perform another analysis, based on their local condition. By using combination of basic knowledge and case study in this book, the readers can develop their own tools to determine the cost-benefit parameters.

Reducing flood damage is a complex task that requires multidisciplinary understanding of the earth sciences and civil engineering. In addressing this task the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employs its expertise in hydrology, hydraulics, and geotechnical and structural engineering. Dams, levees, and other river-training works must be sized to local conditions; geotechnical theories and applications help ensure that structures will safely withstand potential hydraulic and seismic forces; and economic considerations must be balanced to ensure that reductions in flood damages are proportionate with project costs and associated impacts on social, economic, and environmental values. A new National Research Council report, Risk Analysis and Uncertainty in Flood Damage Reduction Studies, reviews the Corps of Engineers' risk-based techniques in its flood damage reduction studies and makes recommendations for improving these techniques. Areas in which the Corps has made good progress are noted, and several steps that could improve the Corps' risk-based techniques in engineering and economics applications for flood damage reduction are identified. The report also includes recommendations for improving the federal levee certification program, for broadening the scope of flood damage reduction planning, and for improving communication of risk-based concepts.

Floods are of increasing public concern world-wide due to increasing damages and unacceptably high numbers of injuries. Previous approaches of flood protection led to limited success especially during recent extreme events. Therefore, an integrated flood risk management is required which takes into consideration both the hydrometeorogical and the societal processes. Moreover, real effects of risk mitigation measures have to be critically assessed. The book draws a comprehensive picture of all these aspects and their interrelations. It furthermore provides a lot of detail on earth observation, flood hazard modelling, climate change, flood forecasting, modelling vulnerability, mitigation measures and the various dimensions of management strategies. In addition to local and regional results of science, engineering and social science investigations on modelling and management, transboundary co-operation of large river catchments are of interest. Based on this, the book is a valuable source of the state of the art in flood risk management but also covers future demands for research and practice in terms of flood issues.