SWOT PRINCIPLE IN FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT

An analysis of global statistics shows a substantial increase in flood damage over the past few decades. With the recent transition to a more risk-based approach in European flood management policy, flood analysis models have become an important part of flood risk management. In many cases, flood damages are extensive to the environment, to the economy and also socially. According to the priority development trend "Infrastructure and Environment", Ungheni district of Republic of Moldova (RM) aims for an efficient infrastructure, based on environmental protection, whose development, operation and maintenance will be done using of a database, protocols, existing guides and accessible to the level of each local public administration. In the last decade, projects have been implemented in Moldova to study the phenomenon of floods in order to develop structural and non-structural measures to protect localities. This article aims is to systematize the existing knowledge and characteristics of the methods available to give operational recommendations and principles that can support authorities, local entities, and the stakeholders involved in decision-making with regard to flood risk management in their compliance with the Floods Directive (2007/60/EC), national and local legal framework.

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Review article: A review and critical analysis of the efforts towards urban flood risk management in the Lagos region of Nigeria

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science ◽

10.5194/nhess-16-349-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 349-369 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

U. C. Nkwunonwo ◽

M. Whitworth ◽

B. Baily

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Risk Mitigation ◽

Flood Hazard ◽

Flood Management ◽

Flood Damage ◽

Flood Risk Management ◽

Management Policy ◽

Urban Flooding ◽

Urban Flood

Abstract. Urban flooding has been and will continue to be a significant problem for many cities across the developed and developing world. Crucial to the amelioration of the effects of these floods is the need to formulate a sound flood management policy, which is driven by knowledge of the frequency and magnitude of impacts of these floods. Within the area of flood research, attempts are being made to gain a better understanding of the causes, impacts, and pattern of urban flooding. According to the United Nations office for disaster reduction (UNISDR), flood risk is conceptualized on the basis of three integral components which are frequently adopted during flood damage estimation. These components are: probability of flood hazard, the level of exposure, and vulnerabilities of elements at risk. Reducing the severity of each of these components is the objective of flood risk management under the UNISDR guideline and idea of “living with floods”. On the basis of this framework, the present research reviews flood risk within the Lagos area of Nigeria over the period 1968–2012. During this period, floods have caused harm to millions of people physically, emotionally, and economically. Arguably over this period the efforts of stakeholders to address the challenges appear to have been limited by, amongst other things, a lack of reliable data, a lack of awareness amongst the population affected, and a lack of knowledge of flood risk mitigation. It is the aim of this research to assess the current understanding of flood risk and management in Lagos and to offer recommendations towards future guidance.

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We are all tributaries: combining art and science to transform human relationship with rivers.

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-13360 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nicole Archer

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Flood Management ◽

Flood Risk Management ◽

Management Policy ◽

Art Practice ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Scientific Methods ◽

Creative Practice ◽

Transformative Process

<div> <p>What is your relationship with river? This was the central question posed by a series of creative practice workshops with scientists and local authorities who worked with complex flood risk management issues. Many of the flood mitigating solutions offered to managers are based on scientific methods to control and reduce river flooding. Scientific methods not only provide a sense of control towards river dynamics, but also develop a sense of security for people to feel safe from water. Because of climate change, flood events are increasing globally and some countries, like Scotland, are seeking to expand the possibilities of coping with extreme weather through broader, more holistic ways to mitigate flooding.</p> </div><div> <p>The aim of this study was to bridge rational knowledge often associated with scientific methods and the tacit knowledge that might emerge through participative art. The creative potential of art and participation in art practice was employed in collaboration with scientists and policy makers to inform future solutions towards flood mitigation.</p> </div><div> <p>The research used the theoretical premises described in what Irwin (2013) describes as a/r/tography: &#8220;drawing upon the professional practices of educators, artists, and researchers, it entangles and performs what Deleuze and Guattari (1987) refer to as a rhizome, an assemblage of objects, ideas, and structures that move in dynamic motion performing waves of intensities that create new understandings.&#8221; (p.199). Unlike the outcome and target driven aims of scientific methodology, these &#8220;waves of intensities&#8221; are crucial to understanding the form of intersubjective work which is crucial for art and creativity in art practice, because this is where affective transformation of meaning and understanding happens, through sensing, feeling and perceiving.</p> </div><div> <p>In the case of these creative practice workshops, the transformation that was explored was a shift from anthropocentric thinking about water to non-anthropocentric thought, achieved through sensing, feeling and perceiving. The creative practice workshops at the Scotland flood management conference 2020 were part of a larger process, where the intent was to initiate a transformative process that would work towards developing different ways of thinking in terms of Flood Risk Management. The process began with an artistic engagement with the river and the development of underwater film of rivers. This was followed by two participatory workshops. The next step consisted of an artistic response to the creative process undertaken by the participants. The last step was an engagement with water management policy makers. This will be further discussed in terms of a transformative process between artist and scientist.</p> </div>

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River science and flood risk management policy in England

Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment ◽

10.1177/03091333211036384 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 030913332110363

Author(s):

Malcolm Newson ◽

John Lewin ◽

Paul Raven

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Risk Management ◽

Adaptive Management ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Natural Capital ◽

Flood Management ◽

Flood Risk Management ◽

Management Policy ◽

Catchment Scale ◽

Risk Management Policy

We review the role of science in shaping river flood risk management policy in England, highlighting the relatively recent influence of fluvial geomorphology, river ecology, climate change and ecosystem services in evidence-based decision-making. These disciplines, together with an historical perspective, catchment-scale delivery, integrated land and water management planning, and adaptive management are crucial in managing future flood risk. A central tenet of previous land drainage policy was a professional (and public) mindset about flood ‘prevention’ solutions for river flooding. As a direct consequence, more than 8,500 km of rivers were ‘improved’ by mechanical dredging during the 1930s to 1980s; habitats were destroyed, but flooding continued. A more enlightened, long-term approach has since evolved in response to environmental imperatives and lessons learnt from several major floods during the last two ‘flood-rich’ decades. River science, local knowledge and land management incentives allow more natural processes to be restored in river catchments. The natural capital and ecosystem service benefits of river systems are now better understood and quantified, whereas the importance of sediment transport is fully recognised, with sources and sinks treated more holistically than in the past. Evaluating the outcomes of innovative runoff and river management techniques from both physical and socioeconomic perspectives will determine the success of a catchment-based approach. We highlight some of the uncertainties, nuances and assumptions associated with recent initiatives such as Natural Flood Management, Citizen Science and Flood Action Groups. Further integration between policy, strategic planning and local delivery is needed to anticipate and respond to climate and catchment land use changes. River science will play a crucial part in identifying the most effective way of improving flood management and in a way that helps to deliver the recovery of nature. It will inform adaptive management to cope with climate change.

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Application of scenario technique in flood risk management

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2007.540 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 87-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A. Winterscheid

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Flood Control ◽

Flood Damage ◽

Flood Risk Management ◽

Policy Framework ◽

Limited Perspective ◽

Integrated Flood Risk Management ◽

Scenario Technique ◽

Management Cycle

It is now commonly accepted that the management of flood risks has to be fulfilled within an integrated framework. About two decades ago flood risk was managed from a limited perspective predominantly by means of structural measures aimed at flood control. In contrast integrated flood risk management incorporates the complete management cycle consisting of the phases prevention, protection and preparedness. In theory it is a well described concept. In the stage of implementation, however, there is often a lack of support although a consistent policy framework exists. Consequently, the degree of implementation must be rated as inadequate in many cases. In particular this refers to the elements which focus on preparedness and prevention. The study to which this paper refers emphasises the means and potentials of scenario technique to foster the implementation of potentially appropriate measures and new societal arrangements when applied in the framework of integrated flood risk management. A literature review is carried out to reveal the state-of-the-art and the specific problem framework within which scenario technique is generally being applied. Subsequently, it is demonstrated that scenario technique is transferable to a policy making process in flood risk management that is integrated, sustainable and interactive. The study concludes with a recommendation for three applications in which the implementation of measures of flood damage prevention and preparedness is supported by scenario technique.

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The added value of system robustness analysis for flood risk management illustrated by a case on the IJssel River

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science ◽

10.5194/nhess-15-213-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 213-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M. J. P. Mens ◽

F. Klijn

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Robustness Analysis ◽

Decision Criterion ◽

Flood Damage ◽

Flood Risk Management ◽

Added Value ◽

Common Basis ◽

System Robustness ◽

System Configurations

Abstract. Decision makers in fluvial flood risk management increasingly acknowledge that they have to prepare for extreme events. Flood risk is the most common basis on which to compare flood risk-reducing strategies. To take uncertainties into account the criteria of robustness and flexibility are advocated as well. This paper discusses the added value of robustness as an additional decision criterion compared to single-value flood risk only. We do so by quantifying flood risk and system robustness for alternative system configurations of the IJssel River valley in the Netherlands. We found that robustness analysis has added value in three respects: (1) it does not require assumptions on current and future flood probabilities, since flood consequences are shown as a function of discharge; (2) it shows the sensitivity of the system to varying discharges; and (3) it supports a discussion on the acceptability of flood damage. We conclude that robustness analysis is a valuable addition to flood risk analysis in support of long-term decision-making on flood risk management.

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The evolution of climate change guidance for fluvial flood risk management in England

Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment ◽

10.1177/0309133317702566 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 222-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Nicholas S Reynard ◽

Alison L Kay ◽

Molly Anderson ◽

Bill Donovan ◽

Caroline Duckworth

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Risk Management ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Flood Management ◽

Flood Risk Management ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Uk ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

Floods are one of the biggest natural hazards to society, and there is increasing concern about the potential impacts of climate change on flood occurrence and magnitude. Furthermore, flood risk is likely to increase in the future not just through increased flood occurrence, but also through socio-economic changes, such as increasing population. The extent to which adaptation measures can offset this increased risk will depend on the level of future climate change, but there exists an urgent need for information on the potential impacts of climate change on floods, so that these can be accounted for by flood management authorities and local planners aiming to reduce flood risk. Agencies across the UK have been pro-active in providing such guidance for many years and in refining it as the science of climate change and hydrological impacts has developed. The history of this guidance for fluvial flood risk in England is presented and discussed here, including the recent adoption of a regional risk-based approach. Such an approach could be developed and applied to flood risk management in other countries, and to other sectors affected by climate change.

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The added value of system robustness analysis for flood risk management

Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/nhessd-2-2913-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 2913-2945 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. J. P. Mens ◽

F. Klijn

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Robustness Analysis ◽

Decision Criterion ◽

Flood Damage ◽

Flood Risk Management ◽

Added Value ◽

Common Basis ◽

System Robustness ◽

System Configurations

Abstract. Decision makers in fluvial flood risk management increasingly acknowledge that they have to prepare for extreme events. Flood risk is the most common basis on which to compare flood risk-reducing strategies. To take uncertainties into account the criteria of robustness and flexibility are advocated as well. This paper discusses the added value of robustness as additional decision criterion compared to single-value flood risk only. We do so by quantifying flood risk and system robustness for alternative system configurations of the Ijssel River valley in the Netherlands. We found that robustness analysis has added value in three respects: (1) it does not require assumptions on current and future flood probabilities, since flood consequences are shown as a function of discharge, (2) it shows the sensitivity of the system to varying discharges and (3) it supports a discussion on the acceptability of flood damage. We conclude that robustness analysis is a valuable addition to flood risk analysis in support of long-term decision-making on flood risk management.

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Comparative analysis and implications of sustainable Flood Risk Management in four front-end countries: The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, & Japan

10.5194/nhess-2021-268 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Faith Ka Shun Chan ◽

Liang Emlyn Yang ◽

Gordon Mitchell ◽

Nigel Wright ◽

Mingfu Guan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Risk Management ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Management Practices ◽

Social Economic ◽

Flood Management ◽

The United States ◽

Flood Risk Management

Abstract. Sustainable flood risk management (SFRM) has become popular since the 1980s. Many governmental and non-governmental organisations have been keen on implementing the SFRM strategies by integrating social, ecological and economic themes into their flood risk management (FRM) practices. However, justifications for SFRM are still embryonic and it is not yet clear whether this concept is influencing the current policies in different countries. This paper reviews the past and present flood management approaches and experiences from flood defence to FRM in four developed countries with the aim of highlighting lessons for developing mega deltas. The paper explored recent strategies such as “Making Space for Water, PPS 25, and NPPF” in the UK; “Room for Rivers” in the Netherlands which was promoted to cope with flooding, integrate FRM with ideas on sustainability, and deliver good FRM practice for next generations. The United States has also established a sound National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and Japan has developed an advanced flood warning and evacuation contingency system to prepare for climatic extremes. These case studies showed some good lessons to achieve long term SFRM direction to deliver flood management practices with social-economic and environmental concerns. Most of developing coastal megacities especially in Asia are still heavily reliant on traditional hard-engineering approach, that may not be enough to mitigate substantial risks due to human (exist huge populations, rapid socio-economic growth, subsidence) and natural (climate change) factors. We understand different countries and cities have their own interpretation on SFRM, but recommend policy makers to adopt “mixed options” towards thinking about long term and sustainability that with social, economic and environmental considerations.

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Social Influences on Flood Preparedness and Mitigation Measures Adopted by People Living with Flood Risk

Water ◽

10.3390/w13212972 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (21) ◽

pp. 2972

Author(s):

Donald Houston ◽

Tom Ball ◽

Alan Werritty ◽

Andrew R. Black

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Social Inequalities ◽

Flood Risk Management ◽

Management Policy ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Social Differences ◽

Flood Impacts ◽

Spatial Inequalities ◽

Flood Preparedness

This paper aims to analyse evidence, based on one of the largest and most representative samples of households previously flooded or living with flood risk to date, of social patterns in a range of flood resilience traits relating to preparedness prior to a flood (e.g., property adaptations, contents insurance, etc.) and mitigations enacted during and immediately following a flood (e.g., receiving a warning, evacuation into temporary accommodation, etc.). The data were collected from a 2006 survey of 1223 households from a variety of locations across Scotland between one and twelve years after major local floods. Our analysis identifies remarkably few social differences in flood preparedness and mitigation measures, although some aspects of demography, housing and length of residence in an area, as well as personal flood history, are important. In light of this finding, we argue that social differences in vulnerability and resilience to flooding arise from deep-seated socio-economic and socio-spatial inequalities that affect exposure to flood risk and ability to recover from flood impacts. The engrained, but well-meaning, assumption in flood risk management that impoverished households and communities are lacking or deficient in flood preparedness or mitigation knowledge and capabilities is somewhat pejorative and misses fundamental, yet sometimes invisible, social stratifications play out in subtle but powerful ways to affect households’ and communities’ ability to avoid and recover from floods. We argue that general poverty and inequality alleviation measures, such as tax and welfare policy and urban and community regeneration schemes, are likely to be as, if not more, important in alleviating social inequalities in the long-term impacts of floods than social targeting of flood risk management policy.

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