Flood Risk Assessment

Philosophy

Flood risk assessment is becoming more widely used around the world as a decision-making tool for local, regional and federal governments. Risk assessment allows decision makers to look at the consequences of flooding to their community rather than just knowing where the hazard zones are.

Flood risk assessment takes flood management to the next level. It requires information developed from a flood hazard assessment, such as the expected depth and direction of flow under flood conditions, as well as information about the assets and people that are vulnerable to flooding. By combining these two data sets, potential losses (economic, social, and environmental) due to flooding can be identified.

Knowing where your community’s vulnerabilities lie during a flood is imperative for good flood planning, flood damage mitigation and for emergency management. Flood risk assessment is an invaluable tool to understand the consequences of flooding and for educating the public, elected officials and other professionals on the need to make thoughtful flood management investments now rather than reacting when the floodwaters hit.