Flood Risk and Vulnerability Analysis Project - Atlantic Climate ...

Assessing the Need for New or Updated Flood Risk Mapping
The objective of this project task was the identification of communities vulnerable to flooding
that should be considered for new or updated flood risk mapping studies. This assessment was
founded on the updated Flood Events Inventory, the re-assessment of Flood Risk Maps, a
detailed review of the technical components comprising the existing flood plain maps and
linkage of a variety of datasets relevant to flood risk assessment in the Province. A decision
matrix was developed outlining community ranking based on the prioritization parameters.
Assessing Need for Flood Forecasting / Flood Warning System
The objective of this task was to identify communities vulnerable to flooding that should be
considered for flood forecasting and/or flood warning systems. The task was completed through
a review of historical flood observations (i.e., the Flood Events Inventory) and existing flood
hazard and risk maps, combined with ancillary data on precipitation, topography, lifelines
(roads, bridges, etc.), and with census information on population densities, types, and fluxes.
The methodology used for this study generally consisted of identifying vulnerable communities
and subsequently assessing their susceptibility to direct and indirect effects of flooding. First,
potentially vulnerable communities were identified by reviewing the event frequency and
damage estimates contained in the updated Flood Events Inventory. After communities were
identified, the physical hazard for each community was assessed. The next step was to
determine each community‟s vulnerability to the direct effects of flooding (e.g., inundation).
Third, potential indirect effects, such as isolation, were assessed for each of the identified
communities. Finally, the results of each of the above steps are summarised in a decision
matrix, highlighting those communities that should be considered for flood forecasting and/or
flood warning systems.
Identifying Flood Vulnerability Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
An integrated strategy is required that will stipulate the WRMD‟s goals, objectives and actions to
reduce the vulnerability of the Province to effects of floods; but which recognize the size of
individual communities, their flood vulnerabilities, and the potential for loss of both life and
property. These Integrated Flood Management (IFM) plans depend critically on the hydrological
and hydraulic characteristics of the subject river system and region. A decision matrix was
developed integrating the three linked factors that determined which strategy or combination of
strategies is likely to be appropriate in a particular river basin, namely: the climate, the basin
characteristics and the socio-economic conditions in the region. Mitigation strategies, organized
into Structural and Non-Structural categories, were presented for eleven Sub-regions of
Newfoundland. These strategies represent a first set of options for communities to consider
towards reduction of flood risk, minimization of flood damages and threats to public safety, and
to expedite the post-flood recovery process.
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