Framing the Challenge of Urban Flooding in the United States (2019) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
4 A Way Forward on Urban Flooding
4 A Way Forward on Urban Flooding
Pages 51-62
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 51... ...
Important partners include local government agencies, which know their storm water systems and local land characteristics, and organizations developing state-of-the- art hydrologic or hydraulic models to evaluate urban flood hazard. Examples include academic models (e.g.,Ogden et al., 2011; Smith et al., 2015; Ward et al., 2017)
|
From page 52... ...
SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF URBAN FLOODING Participants in the case study workshops and interviews noted that adverse impacts of urban flooding tend to fall disproportionately on socially vulnerable populations (Chapter 2)
|
From page 53... ...
Many of these groups, including the poor, disabled, homeless, and renters, often have limited access to post-flood housing. Finally, the elderly, children, chronically ill, pregnant women, and the uninsured all have heightened risk to waterborne diseases.
|
From page 54... ...
TABLE 4.1 Profile of Populations Socially Vulnerable to Floods Factor Most Vulnerable Vulnerability to Flood Citation(s) Potential Indicators Age Children, elderly Higher mortality Laska and Morrow, 2006; % Children Higher morbidity Jonkman et al., 2009; Collins % Elderly Higher mental trauma during and post- et al., 2013; Muñoz and Tate, flood 2016 Lower recovery rates Race, ethnicity Nonwhite, recent Higher death and injury rates Zahran et al., 2008; Adeola % Black immigrants, Negative post-flood health outcomes and Picou, 2012; Collins et % Hispanic undocumented al., 2013; Maldonado et al., Less flood insurance 54 immigrants, non-native 2016; Muñoz and Tate, 2016; % Asian Lower trust in authority for post-flood English speakers assistance Hamel et al., 2017; Li et al., % Native American 2010 % Nonwhite % English proficient Income Poor Limited mitigation and recovery Green et al., 2007; Masozera Per capita income resources et al., 2007 Limited post-flood housing % Poverty Higher post-flood health impacts Disproportionately reside in flood-prone areas
|
From page 55... ...
Differential rates of flood exposure, evacuation, and return Lower recovery rates Functional needs Disabled, homeless Increased flood mortality Hemingway and Priestly, % Disabled Accessibility barriers to shelter, post- 2014; Stough et al., 2016 % Social security flood housing, transportation, and employment recipients Health Chronically ill, Increased flood mortality Wade et al., 2004; Zahran et % Uninsured uninsured Heightened risk of waterborne diseases al., 2008; Lowe et al., 2013 Gender Female, female-headed Higher incidence of disaster-induced Enarson and Fordham, 2000; % Female 55 households physical health problems Adeola and Picou, 2012 % Female-headed Additional family care responsibilities household Domestic violence Housing tenure Renters Limited flood mitigation funding Laska and Morrow, 2006; % Renters Less access to post-disaster housing Finch et al., 2010; Kamel, Rental burden programs 2012 Lower post-flood return rate
|
From page 56... ...
Transportation Household lacking Evacuation barriers Colten, 2006; Bullard et al., % Households without vehicle access 2008; Van Zandt et al., 2012 car ownership Education Low educational Lower flood awareness Fekete, 2009; Van Zandt et al., % High school degree attainment understanding of flood 2012; Rufat et al., 2015 mitigation Lower rates of flood insurance coverage and settlements 56
|
From page 57... ...
Maps such as these can be used in concert with maps of flood-prone areas to identify places where high flood risk and high social vulnerability coincide. These are locations where investments in flood risk reduction and capacity building may bear the most fruit. FIGURE 4.2 Map of social vulnerability to urban floods in the Houston–Galveston region.
|
From page 58... ...
The two previous sections highlight the need for information to assess urban flood hazard and social impacts and to support flood risk assessments. Another key information dimension is communicating urban flood hazard and flood risk.
|
From page 59... ...
A useful extension for these sorts of maps would be interactive what-if scenarios and actions for reducing urban flood risk by, for example, improving local drainage, flood proofing, and preparing for flood emergencies. 2 See www.buyers-bewhere.com.
|
From page 60... ...
. Urban flood risk maps also need to portray other information, such as land cover, the distribution of populations, including socially vulnerable populations (e.g., Figure 4.2)
|
From page 61... ...
For example, several agencies are involved with floods in urban areas, and these agencies may include those responsible for storm water and sewer systems or for deploying tide gauges to monitor tidal flooding and sea level rise. These differences complicate federal, state, and local government agency coordination for urban flooding.
|
From page 62... ...
Key needs identified in the case study workshops and interviews include developing a methodology for analyzing urban flood hazard and investing in research to understand social impacts and effective interventions. Both of these efforts would produce data needed to support urban flood risk assessments.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.