Risk Analysis and Uncertainty in Flood Damage Reduction Studies (2000) / Chapter Skim
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Decision Making and Communication Issues
Decision Making and Communication Issues
Pages 29-39
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From page 29... ...
The Corps's risk analysis techniques and flood damage reduction studies will produce their greatest benefits if these techniques and studies are executed within a comprehensive planning paradigm and framework designed to make the best social, economic, and environmental uses of the nation's floodplain resources. Even the best analytical techniques will fall short of their potential contributions if flood damage reduction project goals are not consistent with public values, which can often be better determined through public participation and communication.
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From page 30... ...
The goal of maximizing social benefit in floodplain management leads to a strategy that recognizes the availability of land not in danger of flooding, the probabilities and magnitudes of potential floods, the availability of insurance, and the costs of flood damage reduction structures to reduce damages should a flood occur. As geographer Gilbert White stated: "It is striking that in a century of evolving public policy the prevailing aim has been to minimize losses from floods and not to optimize the net social benefits from using floodplain resources ....
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From page 31... ...
communities have enacted programs for the purchase of floodplain properties that have sustained repetitive flood damages. These buyout programs aim to move susceptible property and its inhabitents out of high-hazard areas, while zoning these areas for land uses such as golf courses and hiking trails (which also serve as stormwater retention basins)
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From page 32... ...
Many aspects of flood damage reduction projects transcend strict National Economic Development concerns. Making decisions within this multiobjective framework is challenging.
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From page 33... ...
Environmental, health, safety, and other social considerations of flood damage reduction projects should be quantified to the extent possible and included in floodplain management decisions. COMPARING PROJECT ALTERNATIVES The specific purposes of using risk analysis for flood damage reduction studies are to define project objectives, create desirable alternatives, evaluate those alternatives, guide analytical efforts, and facilitate communication.
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From page 34... ...
The values that society places on its rivers, floodplains, wetlands, and water resources should be central to comprehensive flood damage reduction studies. The foundation for specifying public values is a logical set of specific concerns.
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From page 35... ...
Department of Intenor's Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center noted the value of trade-off analysis in water resources management decisions: "It should be recognized that adaptive management for the Grand Canyon ecosystem will require trade-offs among management objectives favored by different stakeholder groups. The committee recommends that the Adaptive Management Work Group begin to consider mechanisms for equitable weighting of competing interests ....
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From page 36... ...
This warning system has developed to the point where even a major hurricane may cause few deaths and where property damages are significantly reduced. When a large flow threatens the integrity of a flood damage reduction system, a variety of trade-offs must be faced.
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From page 37... ...
RISK COMMUNICATION Identifying sound, credible, and effective risk reduction priorities and solutions depends greatly on a well-informed public. The public should be knowledgeable about risk issues and should be given opportunities to express opinions and become involved in risk assessment and risk management activities.
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From page 38... ...
It is worth noting that public involvement including large numbers of stakeholder groups requires a significant commitment of time and effort from members of the public, as well as staff members from the agencies involved in flood damage reduction. With larger and more expensive projects, years of commitment may be required to help facilitate communications.
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From page 39... ...
It is thus a challenge to have individuals understand! the full details of a flood damage reduction planning study.
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