New insights into the benefits of flood warnings: Results from a household survey in England and Wales

The flood defence agency in England and Wales has been pursuing a programme of flood warning system enhancement, engaging householders at risk in improving their warning responses. The immediate aim of this paper is to test and revise a model of economic benefits of warnings, but the survey data also generate insights into the constraints acting upon flood warning responses. Damage saving is less than previously anticipated: warning reliability and householder availability problems limit savings. Warnings are less likely to be received by those in lower social grades, and flood warning lead time is a factor in avoiding damage. The survey data indicate the complexities involved in improving flood warning response, and provide policy pointers.     

Ensemble predictions and perceptions of risk,uncertainty, and error in flood forecasting

Under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization, there are a number of international initiatives to promote the development and use of so-called ensemble prediction systems (EPS) for flood forecasting. The campaign to apply these meteorological techniques to flood forecasting raises important questions about how the probabilistic information these systems provide can be used for what in operational terms is typically a binary decision of whether or not to issue a flood warning. To explore these issues, we report on the results of a series of focus group discussions conducted with operational flood forecasters from across Europe on behalf of the European Flood Alert System. Working in small groups to simulate operational conditions, forecasters engaged in a series of carefully designed forecasting exercises using various different combinations of actual data from real events. Focus group data was supplemented by a follow-up questionnaire survey exploring how flood forecasters understand risk, uncertainty, and error. Results suggest that flood forecasters may not instinctively use ensemble predictions in the way that promoters of EPS perhaps think they should. The paper concludes by exploring the implications of these divergent ‘epistemic cultures’ for efforts to apply ensemble prediction techniques developed in the context of weather forecasting to the rather different one of flood forecasting.     

Ensemble predictions and perceptions of risk, uncertainty, and error in flood forecasting

Under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization, there are a number of international initiatives to promote the development and use of so-called ensemble prediction systems (EPS) for flood forecasting. The campaign to apply these meteorological techniques to flood forecasting raises important questions about how the probabilistic information these systems provide can be used for what in operational terms is typically a binary decision of whether or not to issue a flood warning. To explore these issues, we report on the results of a series of focus group discussions conducted with operational flood forecasters from across Europe on behalf of the European Flood Alert System. Working in small groups to simulate operational conditions, forecasters engaged in a series of carefully designed forecasting exercises using various different combinations of actual data from real events. Focus group data was supplemented by a follow-up questionnaire survey exploring how flood forecasters understand risk, uncertainty, and error. Results suggest that flood forecasters may not instinctively use ensemble predictions in the way that promoters of EPS perhaps think they should. The paper concludes by exploring the implications of these divergent ‘epistemic cultures’ for efforts to apply ensemble prediction techniques developed in the context of weather forecasting to the rather different one of flood forecasting.     

Improving flood warnings in Europe: a research and policy agenda

Abstract

Warnings and emergency planning for flooding are based on the reality that no matter how thorough our investigations and flood prevention efforts through engineered structural works or land use management, some risk will always remain. This paper examines recent experience with flood warnings in the UK and continental Europe. It combines this experience with an overview of the relevant literature to identify lessons for incorporation into policy, and problem areas which would most obviously benefit from additional research. Throughout, the emphasis is on the non-engineering aspects of warning systems. Results indicate that much is being achieved in terms of the detail of warning design, but the broader issues seem to be largely ignored by both the research literature and practice. First among these broader issues is the failure, by those charged with warning system development and operation, to conceptualise the warning task as one based explicitly on the needs of those at risk. Making this happen will require the development of processes to build the necessary culture of cooperation and learning among the many organisations involved.     

The performance of the sydney flood warning system, august 1986

During August 1986 Sydney experienced its worst flooding for decades. Some 2,500 properties were flooded and transport was severely disrupted in much of the metropolitan area. The flood provided an opportunity to examine the operation of a warning system in a major Australian city. Pre-existing research into flood warnings was expanded to take advantage of the opportunity.
The warning system is examined in terms of: its impact on flood losses; consumer satisfaction; and inefficiences or breakdowns within the system. Much of the flooded area was not covered by a formal warning system. For the area that was covered, performance could be improved. Problems were experienced with the data collection and transmission network. Warning dissemination was inadequate, and the majority of those surveyed claimed that they did not receive warnings. The actions of householders reduced the flood damage substantially, but this does not appear to be the result of official warnings. Key recommendations concern improving the reliability of the flood detection network and information management.     

Have flood mortality qualitative characteristics changed during the last decades? The case study of Greece

Despite the dramatic increase in recorded flood events in Greece in the last decades, recent findings show that related mortality does not show a corresponding rise. This work develops and studies a database of flood-related fatalities to investigate qualitative changes in flood mortality in the country between 1960 and 2010. Observations show a shift in the circumstances under which fatal incidents occurred and in the demographics of the victims. In particular, indoor fatalities and cases in urban environments gradually decrease in favour of incidents occurring outdoors, in rural settings, mostly using motor vehicles. The number of fatalities per flood event show a decline, indicating that multiple-fatality incidents are gradually disappearing and that advances in protection have an impact on mortality. The increase in the use of vehicles, the improvements in the structural integrity of buildings and the advances in early warning and civil protection practices are found to influence mortality both in qualitative and in quantitative terms.     

Use of computer models of flood inundation to facilitate communication in flood risk management

It is now widely recognised that good communication between multi-disciplinary stakeholders is central to effective flood risk management. Recent developments in Geographical Information Systems, increased availability of accurate digital terrain models from remotely sensed data sources and improved graphical computer interfaces have made the outputs from computer models of flood inundation easily accessible to the stakeholder community. As a consequence, predictions from such models are now being used routinely as a means of communication between engineers and other stakeholders in flood risk management. This paper provides a review of the modelling methods most appropriate for flood risk communication. These are one-dimensional models which are suitable for simulating flood risk at a catchment or sub-catchment scale and appropriate for communicating the impact of strategic flood management decisions and two-dimensional models which can be applied across a range of scales but, are now being regularly applied at the relatively small scale, less than 10 km², where they have the potential to inform and communicate disaster management decisions. The role of such models in communicating between modellers and non-modellers by providing a means for immediate visualisation of “the future” is discussed and illustrated by application to two case studies.     

Use of computer models of flood inundation to facilitate communication in flood risk management

It is now widely recognised that good communication between multi-disciplinary stakeholders is central to effective flood risk management. Recent developments in Geographical Information Systems, increased availability of accurate digital terrain models from remotely sensed data sources and improved graphical computer interfaces have made the outputs from computer models of flood inundation easily accessible to the stakeholder community. As a consequence, predictions from such models are now being used routinely as a means of communication between engineers and other stakeholders in flood risk management. This paper provides a review of the modelling methods most appropriate for flood risk communication. These are one-dimensional models which are suitable for simulating flood risk at a catchment or sub-catchment scale and appropriate for communicating the impact of strategic flood management decisions and two-dimensional models which can be applied across a range of scales but, are now being regularly applied at the relatively small scale, less than 10 km², where they have the potential to inform and communicate disaster management decisions. The role of such models in communicating between modellers and non-modellers by providing a means for immediate visualisation of “the future” is discussed and illustrated by application to two case studies.     

历史时期荆江洪灾及其成因分析

2000a来,长江荆江河段的洪灾与治理一直是举国关心的问题。本文通过对历史时期荆江洪灾史料的分析,发现荆江洪灾多数发生在气候比较寒冷时期,特别是在寒冷时期中的温暖期内。荆江洪灾的发生主要与上游洪流水量过猛有关,其次是由本区雨季连续阴雨和暴雨所造成。成灾的基础是河间平原地区的相对沉降,造成泄洪不畅。治理荆江洪灾的主要途径可考虑分洪出流措施。     

洪水等级和灾情划分问题

洪水等级是描述一次洪水大小的指标，而洪水灾度是描述一次洪水造成损失大小的指标。这两个指标从理论和应用方面来说都具有许多优点，概念明确，简单易行。     

苏南地区洪涝危险区的划定及其治理对策

根据水文学和计算水力学的方法，计算出本区１９５４年雨型、现状地面条件下各断面日平均最高水位，同时再综合分析各圩区的堤高、排涝能力及灾害水文等资料，制定出危险圩区的标准。凡不及上述标准的圩区及圩外地区，均划为洪涝危险区，即在遇到大暴雨后，这些地区是可能出现洪涝灾害危险程度最大的地区。     

太湖流域1991年洪涝灾害的原因分析与治理对策建议

本文扼要叙述了太湖流域1991年的灾害概况,从气候、地形和水系特征等方面说明太湖流域存在发生洪涝灾害的自然条件,指出人为不恰当活动是加剧洪涝灾害的不可忽视的原因.最后对治理对策提出了六点建议.     

1949—1994年中国洪水灾害成灾面积的时序分形特征

作者应用１９４９～１９９４年中国洪水灾情资料,重构了其嵌入相空间序列,探讨了其时序的分形特征,计算得到了分维数。研究表明：洪水灾害成灾面积的时序分布具有分形特征。研究结果为建立洪水灾害成灾面积的时序预测预报模型提供依据。     

浅论洪水的完全影响

对洪水、洪水灾害及洪灾损失重新进行了定义，并简要论述了洪水对家庭、社会及自然环境的影响。     

1954、1998年长江两次特大洪灾形成原因及防治对策初探

１９９８ 年长江中下游地区发生的特大洪水具有洪水水位高、洪量大、历时长的特点, 这次洪水灾害造成的直接经济损失超过了２ ０００ 亿元。本文在长江上中游地区降水量总量及强度超常、长江上中下游洪水遭遇严重、分洪区没能发挥作用等洪灾形成主要原因进行分析的基础上, 提出了加大对影响长江流域灾变性气候的研究、调整江湖水系结构、加强区域间防洪的协调和协作等对策建议。     

湖南省水灾及减灾研究

本文根据湖南省历史的和现状的水灾资料,对该省水灾状况进行了全面分析,阐述了具体减灾思路,分别论述了该省山区与湖区水灾的减灾问题。     

“城市防洪标准选择”综述

城市防洪标准是指防洪主体应具备的防洪能力,一般用可防御洪水相应的重现期或出现频率表示。本文将介绍国内外城市防洪标准及我国城市洪灾概况和现有防洪标准。     

洪水灾害评估体系研究

从系统论的观点出发，提出了洪水灾害系统的概念，并结合洪水灾害评估的特点，设计了洪水灾害评估体系的总体框架。     

海河流域西三洼洪灾遥感监测背景信息系统的建立

为加强洪灾研究工作，做好灾前预评估、灾中跟踪评估、灾后详细评估工诈，应用地理信息系统（GIS）技术，建立起海河流域西三洼（东淀洼、文安茬、贾口控）洪灾遥感监测背景信息系统。     

洪水的等级划分及其减灾意义

根据地震,风力等级的数学结构,提出一种洪水等级划分公式;对用等级表示洪水大小的减灾意义作了初步分析。