Past  Conferences

	A Conference on Architectural Surety
	Assuring the Performance of Buildings and Infrastructures
	PROCEEDINGS

Flood Damage, Risk, and Levees in a Changing Environment

John A. Kelmelis

U.S. Geological Survey

ABSTRACT

Natural hazards pose a significant and growing risk to society. Floods offer opportunities for risk reduction either by avoidance or preparedness. Accepting the risk and sharing the costs can reduce the impact of floods on individuals. In many instances our society has taken a structural approach to risk reduction. Experience with the 1993 flood in the upper Midwest and other floods has shown that balancing structural and nonstructural approaches to risk reduction is more effective than relying exclusively on one or the other. For instance, levees can provide structural protection but populations protected by them are subject to residual risks that can be great. This risk can be shared by using insurance. Levees can alter flood stage resulting in additional needs for protection and can focus flood energy resulting in significant damage in localized areas. An approach to improve levee effectiveness while meeting other societal requirements is presented. Changes in flood risk due to a variety of factors are discussed, and suggestions are made for research to help reduce risk on floodplains.

1997 Conference Home Page

1997 Conference Contents