1. Flood Vulnerability Models and Household Flood Damage Mitigation Measures: An Econometric Analysis of Survey Data.
- Author
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Endendijk, Thijs, Botzen, W. J. Wouter, de Moel, Hans, Aerts, Jeroen C. J. H., Slager, Kymo, and Kok, Matthijs
- Subjects
FLOOD warning systems ,FLOOD risk ,EMERGENCY management ,FLOOD damage ,FLOODS ,DAMAGE models ,DATA analysis ,HOUSEHOLDS - Abstract
Flood events are expected to increase in their frequency and severity, which results in higher flood risk without additional adaptation measures. The information gained from flood risk models is essential in effective disaster risk management. However, vulnerability estimations are often a large driver of uncertainty, and flood damage is rarely estimated due to a lack of empirical damage data from flood events. This study uses a unique data set with experienced damages and the implementation of flood damage mitigation (FDM) measures on the household level, collected after the flood event in the Netherlands in 2021. Flood damage models that control for several hazard, exposure, and vulnerability indicators are estimated and allow for additional input in flood risk models. Previous estimates of the effectiveness of FDM measures are prone to a selection bias, as households that do, and do not implement FDM measures systematically differ in their risk profiles. By using an instrumental variable‐estimation, this study overcomes this selection bias and finds significant reductions in flood damage due to FDM measures. These reductions can be incorporated in multivariate flood vulnerability estimations, which indicate that FDM measures significantly reduce flood damage. Providing information on flood hazard, as well as implementing early warning systems, is crucial for ensuring effective flood risk management. Plain Language Summary: Due to climate change, we can expect more frequent and severe floods in the future. This study investigates how households are affected by flooding and explores ways to reduce potential flood damage. By understanding the impact of floods on households and identifying effective measures, we can better manage flood risks and reduce damages caused by these events. We collected survey data after the 2021 Summer Floods in the Netherlands to understand the factors that contribute to flood damage. Timely warnings before flooding play a crucial role in preparing for such events. They allow households to take emergency actions like placing sandbags or moving belongings to higher floors. These actions can reduce flood damage to buildings by almost 30% of their total value and protect nearly 40% of the value of household contents. In addition to emergency measures, households can take proactive steps to prepare for future floods. This includes using waterproof materials and elevating electrical appliances, such as power sockets or kitchen appliances when constructing new homes or making renovations. Key Points: Detailed survey data allows for the update and calibration of rarely estimated empirical vulnerability curves for buildingsFlood damage mitigation (FDM) measures have the potential to reduce flood damage to both residential buildings and household contents by halfUpdated input for flood risk models in the form of multivariate damage functions that can be adjusted for FDM measures [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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