US Army Corps of Engineers BUILDING STRONG ® Flood Risk Management Approaches As Being Practiced in Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States Ray Alexander Deputy Chief, Office of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. May 24, 2012
Dec 27, 2015
US Army Corps of Engineers
BUILDING STRONG®
Flood Risk Management ApproachesAs Being Practiced in Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States
Ray Alexander
Deputy Chief, Office of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C.
May 24, 2012
BUILDING STRONG®
4 Nations’ Agencies
Explore risk-informed flood risk management approaches
Continue ongoing collaboration Learn from others’ experiences
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Flood Risk Management Approaches
Flood Risk
Probability of flood hazard
Vulnerability of individuals, society, environment
Consequences
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Commonalities - Challenges
Adapting to new understanding of flood risks► Climate Change► Land-use decisions and flood risk management
Communicating with the general public► Residual risk► Promoting individual and societal responsibility
Aligning planning with action► Identifying and meeting most critical risks► Ensuring social, environmental, economic,
political acceptability
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Commonalities - Approaches
Examining implications of climate change on flood hazards, vulnerabilities, consequences
Emphasizing communications and outreach
Increasing attention to environmental impacts and opportunities in flood risk management
Focusing on various aspects of cycle of emergency management
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Differences – Protection
Netherlands: specifies (risk-based) legislated level of protection
Japan: sets long-term aspirational goals for levels of protection along major rivers
United Kingdom and United States: use risk analysis informs decision-makers about options available to them
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Differences – Insurance
United States and United Kingdom: support separate flood insurance programs (provisions of the programs differ)
Japan: includes floods in comprehensive household insurance (government does not offer flood insurance)
Netherlands: government does not offer flood insurance
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Netherlands’ VNK Project
Failure Mechanisms
Levee Failure Probabilities and Consequences
Prioritizing Levee Reinforcement measures (Levee System 36)Number of Fatalities (expected value)
Levee System 36
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National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy (England)
Goal: “To ensure that the risk of flooding and coastal erosion is properly managed by using the full range of options in a co-ordinated way.”
Community focus and partnership working
A catchment and coastal ‘cell’ based approach
Sustainability Proportionate, risk-based approach Multiple benefits Beneficiaries should be encouraged
to invest in risk management
Guiding Principles:
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Japan’s Suibo Activities Activities executed by suibo-dan (local flood-
fighting team)►Normal days: preparation of flood-fighting storage,
communication tools, flood drill (265,000 mobilized in 2004)
►During flood: warning, patrol, levee protection activities (900,000 in 2011)
2005 Suibo Act to enhance ability of local communities
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Conclusion and Next Step
Collaboration resulted in ►Sept. 2011 joint report►Greater awareness and understanding►Ability to leverage events and perspectives
Continuing to engage in mutually-beneficial international partnerships►International Levee Handbook►Interchange►“Lessons learned”