HAZUS-MH Flood Loss Estimation Methodology. I: Overview and Flood Hazard Characterization

Abstract

Part I of this two-part paper provides an overview of the HAZUS-MH Flood Model and a discussion of its capabilities for characterizing riverine and coastal flooding hazard. Included is a discussion of the Flood Information Tool, which permits rapid analysis of a wide variety of stream discharge data and topographic mapping to determine flood-frequencies over entire floodplains. Part II reports on the damage and loss estimation capability of the Flood Model, which includes a library of more than 900 damage curves for use in estimating damage to various types of buildings and infrastructure. Based on estimated property damage, the model estimates shelter needs and direct and indirect economic losses arising from floods. Analyses for the benefits of flood warning, levees, structural elevation, and flood mapping restudies are examples of analyses that can be performed with the Flood Model.