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Hazus-MH Flood Model

• New Features in Hazus-MH 2.0 Flood Model
• Hazus-MH Flood Model Applications

The Hazus-MH Flood Model allows planners and other practitioners to carry out a wide range of flood hazard analyses, including:

• Studies of specific return intervals of floods (e.g., 100-year return interval).
• Studies of discharge frequencies, including analysis of discharges from specific streams and the exposure to buildings and population from the resultant flooding.
• Studies of annualized losses from flooding.
• Quick Look assessments, which allows the user to quickly evaluate potential flooding from specific flood depths at specific locations.
• What if scenarios, which allow users to evaluate the consequences of specific actions, such as the introduction of flow regulation devices, acquisition of flood-prone properties, and other mitigation measures.

The flood loss estimation methodology consists of two modules that carry out basic analytical processes: flood hazard analysis and flood loss estimation analysis. The flood hazard analysis module uses characteristics, such as frequency, discharge, and ground elevation to estimate flood depth, flood elevation, and flow velocity. The flood loss estimation module calculates physical damage and economic loss from the results of the hazard analysis.

New Features in Hazus-MH 2.0 Flood Model

• A new coastal storm surge modeling capability integrating two industry standard models (SLOSH and SWAN), which now allows Hazus to predict the physical and economic impacts of hurricane scenarios on coastal flood regions. In addition to estimating the separate impacts of coastal flooding and high winds, the coastal surge scenario methodology also estimates the combined economic losses to the general building stock in a manner that avoids double counting of flood and wind losses.
• Riverine Velocity has been added to the Flood module as a What-if in both Hazard and Analysis.
• Flood Shelter analysis has been optimized to run faster for large regions.
• The 200-year Return Period has been removed and a 25-year Return Period has been added to the Suite of Return Periods in the Flood module.
• The Flood module has implemented the modified WAFIS, adding the significant wave height transect analysis in the following areas:
  • Level 1 Coastal Flood Hazard;
  • Coastal Surge Model Nearshore analysis;
  • Coastal Surge Model Deepshore analysis; and
  • Coastal Surge Model no SWAN grid.
• An HPR extract utility has been added that allows users to extract specific tables and data from exported Hazus study regions.

Special Note

• The Flood Average Annual Loss Analysis option is deactivated pending forthcoming methodology adjustments.

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Hazus-MH Flood Model Applications

The Flood Model has been widely used by State and local officials for risk assessment and mitigation planning, including:

• Savannah, Georgia Flood Loss Estimates and CRS Flood Mitigation Planning (2009)
• Using Hazus to Speed Disaster Recovery From 2008 Iowa Floods (2009)
• Hazus-MH Riverine Flood Model Validation Study: Utah (2007)
• Pennsylvania Statewide Flood Hazard Study (2007), which includes damage estimates for 10-, 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-year flood events.
• State of Maryland Flood Hazard Study (2006), which includes a vulnerability assessment of the state's built environment to riverine and coastal flooding.
• Use of Hazus-MH in the Risk Assessment of 29 Counties in Indiana (2006)

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Last Modified: Tuesday, 31-May-2011 14:30:40 EDT