Coastal flood Hazard level: Very low ?

In the area you have selected (Maldives) coastal flood hazard is classified as very low according to the information that is currently available. This means that there is less than a 10% chance of potentially-damaging waves occurring in the next 10 years. Based on this information, the impact of coastal flood need not be considered in different phases of the project, in particular during design and construction. Further detailed information should be obtained to adequately account for the level of hazard. Although the hazard is considered to be very low or non-existent in the project location based on the information available in ThinkHazard!, additional information may show some level of hazard. If local or additional information sources suggest that there is coastal flood hazard, follow the recommendations below and seek expert guidance on additional recommended actions.

Climate change impact: According to the IPCC (2013), there is high confidence that extremes in sea level will increase with mean sea level rise yet there is low confidence in region-specific projections in storm surges. Projects in low-lying coastal areas such as deltas, or in island states should be designed to be robust to projected increases in global sea level.

Recommendations

• INTERACTING HAZARDS: Project planning, design, and construction practices should account for coastal flood and storm surge from cyclones and other weather events occurring in your project area. More information
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  Context - Throughout the project from design to construction, you should understand the level of coastal flooding hazard in your project area. Keep in mind that with a changing climate and rising sea levels, storm induced coastal flooding may be experienced in regions where they have been historically rare or non-existent.

  Mitigation - While the coastal flood hazard level for your project location is VERY LOW, well-constructed buildings will reduce the risk of related hazards that may be present in your project area. For example, properly formed and sealed foundations and building connections on lower stories that do well in flooding situations will also withstand strong ‘wind loads’ from cyclones and other windstorms. Consider the risks of flooding along with other related hazards in the overall mitigation strategy for your project.

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• EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS: Identify the regional and national government’s emergency response policy and protocols to coastal flooding in your project area and incorporate as necessary. More information
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  • During the design and construction phases, consider a review of the emergency response procedures laid out by the government in your project area. These procedures will take into account the hazards inherent to your region, including coastal flood hazards, and should confirm that the risks are VERY LOW.

  • After construction is complete, be mindful of local emergency response procedures and if they change with regard to the hazards from coastal flooding, and consider increasing your resilience via improved building mitigation and/or insurance products.

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• TECHNICAL EXPERTISE: Consult with an expert familiar with coastal flooding risk that has experience with natural hazards and/or construction practices in your local area. Such consulting professionals include structural engineers, civil engineers, and atmospheric scientists. Incorporate local and subject-matter expertise in the design, construction, and maintenance phases of your project. More information
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  • During the design and construction plan review phases, structural engineers can review the latest available literature and data to ensure that your project is indeed not subject to significant risk from coastal floods.

  • After construction is complete, experts can check for literature that has been published since construction began to ensure the flood risk remains VERY LOW and is not an emerging risk for the project. Be especially wary of project locations that lie at low elevation even if not along the immediate coast, as climate change may induce a significantly higher risk as sea levels risk and coastlines contract.

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• INSURANCE: For coastal flooding risks that cannot be mitigated, consider insurance products specifically aimed at alleviating the financial costs associated with flooding. More information
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  • During the design and construction phases, consider a ‘builders risk’ insurance policy for your project, in particular if the policy can cover aggregate weather hazards including those directly related to flood events and related natural risks to your project.

  • After construction is complete, consider a long-term hazard policy to protect your investment, especially if it covers other more significant natural hazards in your project area.

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• CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: If the project involves the development of critical infrastructure (e.g., a hospital, fire station, or power transmission line), or will support critical infrastructure, you should consider how your project can be affected by coastal flooding that occurs outside of the specific project location. More information
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  CONTEXT:

  • For projects that relate directly to critical infrastructure (such as a hospital project, utility expansion, or communications facility), there is a greater need for the assets to function post-event either to maintain essential services or to provide emergency response and recovery efforts.

  • Most projects (even unrelated to infrastructure) rely upon public services such as electricity, water, communications, etc. and provide services or products that are important to the local, regional or national economy and commerce. Thus, even when the project itself is not damaged by the impacts of coastal flooding, it may not remain functional due to disruptions in critical infrastructure. The chain of supply of these critical services should be considered and contingency plans developed for each service (e.g. water, electricity, transportation networks). In particular, if the project is for infrastructure development (e.g., a new electrical sub-station), its connection to the wider service network should be planned for carefully.

  • Damage and disruption to the local transportation network may not disrupt the functioning of a facility, but it can prohibit personnel from reaching critical infrastructure or an emergency facility.

  MITIGATION:

  • Consider all dependencies on your project that are vulnerable to coastal flooding. Consider redundant (backup) systems whenever possible, in conjunction with your key service providers. For example, in the event of a power outage, does the budget support housing backup generators and, if not, what would be the most likely electrical service available? If power were lost for 1 day, 1 week, etc. what would be the financial impact? Are there insurance products that can protect the project from such an interruption (see insurance section)?

  • Be wary of the location of emergency response equipment, in particular electrical generators. Conduct cost/benefit analysis to determine if on-site backup power generation is an option within the budget. Generators stored in the first story or basement will likely be inaccessible. Even if the equipment is accessible, it may be damaged or completed inoperable at a time when it is most needed. Expect a prolonged period of power loss and carefully consider your ability to generate power within your overall Emergency Response Plan.

  • Conduct cost/benefit analysis to determine if on-site backup power generation is an option within the budget. Independent wireless communication (e.g., VHF) radio may be a cost-efficient option for communications redundancy and prove vital in a time of crisis. Expect loss of communications in a major coastal flood event.

  • If roads and transportation access are important to the project, either for on-site staff or for post-event operations (e.g., ambulance service) consider alternative routing, or if the risks are high, an alternative site for the project.

  • Play out disaster scenarios (scenario planning) on your project to stress such conditions and to plan how to respond.

  • Flooding will reduce or completely eliminate your main access routes in and out of the project site. If roads and transportation access are important to the project, either for on-site staff or for post-event operations (e.g., ambulance service) consider alternative routing, or if the risks are high an alternative site for the project.

  • Dependencies to infrastructure are often difficult to manage. If the dependencies are high and the cost of mitigation and redundancy are over budget, consider an alternative site for the project.

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