Coastal flood Hazard level: Low ?

In the area you have selected (Cavite) coastal flood hazard is classified as low according to the information that is currently available. This means that there is more than a 10% chance of potentially-damaging coastal flood waves occurring in the next 10 years. Based on this information, the impact of coastal flood may be considered in different phases of the project for any activities located near the coast. Project planning decisions, project design, and construction methods should take into account the level of coastal flood hazard. Further detailed information should be obtained to adequately account for the level of hazard.

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
  ×

  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 in a changing climate, storm induced coastal flooding may be experienced in regions where they have been historically rare.

  • During design and construction, carefully account for national and local building codes for flooding hazards. Start by consulting with widely accepted building code organizations such as the ICC (International Code Council) to access commercial and residential code (ICC/IRC) standards pertaining to your project. Next, determine if your region has adopted international codes or has modified them locally. Consult your jurisdictional planning division for the most up-to-date information on building codes. Be mindful of recent code changes as they are often developed in response to recent adverse natural events that have caused damage and loss to similar projects. Contact other organizations that may have supplemental information on flood risk (e.g., meteorological agency, national research council, engineering associations, etc.).

  • The most common damage from coastal flooding is to the foundation and lower stories of a property, so carefully consider the construction of foundation and lower stories in the design phase and select high quality materials in the construction phase of your project.

  • Note that strong coastal surges are not the only cause of direct physical damage from tropical cyclones and other weather events, and the hazards from these storms are not restricted to the coast. Extensive damage can also be induced by heavy rainfall and subsequent inland flooding and, in coastal areas. Also note there are ancillary risks from coastal flooding including beach erosion and damage to critical infrastructure that your project may be exposed to both during and after construction.

  Mitigation - While the coastal flood hazard level for your project location is 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.

  • Consider coastal flood risks along with other related hazards (e.g., extreme precipitation, wind from tropical cyclones, landslides) in the overall mitigation strategy for your project.

  Close
• 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
  ×

  • During the design and construction phases, reserve time to review the emergency response procedures laid out by the local and national governments in your project area. These procedures will take into account the hazards inherent to your region, including coastal flood hazards.

  • After construction is complete, remain mindful of 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 new or additional insurance coverage.

  • Don’t store emergency equipment in the basement or lower stories of the building. Flooding may inundate the lower levels and render generators and other critical assets inoperable.

  Close
• 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
  ×

  • To learn more about the risks, consider hiring qualified meteorological and engineering experts with the goals of:
  • Understanding the frequency and intensity of coastal flooding and other natural risks to the project
  • Determining how local site conditions may increase or decrease such risks to the project
  • Learning about recent and/or nearby events that can provide real-life context to the risks and impacts
  • Supervising design, construction and maintenance from a flooding perspective
  • Understanding and adapting proper mitigation strategies based on the current state-of-science
  • Conducting cost/benefit studies to evaluate and prioritize mitigation, insurance, and resilience

  • Interviewing local staff and residents having local experience with any aspect of risks to your project

  • During the design and construction plan review phases, structural engineers can review the latest available literature and data to ensure that your project is not highly exposed to the impacts of coastal flooding.

  • After construction is complete, meteorological experts can evaluate all the latest scientific literature that has been published since construction began to ensure the flood risk remains LOW and is not significantly higher than previously suspected. In the event such risks have increased, the expense of hiring such an expert is financially justified by drawing attention to potential future losses and accounting for those risks before an event produces damage. Consult with nearby construction managers to determine if an expert has assisted in their project.

  Close
• INSURANCE: For coastal flooding risks that cannot be mitigated, consider insurance products specifically aimed at alleviating the financial costs associated with flooding. More information
  ×

  • During the design and construction phases, carefully consider purchasing a ‘builders risk’ insurance policy for your project. In particular, ensure that the policy covers aggregate weather hazards including those related to flooding (such as wind and extreme rainfall).

  • Consider teaming with other construction efforts in a shared policy or seek government subsidy in cases where economic development is being encouraged or where recent flooding events have caused damage and a rebuilding process is underway.

  • After construction is complete, carefully consider the purchase of a long-term hazard policy to protect your investment, especially if it covers other significant hazards to the project. Keep in mind multiple location policies can be an economical means of covering diverse risks across multiple locations.

  Close
• 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
  ×

  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.

  Close