Systems and methods for quantifying flood risk
View Patent ↗In various embodiments, a flood risk score may be determined for a property point that provides a comprehensive assessment of the property point's risk of flooding. Determining the flood risk score may include determining a flood risk characteristic for the property point and assigning a flood risk score that corresponds to the flood risk characteristic. In some embodiments, flood risk characteristics may include a difference in elevation between the elevation of the property point and an elevation of a calculated point (e.g., on a known flood risk zone boundary). Flood risk characteristics may also include a flood zone determination for the property point and/or proximity of the property point to a known flood risk zone boundary or a flood source. In some embodiments, flood risk scores may be provided on flood risk score reports.
1. A computer implemented method of automatically calculating a flood risk score wherein said flood risk score represents a likelihood of a property point being flooded, comprising:
determining by a data processor of a computer system a flood risk zone associated with the property point;
determining by the data processor of the computer system hydrology information associated with the property point;
determining by the data processor of the computer system a ground elevation associated with the property point;
determining by the data processor of the computer system a flood elevation associated with the property point by analyzing the hydrology information;
determining by the data processor of the computer system a variance between the ground elevation and the flood elevation; and
automatically calculating by the data processor of the computer system a flood risk score based at least in part on the flood risk zone, the variance, and the hydrology information.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flood zone elevation corresponds to a base flood elevation or a water surface elevation associated with the property point.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the variance comprises a difference in elevation between the ground elevation of the property point and a water surface elevation of a calculated point on a flood plain boundary, wherein the calculated point is determined through a radius search for a substantially nearest point on the substantially nearest flood plain boundary.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the variance comprises a difference in elevation between the ground elevation of the property point and an elevation of a substantially nearest point in a substantially nearest known flood risk zone boundary.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein variance comprises a difference in elevation between the ground elevation of the property point and a water surface elevation of a calculated point on a flood plain boundary, wherein the calculated point is determined through a radius search for a substantially nearest point on the substantially nearest flood plain boundary.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the variance comprises proximity of the property point to a known flood risk zone boundary.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the known flood risk zone boundary is a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the variance further comprises proximity of the property point to flood sources.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the variance comprises proximity of property point to a water control facility comprising at least one of a dam, a levee, or a pumping station.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) is available for the property point indicating the property point is not within a flood risk zone boundary; and if an applicable LOMA or LOMR exists for the property point, assigning the flood risk score for the property point to reflect a lower risk of flooding than a flood risk score for a property point in a flood risk zone boundary.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two or more flood risk characteristics is derived from at least one of a flood frequency versus flood depth curve, a flood risk rating, a flood frequency versus flood loss curve, a flood elevation surface created using flood elevation lines and flood zone boundaries, a calculated average annual loss, a probable maximum loss, and a historical hazard event for the property point.
12. A computer implemented method of automatically calculating a flood risk score wherein said flood risk score represents a likelihood of a property point being flooded, comprising:
determining by a data processor of a computer system at least two or more flood risk characteristics for the property point; and
automatically calculating using the data processor of the computer system a flood risk score corresponding to the at least two or more flood risk characteristics;
wherein determining at least two or more flood risk characteristics comprises:
determining a first flood risk characteristic corresponding to a flood risk zone associated with the property point and a second flood risk characteristic corresponding to a variance between a ground elevation associated with the property point, and a flood elevation associated with the property point that is determined by analyzing hydrology information associated with the property point; and
wherein calculating the score comprises:
calculating a first score component corresponding to the first flood risk characteristic; and
calculating a second score component corresponding to the second flood risk characteristic.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein calculating the flood risk score further comprises combining the first score component and the second score component.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least two or more flood risk characteristics comprise at least one of potential coastal surge flooding, proximity of property point to a water control facility, a frequency of alluvial fan flooding experienced by the property point, or whether the property point is in a community within a given class of the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS).
15. A computer implemented method of automatically calculating a flood risk score wherein said flood risk score represents a likelihood of a property point being flooded, comprising:
determining by a data processor of a computer system at least two or more flood risk characteristics for the property point; and
automatically calculating using the data processor of the computer system a flood risk score corresponding to the at least two or more flood risk characteristics using a programmed computer;
wherein determining at least two or more flood risk characteristics comprises:
determining a first flood risk characteristic corresponding to a flood zone of the property point and a second flood risk characteristic corresponding to a difference in elevation between a ground elevation of the property point and an elevation of a substantially nearest point in a substantially nearest known flood risk zone boundary;
wherein calculating the score comprises:
calculating a first score component corresponding to the first flood risk characteristic, and calculating a second score component corresponding to the second flood risk characteristic.
16. A system that automatically calculates a flood risk score, comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store program instructions executable by the processor to:
determine the flood risk score wherein said flood risk score represents a likelihood of a property point being covered by water, by:
determining at least two or more flood risk characteristics for the property point;
calculating a flood risk score corresponding to the at least two or more flood risk characteristics, wherein determining at least two or more flood risk characteristics comprises determining a first flood risk characteristic corresponding to a flood risk zone associated with the property point and a second flood risk characteristic corresponding to a variance between a ground elevation associated with the property point, and a flood elevation associated with the property point that is determined by analyzing hydrology information associated with the property point; and
wherein calculating the score comprises:
calculating a first score component corresponding to the first flood risk characteristic; and
calculating a second score component corresponding to the second flood risk characteristic.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions stored therein, wherein the computer instructions when executed by a computer processor perform steps of automatically calculating a flood risk score, comprising:
determining with the computer processor the flood risk score wherein said flood risk score represents a likelihood of a property point being covered by water, by:
determining at least two or more flood risk characteristics for the property point;
calculating a flood risk score corresponding to the at least two or more flood risk characteristics, wherein determining at least two or more flood risk characteristics comprises determining a first flood risk characteristic corresponding to a flood risk zone associated with the property point and a second flood risk characteristic corresponding to a variance between a ground elevation associated with the property point, and a flood elevation associated with the property point that is determined by analyzing hydrology information associated with the property point; and
wherein calculating the score comprises:
calculating a first score component corresponding to the first flood risk characteristic; and calculating a second score component corresponding to the second flood risk characteristic, wherein said flood risk score includes as factors flood risk zone, elevation, and hydrology information.