University of Twente Student Theses
Flash Flood Scenario Modelling for Preparedness Planning and Mitigation: Case Study of Barcelonnette, France.
Henry, Sheika Tamara (2010) Flash Flood Scenario Modelling for Preparedness Planning and Mitigation: Case Study of Barcelonnette, France.
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| Abstract: | floods have been a nuisance to many countries for decades. The rapidity at which it occurs makes prediction very difficult. As a result, an early warning system may not be the desired approach since flooding of this nature may occur before it reaches the intended group of people who are affected. Therefore, preparation for an unexpected flood scenario is important. Even though structural measures such as embankments have been used as a mitigation measure, research has shown that people feel a strong sense of security when a disaster is not prevalent or has not occurred in an area for a long time. This is the case of Barcelonnette that experienced the last major flood event in 1957. This event caused severe damage to infrastructures, buildings and resulted in one death. Like the Dutch who were surprised by an unexpected flood scenario in 1953 and who were once again under another threat in 1993 and 1995, Barcelonnette had a near flood event in 2008 that has reinforced the possibility that a flood can happen in the area. There is therefore, the need for a study that incorporates different flood scenarios for preparedness planning thereby taking into account the perception of the people at risk in Barcelonnette. This study uses SOBEK, a coupled 1 Dimensional and 2 Dimensional Model to simulate the different flood scenarios: overtopping, dike break and damming of the Ubaye River. The outputs generated from these scenarios were later used to test the preparedness plan of the Municipality. In addition, a risk perception survey that was carried out by Marjory Angignard in the Mountain Risk Project was analysed. The findings from the flood scenarios indicated that flooding caused by each scenario pose a danger to some of the critical elements at risk. In each of the scenarios, the Fire Station, Police Station, two schools, and a supermarket were flooded. Even though the Municipality has made plans to relocate the fire station and the Police Station to another location (Quartier Craplet), flooding still pose a risk to these facilities. The results also indicated that flooding caused from damming and a breach in the flood protection structures of the Ubaye River may cause more devastation on the community than flooding from overtopping of the embankments. Since flooding from each of the scenarios inundated several areas along the river that are inhabited, the next step involved the identification of the emergency shelters and the shortest route to them. Whilst none of the shelters that were allocated for people at risk were inundated, two were at risk of being flooded. The next step involved the analysis of the perception survey. Results from the survey showed that while few of the respondents were directly affected by a flood event, majority of them were aware of the possibility that a flood may occur in Barcelonnette urging the need for preparedness planning. Keywords: Flash Floods, Damming, Overtopping, Dike break, Preparedness, Mitigation |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | ITC: Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation |
| Programme: | Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation MSc (75014) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/92514 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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