Flood Damage and Damage Reduction Calculations using HEC's Flood Impact Analysis Model (HEC-FIA)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) recently introduced a new software program, Flood Impact Analysis (HEC-FIA) Version 1.0. HEC-FIA provides state-of-the-art techniques to calculate post-flood or forecasted-flood damage for urban and agricultural property. It is also used to determine the flood damage reduction benefits attributed to flood control projects (reservoirs and levees). This paper presents the capabilities of HEC-FIA and shares how it can be applied as a planning and engineering tool. The HEC-FIA models developed for the various District offices will be used to help illustrate the program. The paper will relate how GIS techniques were used to help build the damage functions and how the damage/impacts were divided between urban and agricultural categories, numbers of structures and population. This paper will discuss how project benefits are calculated and distributed. Finally, the paper will report on the program output and how it provides information to the planner and engineer.