Urban Flood Damage Estimating Curves

Because of increased flood damages resulting from development in flood plain areas many local and state politicians in Georgia have expressed interest in adopting state legislation which would encourage or mandate the development of local stormwater management programs. Before such legislation is drafted or programs developed for specific areas, the legislature wanted some documentation to estimate the magnitude of present and future flood damages for urban areas throughout the state. Thus, one of the objectives of a recently completed research project was to develop general flood damage curves to roughly estimate flood damages for urban flood plain areas. The development of the flood damage curves was accomplished by using the results from an economic computer model and its application to generalized data in Georgia. The results of applying curves to five case study areas in Georgia are given. Uses and limitations of the curves are outlined.