Abstract
This chapter will examine the degree to which natural features of the landscape can support community-level resiliency with respect to flooding and flood impacts. First, specific features of the physical environment will be evaluated for their role in mitigating the adverse impacts of floods. These include, among others, naturally-occurring wetlands, floodplains, soils, topography, and pervious land cover. Empirical and statistical evidence from research conducted by the author will be used to support the concepts presented throughout the chapter. Based on the evidence presented, a series of policy recommendations will be formulated that can enhance a community’s ability to cope with the persistent threat of flooding.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Arnold, C. L., & Gibbons, J. C. (1996). Impervious surface coverage: The emergence of a key environmental indicator. Journal of the American Planning Association, 62(2), 243–258.
Beatley, T. (2009). Planning for coastal resilience: Best practices for calamitous times. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Beatley, T., Brower, D., & Schwab, A. (1994). An introduction to coastal zone management. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Brody, S. D., & Highfield, W. E. (2011). Evaluating the effectiveness of the FEMA community rating system in reducing flood losses. Final report for FEMA mitigation division study, phase I. FEMA, Washington, DC.
Brody, S. D., & Highfield, W. (2013). Open space protection and flood losses: A national study. Land Use Policy, 32, 89–95.
Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., & Kang, J. E. (2011). Rising Waters: Causes and consequences of flooding in the United States. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., Ryu, H. C., & Spanel-Weber, L. (2007b). Examining the relationship between wetland alteration and watershed flooding in Texas and Florida. Natural Hazards, 40(2), 413–428.
Brody, S. D., Zahran, S., Highfield, W. E., Grover, H., & Vedlitz, A. (2007c). Identifying the impact of the built environment on flood damage in Texas. Disasters, 32(1), 1–18.
Brody, S. D., Zahran, S., Maghelal, P., Grover, H., & Highfield, W. (2007a). The rising costs of floods: Examining the impact of planning and development decisions on property damage in Florida. Journal of the American Planning Association, 73(3), 330–345.
Brody, S. D., Gunn, J., Highfield, W. E., & Peacock, W. G. (2011a). Examining the influence of development patterns on flood damages along the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Planning and Education Research, 31(4), 438–448.
Brody, S. D., Highfield, W. E., & Kang, J. E. (2011b). Rising waters: Causes and consequences of flooding in the United States. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Brody, S. D., Peacock, W., & Gunn, J. (2012). Ecological indicators of resiliency and flooding along the Gulf of Mexico. Ecological Indicators, 18, 493–500.
Brody, S. D., Kim, H. J., & Gunn, J. (2013). The effect of urban form on flood damage. Urban Studies, 50(4), 789–806.
Brody, S. D., Blessing, R., Sebastian, A., & Bedient, P. (2013). Examining the impact of land use/land cover characteristics on flood losses. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. DOI:10.1080/09640568.2013.802228.
Bullock, A., & Acreman, M. (2003). The role of wetlands in the hydrological cycle. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 7(3), 358–389.
Chang, H., & Franczyk, J. (2008). Climate change, land-use change, and floods: Toward an integrated assessment. Geography Compass, 2(5), 1549–1579.
Cutter, S. L. (1996). Vulnerability to natural hazards. Progress in human geography, 20(4), 529–539.
Fausold, C. J., & Lilieholm, R. J. (1996). The economic value of open space. Cambridge: Lincoln Land Institute Research Paper.
Folke, C., Hahn, T., Olsson, P., & Norberg, J. (2005). Adaptive governance of social-ecological systems. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 30, 441–473.
Godschalk, D. R., Beatley, T., Berke, P., Brower, D., & Kaiser, E. J. (1999). Natural hazard mitigation: Recasting disaster policy and planning. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Godschalk, D. (2003). Urban hazard mitigation: Creating resilient cities. Natural Hazards Review, 4(3), 136–142.
Highfield, W. E., Norman, S., & Brody, S. D. (2012). Examining the 100-Year floodplain as a metric of risk, loss, and household adjustment. Risk Analysis. DOI:10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01840.x
King, Rawle, O. (2011) National flood insurance program: Background, challenges, and financial status. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.
Lebel, L., Anderies, J. M., Campbell, B., Folke, C., Hatfield-Dodds, S., Hughes, T. P., & Wilson, J. (2006). Governance and the capacity to manage resilience in regional social-ecological systems. Ecology and Society, 11(1), 1–15.
Lewis, W. M. (2001). Wetlands explained: Wetland science, policy, and politics in america. New York: Oxford University Press.
Longhurst, R. (1995). The assessment of community vulnerability in hazard prone areas. Disasters, 19, 269–270.
McCulloch, J. S. G., & Robinson, M. (1993). History of forest hydrology. Journal of Hydrology, 150(2–4), 189–216.
Mitch, W. J., & Gosselink, J. G. (2000). Wetlands (3rd ed.). New York: Wiley.
National Research Council (2000). Risk Analysis and Uncertainty in Flood Damage Reduction Studies. National Academy Press: Washington, DC
Ogawa, H., & Male, J. W. (1986). Simulating the flood mitigation role of Wetlands. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 112(1), 114–128.
Paton, D., & Johnston, D. (Eds.). (2006). Disaster resilience: An integrated approach. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas.
Perlman, D. L., & Miller, J. (2005). Practical ecology for planners, developers, and citizens. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Rasmussen, P. P., & Perry, C. A. (2000). Estimation of peak streamflows for unregulated rural streams in kansas. U. S. Geological Survey, Water-Resources Investigations, Report 00–4079.
Saxton, K. E., & Shiau, S. Y. (1990). Surface waters of North America; influence of land and vegetation on streamflow. In M. G. Wolman & H. C. Riggs (Eds.), The geology of North America Vol. 0–1, surface water hydrology (pp. 55–80). Washington, DC: The Geologic Society of America.
Smith, K., & Petley, D. N. (2009). Environmental hazards: Assessing risk and reducing disaster. New York: Routledge.
Stevens, M., Song, Y., & Berke, P. (2009). New Urbanist developments in flood-prone areas: Safe development, or safe development paradox? Natural Hazards, 53(3), 605–629.
Stuckey, M. H. (2006). Low-flow, base-flow, and mean-flow regression equations for Pennsylvania stream, U.S. Geological Survey, Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5130.
Tollan, A. (2002). Land-use change and floods: What do we need most, research or management? Water Science and Technology, 45(8), 183–190.
Tourbier, J. T., & Westmacott, R. (1981). Water resources protection technology: A handbook of measures to protect water resources in land development. Washington, DC: The Urban Land Institute.
White, I. (2008). The Absorbent City: Urban form and flood risk management. Urban Design and Planning, 161(DP4), 151–161.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Brody, S. (2014). The Role of Natural Functions in Shaping Community Resiliency to Floods. In: Kapucu, N., Liou, K. (eds) Disaster and Development. Environmental Hazards. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04468-2_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04468-2_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-04467-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-04468-2
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)