Toward More Actionable Flood‐Risk Information

Cooper, C. M.; Sharma, S.; Nicholas, R. E.; Keller, K.

doi:10.1029/2022EF003093

Toward More Actionable Flood‐Risk Information

Journal Article · Wed Nov 16 00:00:00 EST 2022 · Earth's Future

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EF003093· OSTI ID:1898457

^[1]; ^[1]; Nicholas, R. E. ^[2]; ^[3]

Earth and Environmental Systems Institute The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA
Earth and Environmental Systems Institute The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA, Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA
Thayer School of Engineering Dartmouth College Hanover NH USA

Abstract

The increasingly urgent need to develop knowledge and practices to manage flood risks drives innovative information design. However, experts often disagree about design practices. As a result, flood‐risk estimates can diverge, leading to different conclusions for decision‐making. Using examples of household‐scale fluvial (riverine) flood‐risk information in the United States, we assess design features and risk communication approaches that may lead to more actionable information for decision‐making. We argue that increased attention to uncertainty characterization and model diagnostics is a critical intermediate step for developing simpler approaches for designing flood‐risk information. Simpler frameworks are desirable because flood risks change over time, and simpler frameworks are less costly to update. Developing frameworks for large spatial domains require collaboration grounded in principles of open science. Finally, systematically evaluating how decision‐makers access and use information can provide new insights to guide risk communication and information design.

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Research Organization:: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Earth And Environmental Systems Science (EESS)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1898457

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2467409
OSTI ID: 1995042

Journal Information:: Earth's Future, Journal Name: Earth's Future Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 10; ISSN 2328-4277

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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