UNDERSTANDING COASTAL RESILIENCE AND NATURAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS THROUGH RASTER-BASED FLOOD MODELLING: KIAWAH ISLAND, SC
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Hernandez, Jon Lucas
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An increase in major flooding events and rising sea levels have left coastal communities vulnerable to inundation and significant property damage. Kiawah Island has experienced several flooding events in the past three years and seeks to understand where flood risk on the island is highest. Its officials want to understand how storm surge, rainfall, and urban development interact to increase floodwater risk. I am using GIS and LIDAR data, to develop models that describe flooding scenarios, including sea level rise and storm surge. These models will enable residents and local government officials to better prepare for future events. This project aims to devise a plan of action to organize key stakeholders like the Kiawah Island Community Association, Kiawah Island Resort, Architectural Review Board, Kiawah Island Conservancy, and Town Council through flood mapping. The data for sea level rise and storm surge are derived directly from the methodology used in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) “Detailed Method for Mapping Sea Level Rise Inundation” (NOAA, 2012), and provide literature-supported values for sea level rise and storm surge compared with local tidal ranges of Mean Higher High Water. The result is a “bathtub style” rendering that displays hydrologic connectivity and inundation in high-resolution detail. From these high-resolution models and rainfall runoff models derived from the United States Department of Agriculture methods for mapping of “Urban Hydrology for Small Watersheds,” I hope to gain an understanding of parcel level inundation and its effect to vital infrastructure. After understanding the model predictions, I will assess current policy on the Island and determine from the “Flood Mitigation and Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Kiawah Island, SC” report, which recommendations are best suited for all the stakeholders on the Island.