FEMA’s Disaster Applications of 3D Terrain Data

Doug Bausch, FEMA Region VIIIDenver, CO

July 25th, 2014

Rapid Inundation Assessment• Obtain 3D

terrain• Develop flood

surface from model and/or field observations

• Subtract terrain from flood surface

Minot, ND 2011-Rapid Situational Awareness

Sandy, 2012: Field Observed Flood Surface

6

Sandy 2012: Expedited Assistance

-44K households identified as damaged and inaccessible-Over $130M in expedited assistance based on accurate and rapid flood depth information

NYC: 3DEP vs Low Resolution

Areas “flooded” at low resolution

8

Sandy, 2012: Analysis of NFIP Impacts

Flood depths assigned to 200,000+ policies

Integrated into request to increase borrowing authority –

$9.7 billion

Colorado 2013 FloodsImpacts:• 10 lives lost• Over 8,000 evacuated• Over $3B in losses• 138 communities with

damage

Colorado Flood 2013 – 3DEP Post Event Lidar

• Significant stream morphology changes

• Rare use of disaster funds ($2M) to purchase

• Partnership and expedited delivery

• Rapidly produced new floodplain mapping

Denver

Boulder

COLORADO FLOODING DR- 4145 - CO

1/3rd of all households in Jamestown and Lyons were damaged700 households in Lyons without water or sewer

COLORADO FLOODING DR- 4145 - CO COLORADO FLOODING DR- 4145 - CO

Infrastructure Progress

COLORADO FLOODING DR- 4145 - CO COLORADO FLOODING DR- 4145 - CO

Infrastructure Progress-$60M to address imminent flood threat due to debris deposition and erosion

COLORADO FLOODING DR- 4145 - CO

Jamestown, CO: Pre- and Post-Floodplains

-Design guidance for permanent restoration-$2.1B infrastructure restoration-includes $528M in mitigation and resiliency investments

Colorado 2013 Infrastructure Restoration

• Expedites response and recovery• Supports partnerships in

obtaining and expedited delivery

• Provides high quality accurate floodplain maps

• Supports sound decision-making and investments

• Helps support resilient communities

3DEP Disaster Applications Summary