AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE FOR DISASTER RESILIENCE GUIDELINE 7-3

Australian Disaster Resilience Handbook Collection

Flood Hazard
AUSTRALIAN DISASTER RESILIENCE
HANDBOOK COLLECTION

Flood Hazard
Guideline 7-3
Supporting document for the implementation of Australian
Disaster Resilience Handbook 7 Managing the Floodplain:
A Guide to Best Practice in Flood Risk Management in
Australia (AIDR 2017)

Attorney-General’s Department
Emergency Management Australia
© Commonwealth of Australia 2017 second edition Attribution
Edited and published by the Australian Institute Where material from this publication is used for any
for Disaster Resilience, on behalf of the Australian purpose, it is to be attributed to the developer as follows:
Government Attorney-General’s Department.
Source: Australian Disaster Resilience Guideline 7-3
Editing and formatting by Fullpoint Media. Flood Hazard (AIDR 2017).

Copyright Using the Commonwealth Coat of Arms

The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience The terms of use for the Coat of Arms are available from
encourages the dissemination and exchange of the It’s an Honour website (http://www.dpmc.gov.au/
information provided in this publication. government/its-honour).
The Commonwealth of Australia owns the copyright in all
material contained in this publication unless otherwise Contact
noted.
Enquiries regarding the content, licence and any use of
Where this publication includes material whose copyright this document are welcome at:
is owned by third parties, the Australian Institute for The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
Disaster Resilience has made all reasonable efforts to: 370 Albert St
• clearly label material where the copyright is owned by East Melbourne Vic 3002
a third party Telephone +61 (0) 3 9419 2388
• ensure that the copyright owner has consented to
this material being presented in this publication. Disclaimer
Wherever a third party holds copyright in material The Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department
presented in this publication, the copyright remains and the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, in
with that party. Their permission is required to use the consultation with emergency management professionals
material. and subject matter experts, exercise care in the
All material presented in this publication is provided compilation and drafting of this publication; however, the
under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International document and related graphics could include technical
Public License, with the exception of: inaccuracies or typographical errors and the information
• the Commonwealth Coat of Arms may not be appropriate to all situations.
• registered trademarks, including In no event shall the Commonwealth of Australia (acting
−− Attorney-General’s Department logo through the Attorney-General’s Department) or the
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience be liable
−− Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience logo
for any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of
• materials specifically mentioned as not being contract, negligence or other tortious action, arising out
provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 of or in connection with the use of or reliance on any of
International Public Licence the information in this publication.
• content supplied by third parties.

Details of the relevant licence conditions are available on

the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 website
(http://creativecommons.org.au), as is the full legal code
for the CC BY 4.0 license.

ii  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

Handbook 7 Collection

Handbook 7
Managing the Floodplain: A Guide to Best Practice in Flood Risk Management in Australia
Guideline 7-1
Using the National Generic Brief for Flood Investigations to Develop Project Specific Specifications
For use with Template 7-4
Guideline 7-2
Flood Emergency Response Classification of the Floodplain
Guideline 7-3
Flood Hazard
Template 7-4
Technical Project Brief Template
For use with Guideline 7-1
Guideline 7-5
Flood Information to Support Land-use Planning
For use with Practice Note 7-7
Guideline 7-6
Assessing Options and Service Levels for Treating Existing Risk
Practice Note 7-7
Considering Flooding in Land-use Planning Activities
For use with Guideline 7-5

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  iii

Acknowledgements

Development of this guideline was overseen by the National Flood Risk Advisory Group (NFRAG), which is a reference
group of the Australian – New Zealand Emergency Management Committee. NFRAG was chaired by Andrew Lea (State
Emergency Service, Tasmania).
Duncan McLuckie (New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage) led the project. The Water Research
Laboratory of the University of New South Wales was commissioned to support development of the guideline.
WMAwater Pty Ltd assisted by providing the sample figures in Appendix A.
This guideline was made possible by the financial contributions of the Australian Government Attorney-General’s
Department through the National Emergency Management Projects Program. The New South Wales Ministry of Police
and Emergency Services assisted by administering this grant on behalf of NFRAG. The former Australian Emergency
Management Institute and the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience provided essential support for the project.

iv  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

Contents
Copyright  ............................................................................................................................................................................................................  ii
Handbook 7 Collection  ..................................................................................................................................................................................  iii
Acknowledgements  .......................................................................................................................................................................................  iv
Preface  ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................  vi
1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................................  1
1.1 How to use this guideline ......................................................................................................................................................................................................  2
1.2 Relationship to other guidelines and policies ..........................................................................................................................................................  3
1.3 End uses considered in forming the guideline ........................................................................................................................................................  3
2  Determining flood behaviour parameters ............................................................................................................................................ 4
2.1 Flood study .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................  4
2.2 Recommended flood events for hazard assessment .......................................................................................................................................  4
3  Quantifying flood hazard  .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
3.1 Peak flood hazard ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7
4  Indexing to flood hazard vulnerability curves  .................................................................................................................................. 10
4.1 General flood hazard classification .............................................................................................................................................................................. 10
5  Isolation, warning time, rate of rise and time of day  ..................................................................................................................... 15
5.1 Isolation ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
5.2 Effective warning time .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
5.3 Rate of rise .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
5.4 Time of day .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Appendix  Flood Hazard Examples ............................................................................................................................................................ 16
References ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20

List of Figures
Figure 1 Process for quantifying flood hazard ...........................................................................................................................................................  2
Figure 2 Example flood study results from a two-dimensional floodplain model  .............................................................................  5
Figure 3 Example of peak modelled D × V ......................................................................................................................................................................  6
Figure 4 Peak hazard occurs at Time 1, before the peak flood level at Time 2 ....................................................................................  8
Figure 5 Flood hydrographs for the subject floodplain in Figure 4 ...............................................................................................................  9
Figure 6 General flood hazard vulnerability curves ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 7 Floodplain hazard classification map .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 8 Thresholds for people stability in floods .................................................................................................................................................. 13
Figure 9 Thresholds for vehicle stability in floods .................................................................................................................................................. 13
Figure 10 Thresholds for building stability in floods ................................................................................................................................................ 14
Figure A1 Flood depth variation within a broad floodplain ...................................................................................................................................  17
Figure A2 Flood hazards for categories H1 to H6 for a broad floodplain  .................................................................................................  17
Figure A3 Flood hazards for categories H1, combined H2–H4, H5 and H6 for a broad floodplain .......................................... 18
Figure A4 Velocity vectors and flood depths within a more localised area of floodplain ............................................................... 18
Figure A5 Flood hazards for categories H1–H6 for a more localised area of floodplain ................................................................. 19
Figure A6 Flood hazards for categories H1, combined H2–H4, H5 and H6 for a more localised area of floodplain .... 19

List of Tables
Table 1 Combined hazard curves – vulnerability thresholds  ....................................................................................................................... 11
Table 2 Combined hazard curves – vulnerability thresholds classification limits .......................................................................... 11

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  v

Preface

As outlined in Australian Disaster Resilience Handbook 7 Managing the Floodplain: A Guide to Best Practice in Flood
Risk Management in Australia (ADR Handbook 7) (AIDR 2017), flooding is a natural phenomenon that occurs when
water covers land that is usually dry. Floods can create hazardous conditions when communities are exposed to these
conditions, creating a risk.
This technical guideline expands information on flood hazard provided in Chapter 5 of ADR Handbook 7, to provide a
basis for quantifying the variations in flood hazard. Together with the technical guideline for flood emergency response
classification of the floodplain, it replaces technical advice on flood hazard quantification provided in Appendix J of
SCARM Report 73 (SCARM 2000).
This document was reviewed for consistency and republished in 2017 following development of the following
supporting documents to ADR Handbook 7:
Guideline 7-5 Flood Information to Support Land-use Planning (AIDR 2017)
Guideline 7-6 Assessing Options and Service Levels for Treating Existing Risk (AIDR 2017)
Practice Note 7-7 Considering Flooding in Land-use Planning Activities (AIDR 2017)

vi  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

1 Introduction

Floods create hazardous conditions to which hazard as part of the floodplain-specific management
humans are particularly vulnerable. If floodplains process. ADR Handbook 7 introduces flood hazard as a
concept and makes the following important definitions:
were unoccupied and unused, flooding would not
create a risk to the community. It is the human • Hazard. A source of potential harm or a situation with
interaction with the floodplain, and the associated a potential to cause loss. In relation to this handbook,
exposure to flood hazard, that creates flood risk. the hazard is flooding, which has the potential to
cause damage to the community.
Fast-flowing shallow water or slow-flowing deep water • Flood hazard. The potential loss of life, injury and
can unbalance people and vehicles, and sweep them economic loss caused by future flood events.
away. Similarly, floodwaters can result in significant The degree of hazard varies with the severity of
impacts on the built environment. Structures can be flooding and is affected by flood behaviour (extent,
undermined, or have their structural and non-structural depth, velocity, isolation, rate of rise of floodwaters,
elements damaged or destroyed by floodwater and duration), topography and emergency management.
debris. The contents of structures are generally
In managing flood risk through the floodplain-specific
vulnerable to contact with floodwater, and can also be
management process, flood hazard assessment assists
severely damaged or destroyed.
with identifying the relative degree of flood hazard on a
Infrastructure required for community functioning is also floodplain without the need to understand what is at-risk.
vulnerable to flooding. Road surfaces and substructures, Hazard mapping can support constraint mapping for
rail lines, airfields, and electrical, water, sewerage, strategic land-use planning in floodplain areas.
stormwater and communication systems are all The definitions of hazard and flood hazard in ADR
susceptible to damage from flooding. Moreover, human- Handbook 7 clearly enunciate that flood hazard is
made structures and development can exacerbate independent of the population at-risk. The ‘population at-
the damage caused by flooding. They may alter the risk’ as a concept relates to flood risk and the translation
paths, depths and velocities of flow, and add debris to of a hazard to result in a risk to a community. By way of
floodwaters. illustration, a flood with high water depth (i.e. more than
The safety of people, and the susceptibility of 2-metres deep) is hazardous whether people are on the
development and infrastructure to damage are primarily floodplain or not. The flood risk comes from exposing
linked to flood behaviour, which will vary across the people to that hazard.
floodplain, between flood events of different sizes and A way to understand the vulnerability of people and/
across different floodplains. Therefore, it is important or the built environment to flood hazard is to identify
to understand the full range of potential flood behaviour specific flood parameters that can be measured
to comprehend the vulnerability of the community to consistently for a select range of flood events and to
flooding. This understanding underpins decisions on benchmark these parameters against thresholds. This
managing flood risk. meaningfully describes the danger of the flooding to
people, buildings and infrastructure in the community.
Australian Disaster Resilience Handbook 7 Managing
the Floodplain: A Guide to Best Practice in Flood Risk This technical guideline provides supplementary advice
Management in Australia (ADR Handbook 7) (AIDR 2017) to support ADR Handbook 7 by outlining methods to
introduces and describes the need for quantifying flood quantify flood hazard.

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  1

1.1  How to use this guideline hazard, based on a consideration of depth and
velocity. It can inform spatial mapping of areas where
The following basic sections of this guideline help to conditions are hazardous to vehicles, people and
assess flood hazard: structures. The appendix provides spatial examples of
categorisation against the various thresholds.
• Section 2 describes how to determine flood • Section 5 discusses other factors that in some
behaviour parameters from flood studies (primarily situations, such as emergency planning and
based on flood depth and velocity). management, influence flood risk. These factors
• Section 3 quantifies the flood hazard product. This include isolation by floodwaters, the effective
can provide a useful method for categorising flood warning time available, the rate of rise of floodwaters
risk spatially. and the time of day. They can influence the risk of
• Section 4 indexes a flood hazard product to hazard people being exposed to hazardous flood behaviour in
a flood event rather than necessarily altering hazard.
vulnerability curves for vehicles, people and buildings.
These provide a basis for categorising the flood Figure 1 illustrates this procedure.

Determine
Flood
Behaviour D, V, T

Quantify
Flood Hazard DxV

Hazard Vulnerability
Curves
D Hazard
Classification
V

D = depth; T = time; V = velocity

Figure 1: Process for quantifying flood hazard

2  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

1.2  Relationship to other range of potential flooding and the interaction of flooding
with the landscape, which can result in varying degrees
guidelines and policies of hazard.

This guideline provides technical advice on the Effective flood risk management can enable a
quantification of flood hazard to support the general community to become as resilient as practicable to
guidance on best practice in flood risk management floods through informed prevention activities, and
preparation for, response to and recovery from flooding.
outlined in ADR Handbook 7. This guideline, along with
Studies that improve our knowledge of flood risk can
Australian Disaster Resilience Guideline 7-2 Flood
provide the basis for making informed management
Emergency Response Classification of the Floodplain
decisions. The guideline considers that understanding
(AIDR 2017), replaces the technical advice on flood
the variation in flood hazard in different areas of the
hazard quantification provided in Appendix J of the
floodplain can aid decision making in the following areas:
SCARM Report 73 (SCARM 2000).
• Flood risk management. The guideline provides
This guideline should be read in conjunction with ADR
information on the scale of, and drivers for, flood
Handbook 7 and other relevant guidance material. Many
hazard to people, vehicles and buildings. This would
of the terms used in this guideline are defined in ADR
influence decisions in relation to management of flood
Handbook 7.
risk and the types of mitigation measures that may
Further background technical information supporting be considered to manage this risk.
the advice in this guide can be found in the report Flood • Strategic and development scale land-use planning.
hazard (Smith et al. 2014), prepared for the National Flood Information on where the varying degree of flood
Risk Advisory Group. hazard to people, vehicles and buildings occurs across
This guideline does not provide policy guidance, which the floodplain is provided. This can be considered
is dependent on the relevant flood risk management in setting strategic land-use directions for a
policies in place for different jurisdictions. It should not community, where it can inform decisions on where
be used to supplant or circumnavigate such policies. to develop, what type of development is suited to
particular areas (e.g. certain developments are less
robust than others) and the development conditions
necessary to limit the risks created by introducing
1.3  End uses considered in new development.
forming the guideline • Flood emergency response planning. This guideline
can inform the development of flood emergency
ADR Handbook 7 highlights that understanding flood response plans by providing advice on the variation of
behaviour is essential for making informed decisions on hazardous conditions to people, vehicles and buildings
managing flood risk. This includes comprehending the within the floodplain.

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  3

2 Determining flood behaviour
parameters

and depth and velocity in combination (see examples in

2.1  Flood study Figure 2 and the appendix). The outputs of a flood study
ADR Handbook 7, Chapter 5, describes the need to include the spatial resolution of flood depth and flood
understand flood behaviour on the floodplain of interest. velocity estimates across the floodplain, and hence
It highlights the importance of understanding flood the description of the variability of flood hazard across
behaviour for understanding and managing flood risk. the floodplain, at a scale that depends on the spatial
This includes comprehending the: resolution of the flood study models. Flood studies also
allow the extent of flooding to be determined and provide
• range of potential flooding and the implications of a information to determine where communities can be
changing climate isolated by floodwaters (discussed further in Section 5).
• flood function of the area, particularly conveyance
and storage of water
• variation in flood hazard within the floodplain; this 2.2  Recommended flood events
depends upon flow depth and velocity, and the
interaction of the flood with the landscape, which for hazard assessment
can isolate areas from flood-free land and result in Flood hazard varies with flood severity (i.e. for the same
difficult evacuation situations. location, the rarer the flood the more severe the hazard)
Chapter 11 of ADR Handbook 7 further expands on the and location within the floodplain for the same flood
flood study investigations typically required to assess event. ADR Handbook 7 identifies that sound floodplain
flood behaviour on the subject floodplain. Flood studies management practice should consider a full range of
aim to provide an understanding of the full range of design flood probabilities to provide an overview of the
flood behaviour and consequences. They typically full risk profile for the subject floodplain. Similarly, the
involve consideration of the local flood history, available variability of flood hazard should be assessed across a
collected data, and the development of models that are range of flood probabilities, as well as spatially across the
calibrated and verified, where possible, against historic floodplain.
flood events and extended to determine the full range of Since there is typically some effort required to produce
flood behaviour. flood hazard estimates in addition to baseline flood risk
A range of analytical tools and approaches can be information, flood hazard may be considered for a subset
of the full range of flood probabilities developed for the
used to estimate and quantify flood behaviour in the
flood study. It is recommended that, as a minimum, flood
study area. These tools are typically computer-based
hazard mapping be produced for the design flood event
flood models and may vary in complexity to suit the
(DFE), a flood smaller than the DFE, and the probable
complexity and scale of the subject floodplain. A detailed
maximum flood or a representative extreme event. Flood
description of flood study outcomes is provided in
hazard mapping of these events will provide land-use
Chapter 11 of ADR Handbook 7.
planners, flood risk managers and emergency managers
Fundamental to the estimation of flood hazard on a with an overview of changes in the severity of flood
floodplain is the estimation of flood depth, flood velocity, hazard for a range of events.

4  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

 baseline flood risk information, flood hazard may be considered for a subset of the full range of
flood probabilities developed for the flood study. It is recommended that, as a minimum, flood
hazard mapping be produced for the design flood event (DFE), a flood smaller than the DFE, and
the probable maximum flood or a representative extreme event. Flood hazard mapping of these
events will provide land-use planners, flood risk managers and emergency managers with an
overview of changes in the severity of flood hazard for a range of events.

Source: ModelledSource: Modelled

after Smith after
and Wasko Smith and Wasko (2012)
(2012)

FigureFigure
2: 2Example flood study
Example flood
results fromstudy results from
a two-dimensional a two-dimensional
floodplain model floodplain model

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  5

 Technical flood risk management guideline: Flood hazard

3 QUANTIFYING FLOOD HAZARD

3  Quantifying flood hazard

Flood hazard is quantified by considering the flood depth and velocity in combination (D × V
product). When quantifying and classifying flood hazard, it is important to understand the relative
degree of hazard and the underlying flood behaviour causing the hazard (e.g. high depth, high
velocity, depth and velocity combined), as these may require different management approaches.
Flood hazard can inform emergency and flood risk management for existing communities, and
Flood hazard is quantified
strategic- by considering the
and development-scale flood for future
planning Where the site under consideration is small and flood
areas.
depth and velocity in combination (D × V product). When behaviour is relatively uniform, and a simplified method
quantifying and classifying flood hazard, it is important has been used to quantify the flood behaviour on the
Where the site under consideration is small and flood behaviour is relatively uniform, and a
to understand the relative degree of hazard and the floodplain, it may be that a single point value of D × V is
simplified method has been used to quantify
underlying flood behaviour causing the hazard (e.g. high the flood behaviour
appropriate. on theinfloodplain,
However, cases where it may
therebeis that
significant
depth, ahigh
single pointdepth
velocity, valueandof Dvelocity
× V is appropriate.
combined), asHowever, in casesinwhere
variability there
the flood is significant
behaviour acrossvariability
the floodplain, a
these may require different management approaches.
in the flood behaviour across the floodplain, a map map of flood hazard assessing the spatial variability of
of flood hazard assessing the spatial variability
Flood hazard can inform emergency and flood risk flood hazard is more appropriate. An example of a flood
of floodforhazard
management is more
existing appropriate.
communities, An example of hazard
and strategic- a floodmaphazard mapthe
showing showing the of
variability variability of a
D × V across
and development-scale planning for future areas.
D × V across a floodplain is provided in Figure 3. floodplain is provided in Figure 3.

D × V = depth × velocity; m2/s = D × V =metres

square depthper× second
velocity; m2/s = square metres per second
Source: Smith and Wasko (2012)Source: Smith and Wasko (2012)

Figure 3: Example of peak modelled D × V 7

6  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

When interpreting flood hazard from model outputs, it is
important to understand the underlying assumptions of
3.1  Peak flood hazard
the modelling approach and the effects this might have On large floodplains—where the rate of rise and fall
on flood hazard quantification. The modelling approach, of the flood is slow, and the flood duration is weeks
model scale and resolution, and the associated level or months—it may be sufficient to assess flood
of topographic detail incorporated in a model, may all hazard at the peak of the flood. However, in small- to
influence flood hazard estimates. medium-sized catchments, where flood levels rise
In some cases, larger resolution models may not be and fall more rapidly, the timing aspects of the flood
suitable for showing locations where localised high- hydrograph require consideration. In these types of
hazard conditions might occur, such as near structures, catchments, the maximum hazard value during a flood
across embankments or between buildings. Where may not occur at the peak flow rate or the peak flood
detailed flood hazard estimates are required to support level, but on some combination of D and V during the
planning and management, a higher resolution of flood event.
modelling and hazard analysis may be necessary. High values of D × V, beyond important hazard
Further discussion of flood study outcomes is provided thresholds, may often occur on the rising limb of
in Chapter 11 of ADR Handbook 7. Guidance on a flood and are an important consideration in flood
contemporary modelling approaches and the selection hazard assessments. For example, when considering
of model resolution is available in Babister and Barton the safety of a flood evacuation route, hazard
(2012), with discussion on the influence of modelling values above the D × V thresholds for vehicle stability
approach and model resolution on flood hazard described may be exceeded before the peak of flood levels.
in Smith and Wasko (2012) and Smith et al. (2014). This case is illustrated graphically in Figure 4 and Figure
Additional examples of flood hazard assessments 5. In this case, the peak flood hazard value occurs at time
conducted at various floodplain scales and model (1), which is before the peak of the flood at time (2).
resolutions are provided in the appendix.
The example as presented reinforces that where flood
Where the timing aspects of flooding are important, behaviour changes quickly on the floodplain, flood hazard
especially as an input to emergency planning and quantification should be assessed at all stages of the
management, a time-varying map of flood hazard can flood hydrograph, not just at the peak of the flood flow
be developed. Many contemporary two-dimensional hydrograph or at the time of peak flood level.
floodplain models can produce time-varying flood
hazard maps as a standard output. The rate of rise of
floodwaters at key locations on the floodplain and the
duration of flooding above key flood hazard thresholds
are important baseline information when considering
isolation aspects of emergency management.

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  7

 1

Time 1 – on rising limb of flood

Time 2 – at peak flood level

Figure 4: Peak hazard occurs at Time 1, before the peak flood level at Time 2

8  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

 2

1
1.8 Depth

1.6 2 Velocity

DxV
1.4

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0:00 2:00 4:00 6:00 8:00 10:00 12:00
Time

Note: Depth is measured in metres (m); velocity in m/s; D × V in m2/s.

Figure 5: Flood hydrographs for the subject floodplain in Figure 4

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  9

4 Indexing to flood hazard
vulnerability curves

Once the flood hazard has been quantified and 4.1  General flood hazard
the timing aspects of flood hazard understood,
the potential of the flood flows to cause damage classification
or danger can be indexed against vulnerability A flood hazard assessment conducted as part of a
curves linked to meaningful hazard thresholds. flood study often provides baseline information for
The vulnerability of the community and its assets can general consideration as part of an initial scoping
be described by using thresholds related to the stability exercise for a floodplain management study. In such
of people as they walk or drive through flood waters, or a preliminary assessment of risks or as part of a
shelter in a building during a flood. The vulnerability to constraints analysis for strategic land-use planning,
hazard will also be influenced by whether the primary a combined set of hazard vulnerability curves such as
consideration is, for example, strategic land-use planning, those presented in Figure 6 can be used as a general
which is aimed at ensuring land use is compatible with classification of flood hazard on a floodplain. Further
the flood risk, or assessing development proposals or information on the source of the hazard vulnerability
emergency management planning, which is aimed at curves presented in Figure 6 is available in Smith
addressing residual flood risks. et al. (2014).

5.0

4.5 H6 - unsafe for vehicles and people.

All building types considered vulnerable to failure.

4.0

3.5

3.0 H5 - unsafe for vehicles

and people. All buildings
Depth (m)

vulnerable to structural damage.

Some less robust building types
2.5 vulnerable to failure.

2.0

H4 - unsafe
for people
1.5 and vehicles.

1.0 H3 - unsafe
for vehicles,
children and
the elderly
0.5
H2 - unsafe for small vehicles
H1 - generally safe
for people, vehicles and buildings
0.0
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
Velocity (m/s)

Figure 6: General flood hazard vulnerability curves

10  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

The combined flood hazard curves presented in Figure 6 A flood hazard map classified against these general
set hazard thresholds that relate to the vulnerability of vulnerability thresholds based on the flood behaviour
the community when interacting with floodwaters. The derived using flow modelling for the example floodplain
combined curves are divided into hazard classifications presented in Figure 3 is shown in Figure 7. Additional
that relate to specific vulnerability thresholds as examples are provided in the appendix.
described in Table 1. Table 2 provides the limits for the
classifications provided in Table 1.

Table 1: Combined hazard curves – vulnerability thresholds

Hazard Description
Vulnerability
Classification

H1 Generally safe for vehicles, people and buildings.

H2 Unsafe for small vehicles.

H3 Unsafe for vehicles, children and the elderly.

H4 Unsafe for vehicles and people.

H5 Unsafe for vehicles and people. All building types vulnerable to structural damage. Some less robust
building types vulnerable to failure.

H6 Unsafe for vehicles and people. All building types considered vulnerable to failure.

Table 2: Combined hazard curves – vulnerability thresholds classification limits

Hazard Classification limit Limiting still water depth Limiting velocity

Vulnerability (D and V in combination) (D) (V)
Classification
m /s
2
m m/s

H1 D*V < 0.3 0.3 2.0

H2 D*V < 0.6 0.5 2.0

H3 D*V < 0.6 1.2 2.0

H4 D*V < 1.0 2.0 2.0

H5 D*V < 4.0 4.0 4.0

H6 D*V > 4.0 - -

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  11

 H1 D*V ≤ 0.3 0.3 2.0
H2 D*V ≤ 0.6 0.5 2.0
H3 D*V ≤ 0.6 1.2 2.0
H4 D*V ≤ 1.0 2.0 2.0
H5 D*V ≤ 4.0 4.0 4.0
H6 D*V > 4.0 - -

Source: Source:
Modelled after Smith Modelled
and Wasko (2012) after Smith and Wasko (2012)

FigureFigure
7: 7Floodplain hazard
Floodplain hazard
classification map classification map

In some instances, specific hazard classifications are of various evacuation routes. Alternatively, if an

more appropriate than the general curves suggested 14 assessment of buildings suitable for use as flood
in Figure 6. For example, if the hazard assessment shelters is required, then the building stability
is required as the basis of an evacuation plan, then curves presented in Figure 10 may be applied.
a hazard analysis should be guided by vulnerability Additional background information on these
curves specifically for people stability (Figure 8) and individual flood hazard curves is available in Smith
vehicle stability (Figure 9) to assess the suitability et al. (2014).

12  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

 2.0

1.8 D.V = 0.4

D.V = 0.6
1.6
D.V = 0.8

1.4 D.V = 1.2

Limiting depth for adults Recommended working
in good conditions limit for trained adults
1.2
Depth (m)

1.0 Ex
t re
me
haz
ar d
0.8 f or a
dul t
s
Hig
h ha
0.6 z ar d
Limiting depth for children f or a
dul t s
Mod
er a t e Limiting
0.4 ha z ar d
L ow h f or a du velocity for
a z ar d f o lts
r a dul t s adults and
0.2 children
L ow h
a z ar d f or in good
c h il d r e n
conditions
0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
Velocity (m/s)

D.V = depth × velocity

Source: Modelled after Cox et al. (2010)

Figure 8: Thresholds for people stability in floods

2.0

Draft guidelines - small cars

Draft guidelines - large cars

Draft guidelines - large 4WD
1.6

1.0
Depth (m)

Extreme hazard for non-specialty vehicles

0.6
Limiting
velocity for all
non-specialty
vehicles
Low hazard for vehicles in good
conditions
0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
Velocity (m/s)

Source: Modelled after Shand et al. (2011)

Figure 9: Thresholds for vehicle stability in floods

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  13

 5

Recommended maximum (light structures)

4.5 Recommended maximum (all structures)

3.5

3
Depth above floor (m)

2.5

Extreme hazard to structures

2

1.5

Moderate/High hazard to structures

1

0.5

Low hazard to structures

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
Velocity (m/s)

Source: Modelled after Smith et al. (2014)

Figure 10: Thresholds for building stability in floods

14  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

5 Isolation, warning time, rate of rise
and time of day

The effective warning time available to respond 5.2  Effective warning time
to a flood event, the rate of rise of floodwaters,
the time of day a flood occurs, and isolation As outlined in Section 5.3.4 of ADR Handbook 7, effective
from safety by floodwaters and impassable warning time is the time available for people to undertake
terrain are all factors that may increase the appropriate actions, such as lifting or transporting
belongings and evacuating. Lack of effective warning
potential for people to be exposed to hazardous
time can increase the potential for the exposure of
flood situations. These factors are important people to hazardous flood situations. In contrast,
considerations that influence the vulnerability having plenty of effective warning time provides the
of communities to flooding and are important opportunity to reduce the exposure of people and their
considerations in managing flood risk. property to hazardous flood situations.

5.1 Isolation 5.3  Rate of rise

As outlined in Section 5.3.3 of ADR Handbook 7, Rate of rise of floodwaters is discussed in Section 5.3.5
flooding can isolate parts of the landscape and cut- of ADR Handbook 7. A rapid rate of rise can lead to people
off evacuation routes to flood-free land. This can who are evacuating being overtaken or cut-off by rising
result in dangerous situations, because people may floodwaters. It is often associated with high velocities,
see the need to cross floodwaters to access services, but it can be an issue if access routes are affected by
employment or family members. Many flood fatalities flooding.
result from the interactions of people, often in vehicles,
with floodwaters. Any situation that increases people’s
need to cross floodwaters increases the likelihood of 5.4  Time of day
an injury or fatality. ADR Handbook 7 recommends that
the floodplain be classified by precinct or community The time of day influences where people are and what
based on flood emergency response categories. This they are doing. This can influence their ability to receive
classification is separate to the quantification of any flood warnings and respond to a flood threat. Inability
hazard outlined in this guideline and is addressed in the to receive and respond to a warning can increase the
complementary ADR Guideline 7-2 Flood Emergency potential for people to be exposed to hazardous flood
Response Classification of the Floodplain. situations.

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  15

Appendix
Flood Hazard Examples

The following figures provide both a broad-scale and more localised example in the same floodplain of the base data
(variation in velocity and depth across a floodplain) and hazard mapping using the categories outlined in this guideline.
Examples are also given combining categories H2–H4, which relate to different scales of risk to people and vehicles,
as this may be appropriate for some management techniques.

16  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

Technical flood risk management guideline: Flood hazard

Technical flood risk management guideline: Flood hazard

Figure A1: Flood depth variation within a broad floodplain

Figure A1 Flood depth variation within a broad floodplain
20

Figure A2: Flood hazards for categories H1 to H6 for a broad floodplain

21

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  17

 Technical flood risk management guideline: Flood hazard

Figure A2 Flood hazards for categories H1 to H6 for a broad floodplain

Technical flood risk management guideline: Flood hazard

Figure A3: Flood hazards for categories H1, combined H2–H4, H5 and H6 for a broad floodplain
Figure A3 22 floodplain
Flood hazards for categories H1, combined H2–H4, H5 and H6 for a broad

Figure A4: Velocity vectors and flood depths within a more localised area of floodplain
23

18  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

Technical flood risk management guideline: Flood hazard

Figure A4 Velocity vectors and flood depths within a more localised area of floodplain

Technical flood risk management guideline: Flood hazard

Figure A5: Flood hazards for categories H1–H6 for a more localised area of floodplain
24
Figure A5 Flood hazards for categories H1–H6 for a more localised area of floodplain

Figure A6: Flood hazards for categories H1, combined H2–H4, H5 and H6 for a more localised area of floodplain
25

Guideline 7-3 Flood Hazard  19

References

Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) 2017, Handbook 7 Managing the Floodplain: A Guide to Best Practice
in Flood Risk Management in Australia, Melbourne.
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) 2017, Guideline 7-2 Flood Emergency Response Classification of the
Floodplain, Melbourne.
Babister M and Barton C (eds) 2012, Australian Rainfall and Runoff Revision Project 15: Two-dimensional modelling in
urban and rural floodplains, report P15/S1/009, Engineers Australia, Canberra.
Cox RJ, Shand TD and Blacka MJ 2010, Australian Rainfall and Runoff Revision Project 10: Appropriate safety criteria
for people, Stage 1 report P10/S1/006, prepared by the Water Research Laboratory, University of New South Wales,
Sydney.
SCARM (Standing Committee on Agriculture and Resource Management) 2000, Floodplain management in Australia:
Best practice principles and guidelines, SCARM Report 73, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.
Shand TD, Cox RJ, Blacka MJ and Smith GP 2011, Australian Rainfall and Runoff Revision Project 10: Appropriate safety
criteria for vehicles – literature review, Stage 2 report P10/S2/020, prepared by the Water Research Laboratory,
University of New South Wales, Sydney.
Smith GP, Davey EK and Cox RJ 2014, Flood hazard, Technical report 2014/07, Water Research Laboratory, University
of New South Wales, Sydney.
Smith GP and Wasko CD 2012, Australian Rainfall and Runoff Revision Project 15: Two-dimensional simulations in
urban areas – representation of buildings in 2D numerical flood models, prepared by the Water Research Laboratory,
University of New South Wales, Sydney.

20  Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

 www.aidr.org.au

Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

Knowledge Hub
www.knowledge.aidr.org.au