CHAPTER 1 7 ENT IRONM ENV 6 3 4 IETY SOC 5 ECON OM Y Many communities in Newfoundland and Labrador have been built in flood sensitive areas along the coastline or near rivers and streams, and as a result, have had to cope with flooding. Floods are one of the most common natural hazards in the province and often the most costly. Due to climate change, the occurance of extreme precipitation events that result in flooding is expected to increase. 2 STEP 1: Understanding Flooding in Your Community INFRASTRUCT URE Flooding and Climate Change LO 1 S NS TIO CA OPT ION ISSUES Newfoundland and Labrador experiences, on average, 6 floods per year with an average cost greater than $3.2 million annually. Floods can result in injuries and loss of work and can damage infrastructure, environmentally sensitive areas, crops and heritage sites. Flooding can lead to road closures, isolating communities and limiting access to food, supplies and fuel. Types of Flooding Heavy rainfall or snow and ice melt can cause river and stream volumes to swell and flood. This type of flooding can also occur along the shores of lakes or ponds. Water ponding is the surface accumulation of water that often happens after heavy rainfall. Ponding occurs where water cannot drain away, typically in flat, low-lying areas or in front of damaged culverts or drainage trenches. Flooding can result in injuries and costly damage to infrastructure. Proper planning may reduce flood hazards. Please note that coastal flooding is covered in Chapter 2- Coastal Vulnerability and Climate Change. The Town of Bonavista, NL during Hurricane Igor, 2010. Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-1 Factors that Impact Flooding Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Road washout in the Five Coves area of the Bonavista Peninsula, NL during Hurricane Igor, 2010. Environmental causes of flooding include rainfall, snowfall, snowmelt and debris or ice jams. Floods often occur when a sudden and large amount of water is added to a river or stream after heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or the break-up of ice. Soil conditions, the shape of the landscape and vegetation cover affect the likelihood of a flood. Steeper slopes cause water to move more rapidly, increasing the likelihood of a flood, but vegetation cover slows the movement of water, decreasing the likelihood of a flood. Human activity can have an impact on where, and to what extent, flooding will occur. The ground surface (pavement or natural vegetation) affects how fast and how much water gets into a drainage system. Culverts and drainage trenches can divert water away from key areas in your community. Dams can control the timing and quantity of water flowing into a river, while also regulating the drainage of wetlands. However, poorly maintained or overloaded infrastructure can cause flooding due to blockages, backup of water flow or dam failure. The location, size, design, construction material and maintenance of key infrastructure can all affect the occurrence and severity of flooding. Please answer the following questions related to flooding in your community. How have floods impacted your community? What caused these floods? 1-2 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community Timing Floods can occur any time of the year but are less frequent in the summer. Heavy rainfall often causes river flooding in early fall due to hurricanes and tropical storms. River flooding in late winter and early spring is generally caused by rain falling on snow-covered or frozen ground. Ice jams, also common at this time of year, can cause isolated incidences of flooding in many communities. What time of the year have floods occurred in your community? Floods can occur any time of the year. By monitoring conditions, you can anticipate and prepare for flooding. How often have floods occurred? Workers monitoring conditions after winter flooding near Noel's Pond, NL. Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-3 Flooding in the Future Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Road washout on the Burin Peninsula, NL In the future, you may see changes in when and how often flooding occurs. Your community may experience more frequent intense precipitation as well as an increase in storms and strong winds. Faster snowmelt and more freeze-thaw cycles can result in ice movement, triggering ice jams. Future changes in land-use may also affect flooding. If there is development near rivers and vegetated ground is replaced with pavement, water from heavy rainfall will not be able to drain properly and will be more likely to pool and cause flooding. However, if flood risks are considered in planning and development and proper infrastructure is used, problems related to flooding may be decreased and even avoided. A river, for example, will tend to flood over and over again in the same place. By identifying where previous flooding has occurred in your community, you may be able to minimize the damage of future floods. Please answer the following questions related to flooding in your community. Have the causes of floods changed? Has the extent, frequency or location of floods changed? Briefly describe these changes. The community of Port Rexton, NL during Hurricane Igor, 2010 Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL 1-4 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community Place a check mark beside each question that you can answer with ‘yes’. If there are any questions that require a ‘no’ answer, use the Resource Guide, located at the back of this workbook, to help you address them. After you have gathered more information, you should return to these questions to make sure each one has been properly addressed. Final Checklist Have you identified the causes of flooding in your community? Have you identified when flooding is more likely to occur in your community? Have you identified how flooding might change in the future? Communities in Newfoundland and Labrador may experience more frequent and extensive flooding due to climate change. Proper land-use planning can help minimize the impacts. Culvert failure near Port Rexton, NL after Hurricane Igor in 2010 Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-5 7 OPT ION ENT IRONM ENV 6 4 5 ECON OM Y Location Assessment IETY SOC Things to consider: • Landscape features • Planning and zoning • Vegetation • Drainage • Elevation • Proximity to lakes and rivers • Limit of flood area • Other INFRASTRUCT URE • Locate the areas within your community that are at risk of flooding. 3 This step will help you: LO 1 S 2 To complete Steps 2-7, you will need a map of your community. Please refer to the Resource Guide at the back of the workbook to find out how to obtain a map. ISSUES NS TIO CA STEP 2: Identifying Locations Affected by Flooding in Your Community Here you will determine where floods have occurred and which areas of your community could be at risk. Certain areas of your community may be more vulnerable to flooding. Infrastructure built close to a river or along a pond or lake that may already be prone to flooding will likely become more vulnerable in the future. Historically, there have been many incidences of coastal flooding in Newfoundland and Labrador. Each dot on this map corresponds to a known location of either coastal or river flooding. The large dots indicate that flooding has affected a large area while the small dots represent individual sites of flooding. 1755 to 2012. Figure source: Martin Batterson, Department of Natural Resources Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-7 Please answer the following questions related to flooding in your community. What areas of your community have been flooded? Please explain. Have certain areas been more affected by flooding than others? Use Table 1 to identify factors that have affected where flooding has occurred in your community. Certain areas of your community may be at increased risk of being affected by flooding. Table 1: Factors Affecting Flooding in Your Community Factor Shape of the landscape Drainage Elevation Proximity to lakes and rivers Vegetation o o o o o Overloaded infrastructure (culverts, storm water systems) o Infrastructure maintenance o o o Planning, zoning and land use Other 1-8 Check any factors that have Comments or affected flooding information sources 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community Community Mapping Do you know what areas of your community are prone to flooding? If yes, by drawing on your map, please identify these areas. Do you expect the areas affected by flooding to change in the future? If yes, how? What are some of the factors that you believe may lead to this change? Final Checklist Have you identified where flooding has occurred in the past? Have you identified where flooding might occur in the future? Community Mapping in Irishtown-Summerside, NL Photo Credit: Kimberly Bittermann Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-9 LO 1 S ENT IRONM ENV 6 5 Facilities and Infrastructure Affected ECON OM Y 4 • Better understand the potential impact of flooding on infrastructure. IETY SOC • Locate identified infrastructure; and Things to consider: • Police and fire stations • Hospitals and nursing homes • Water supply and treatment • Sewage and wastewater • Power sources • Roads, bridges, culverts and trails • Schools • Community and heritage buildings • Other 3 • Identify key infrastructure in your community; INFRASTRUCT URE This step will help you: 2 7 OPT ION ISSUES NS TIO CA STEP 3: Identifying Facilities and Infrastructure Affected by Flooding in Your Community Here you will identify the location and characteristics of key infrastructure so you can determine where to focus your adaptation efforts. Washout near the water supply system in Fortune, NL. Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-11 It is important to know the location of infrastructure that may be impacted by flooding, as well as, characteristics such as its age and state of repair. You should also determine if flooding has damaged the infrastructure in the past. As you go through this step, keep these questions in mind: • What key infrastructure in your community would be vulnerable in the event of a flood? • Is any infrastructure in need of repair, replacement or upgrades? • Does the state of this infrastructure make damage from flooding more likely? • Who should be involved to address these concerns? Use Table 2 to record information on key infrastructure in your community. Examples of key infrastructure include: police and fire stations; hospitals and nursing homes; water supply and treatment stations; sewage and wastewater systems; power sources; roads, bridges, and culverts; trails; schools, churches, heritage structures, community centres and other community buildings. Table 2: Inventory of Community Infrastructure Proper planning and recognition of how key infrastructure might be impacted in the event of a flood can help minimize losses. Infrastructure Could it be impacted by flooding? If yes, how? Who is responsible? (name, email, phone number) Comments (age, level of maintenance, past problems, material used) *A larger version of this table is available in the Resource Guide at the back of the workbook. 1-12 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community What is the condition of the culverts, bridges and dams in your community? Are they in need of upgrades, replacement or maintenance? Is there other infrastructure in your community that helps divert or control water? If so, is this infrastructure adequate and well maintained? How has water build-up in roadside ditches been dealt with in your community? Damage in Elliston, NL during Hurricane Igor, 2010. Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-13 Have any buildings in your community been damaged by flooding? If yes, list examples. Photo credit: Kimberly Bittermann Dam in St. George's, NL Community Mapping By drawing on the map you started in Step 2, identify the location of important infrastructure in your community that may be impacted by flooding. Identifying drainage infrastructure such as main culverts, drainage trenches or storm sewer inlets is also important. Final Checklist Have you identified infrastructure that has been impacted by flooding? Have you identified infrastructure that may be at risk in the future? 1-14 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community 7 OPT ION LO 1 S 6 4 5 ECON OM Y • Consider social or cultural impacts of flooding; and IETY SOC • Determine individuals and groups most impacted by flooding and where they live; INFRASTRUCT URE 3 ENT IRONM ENV 2 This step will help you: ISSUES NS TIO CA STEP 4: Identifying Individuals and Groups Most Affected by Flooding in Your Community and Those Able to Assist • Determine who can help. Things to consider: • Elders and youth • Single parent households • Special needs • Literacy levels • Emergency services • Volunteer and community groups • Recreation and cultural activities • Isolated locations • Other Social Assessment Here you will identify the individuals and groups most likely to be impacted by flooding, where they live and who can assist. Flooding can damage homes and infrastructure, forcing evacuations. Roads leading to homes, stores and services, can be washed out leaving people and communities isolated. It is important to recognize that dealing with flooding may be more difficult for some residents and they may need help from others. Understanding who may be most affected will help to target important areas for investment and set priorities for planning. Volunteer groups and other community support may be a resource you can draw upon to help residents respond and adapt to flooding events. Members of the Fire Department in Five Coves, NL providing assistance after Hurricane Igor, 2010. Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-15 Case Study: River Flooding in Badger, NL In February 2003, an ice jam blocked three rivers causing a major river flood in the Town of Badger, forcing more than 1000 people to leave their homes. The floodwaters froze, due to minus 20°c air temperatures, encasing the community in ice. The ice did not melt for several months leaving most of the houses uninhabitable. The Red Cross, along with other groups and volunteers, provided critical assistance to the community. Displaced residents went to temporary shelters in Grand FallsWindsor and many Newfoundlanders ensured that essential relief services were available to those impacted by providing food, clothing, personal items and cash vouchers. Photo credit: Water Resources Management Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, NL Winter flooding in Badger, NL 2003. Please answer the following questions related to the social implications of flooding. List individuals and groups who have been affected by flooding in your community. Do you have a communication plan to let residents know if flooding is forecasted? Are there obstacles to residents receiving help during a flood (communication, transportation)? 1-16 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community Does your community have an up-to-date emergency plan? o Yes o No If yes, does this plan address potential barriers for people affected by flooding? If no, do you have the necessary resources to create an emergency plan? Are there important heritage or recreational areas that have been affected by flooding in the past or may be affected in the future? If yes, please describe. Department of Environment and Conservation official standing on frozen flood water outside the Town Hall in Badger, NL 2003. Photo credit: Water Resources Management Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, NL Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-17 Are there any other ways that local lifestyles or culture have been or may be impacted by flooding? Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Damage from Hurricane Igor in Trouty, NL. Other individuals in your community may be able to help, such as those with first aid training, emergency response experience or amateur radio training. It is important to have up-to-date contact information for these individuals and groups as cellular service may be unavailable during an extreme event. Please fill out Table 3 with agencies or individuals that could help in the event of a flood (or refer to your emergency plan if an up-to-date list already exists). Table 3: Community Contact List Photo credit: Water Resources Management Division, Department of Environment and Conservation Agency/Person Business phone # Home phone # Comments/Role Winter flooding in Badger, NL 2003 *A full size version of this table is available in the Resource Guide. There are other resources that may be available in your community and could be useful in the event of a flood. A few examples are listed in Table 4. Please complete the table and add any other resources that could be helpful if a flood occurs. 1-18 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community Table 4: Inventory of Community Resources Resources Owner (s) Phone # Comments Boat Backhoe Generator (Note power output) Grader Satellite phone Other *A full size version of this table is available in the Resource Guide. Community Mapping By drawing on the map you started in Step 2, identify the areas in your community where people vulnerable to flooding live, as well as, the location of community services, volunteer groups or others who can help in the event of a flood. Certain people in your community may have the ability, experience or resources to help others cope with the impacts of a flood. Community mapping in Fortune, NL. Photo credit: Kimberly Bittermann Final Checklist Have you identified where people most vulnerable to flooding live? Have you identified who can help during an emergency? Have you considered other social or cultural impacts a flood might have on your community? Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-19 LO 1 S ENT IRONM ENV 6 5 ECON OM Y Economic Assessment 4 • How flooding could affect the financial resources of your community. IETY SOC • How flooding may impact those sectors; and Things to consider: • Fisheries • Forestry • Tourism • Food and agriculture • Construction • Manufacturing • Transportation • Stores and services • Budget • Insurance costs • Other 3 • Your most important economic sectors; INFRASTRUCT URE This step will help you determine: 2 7 OPT ION ISSUES NS TIO CA STEP 5: Identifying Economic Consequences of Flooding in Your Community Here you will identify your community’s important economic sectors and financial resources and assess how they could be affected by flooding. Flooding can have serious economic consequences for communities, affecting local businesses and employment, as well as, damaging the infrastructure required for the local economy. It is important to consider the financial resources required to respond to damage caused by flooding and other extreme weather events related to climate change. Repeated flash flooding in the summer of 2008 forced evacuations and caused thousands of dollars of damage in Gambo, NL. The Trans-Canada Highway was closed for officials to pump out tonnes of water that had pooled in culverts. Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-21 Please answer the following questions related to flooding and your economy. What businesses, services and industries contribute most to your community’s economy? Has flooding impacted them in the past? If yes, how? What businesses, services and industries are expected to be most important in the future? Traffic was backed-up on the Trans-Canada Highway in Terra Nova National Park, NL due to major road damage after Hurricane Igor, 2010. Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL 1-22 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community How could flooding impact them in the future? If applicable, what will happen to your tax base if these businesses, services or industries are impacted by flooding? Can you estimate the costs associated with addressing climate-related flooding in your community? What revenue sources exist to cover these costs? What costs would have to be covered by your community? Flooding can result in major economic loss. Infrastructure can be damaged and communication, travel and transportation disrupted. Community Mapping By drawing on the map you started in Step 2, identify locations where your key economic activities take place. This can direct and guide your decisions related to flooding. Final Checklist Have you identified where your key economic activities take place? Have you determined if they will be impacted by flooding? Have you attempted to calculate the financial costs associated with flooding in your community and how you would cover these costs? Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-23 LO 1 S ENT IRONM ENV 6 5 ECON OM Y Environmental Assessment 4 Things to consider: • Hazardous and toxic sites • Oil facilities • Ports • Landfills • Tailings ponds • Pests and diseases • Fish and wildlife • Parks and protected areas • Sensitive habitats • Other IETY SOC • Understand how flooding may affect important species or natural areas. 3 • Determine if flooding could cause other environmental problems; and INFRASTRUCT URE This step will help you: 2 7 OPT ION ISSUES NS TIO CA STEP 6: Identifying Environmental Impacts Caused by Flooding in Your Community Here you will consider how flooding may affect the natural environment and identify sensitive areas that may be a planning priority for your community. This step will help you locate sites where flooding could have environmental impacts. For example, a storm could cause sewage backup, polluting a local wetland, thereby affecting that ecosystem. By identifying these sensitive areas, you may be able to find ways to minimize negative impacts. Flooding may impact important natural habitat. Photo credit: Kimberly Bittermann Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-25 Case Study: Fish Habitat Photo credit: Philip Blundon River flooding can have a negative impact on fish and their spawning habitats. These impacts can vary depending on the timing and the size of the flood. High water flows can wash away vegetation and cause erosion. Sediment and debris can change spawning habitats and eggs can be washed away or buried. In addition, increased river volumes can cause fish to become stranded in pools along the river bank as well as cause changes in water quality and temperature. Please answer the following questions related to the environmental impacts of flooding. Could flooding cause environmental problems in your community? If yes, please explain. Photo credit: Philip Blundon Are there endangered species or habitats in your community that may be threatened by flooding? Fishing conditions in the province may change in the future due to flooding and other climate-related factors. Are there concentrations of hazardous waste in your community? o Yes o No If yes, are they stored safely? o Yes o No Could flooding increase the risk of hazardous waste being released into the local environment? o Yes 1-26 o No 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community If yes, briefly describe how flooding could increase the risk of hazardous waste release. Photo credit: Kimberly Bittermann Do you have an environmental protection plan in place? o Yes Community mapping in Indian Bay, NL. o No If not, you may want to consider developing one. Community Mapping By drawing on the map you started in Step 2, identify environmentally sensitive areas in your community, as well as other areas where flooding could have environmental impacts. Examples include waste disposal sites, hazardous material storage sites and areas that could be at risk if waste was released from these sites during a flood. Final Checklist Have you identified environmentally sensitive areas in your community? Have you assessed how these areas might be affected by flooding? Have you considered how flooding might impact your local environment and fish and wildlife species in the future? Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-27 STEP 7: Identifying Adaptation Options for Your Community LO 1 ENT IRONM ENV 6 5 ECON OM Y Adaptation Options 4 Things to consider: • Infrastructure • Technology • Financial resources • Human resources • Policy and planning • Emergency measures • Education and awareness • Other IETY SOC • Identify ways to reduce the negative impacts of flooding. 3 • Evaluate how your community has dealt with flooding in the past; and INFRASTRUCT URE This step will help you: 2 7 S NS TIO CA OPT ION ISSUES Here you will identify actions to deal with the impacts of flooding in your community. This step will help you identify possible adaptation options to reduce the impacts of flooding. It will also help you determine the best solutions for your community while enhancing your ability to cope with future issues. The community mapping exercises that you have completed in this chapter will illustrate where flooding could cause the greatest problems for your community. Key adaptation concerns and priority areas for planning may become apparent once you have had a chance to discuss the information you have collected. Drainage system and gabion protection installed after Tropical Storm Chantal in Dunville, NL. Having the proper infrastructure in place to deal with a flood can save money in the long term and prevent damages that cause disruptions to the economic sectors in your community. Photo credit: Norm Catto Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-29 Considering all of the information in Steps 1 to 6, list the main flooding issues in your community. Photo credit: Fire and Emergency Services, NL Road washout during Hurricane Igor left the community of Salvage, NL isolated from essential services. Which past actions or measures have been successful in reducing the impacts of flooding in your community? Please list. What actions or measures were most effective? What adaptation options would your community like to try? What are the barriers to trying these options? 1-30 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community Are there ways that these barriers could be overcome? Potential Options Flooding can be addressed in a number of ways. Six potential options are explained below and you will find more examples, in the form of case studies, in the Resource Guide at the back of the workbook. 1. Infrastructure: Infrastructure such as culverts and trenches can divert water away from key areas in your community. Coastal areas that are prone to flooding can be protected by levees, sea walls, groynes or other infrastructure. Timely maintenance of this infrastructure is critical. In the event of a flood, you can use sandbags as a temporary measure to protect an area from rising water levels. In Indian Bay, NL, sandbags have been used to prevent damage to homes and the local graveyard. When the nearby river floods, boulders are used to secure gravestones and sandbags are placed around houses and the graveyard. This is a cost effective way to reduce damage to the community. 2. Displacement/relocation: In exceptional cases, relocation may be necessary due to flooding. For example, residents in Stephenville, NL who lived in the flood control area were relocated for safety reasons in 2005. They were compensated for their property through funding from the provincial and federal governments. 3. Monitoring: Monitoring environmental variables (stream flow, water levels, ice conditions and precipitation) can make it easier to predict flooding and take preventative action. 4. Education: Educating residents is an important part of building awareness around the impacts and risks associated with flooding. If people know what to do in the event of a flood they will be better prepared to handle the situation if it arises. 5. Preventative zoning and permitting: Community planning should incorporate flood risk assessments into the decision-making process. When considering new developments, preventative action must be taken in flood sensitive areas. Re-zoning or instituting stricter building setbacks, for example, would be considered preventative actions. Chapter 1 - Flooding and Climate Change 1-31 6. Emergency measures: Having an up-to-date emergency plan is an important step in preparing for a major flood. Considering the previous list of options, please identify new adaptation options that may help address flooding in your community. Photo credit: Kimberly Bittermann Protective stone installed to stabilize a river bank in Bay Roberts, NL Please list the adaptation options you would like to pursue to address flooding in your community: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not all of these options will have the same cost or require the same time, resources or personnel. Certain solutions will be more effective or have long-lasting impacts. In the conclusion of this workbook you can further consider the benefits and feasibility of pursuing each of these options and developing action plans for implementation. 1-32 7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community