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Description

Recurrent flooding of the Neuse River in North Carolina has been severely impacting the socio-economic conditions of the coastal plain in the River Basin. Effective flood forecasting and impact analysis are critical for planning emergency preparedness and mitigation measures. FEMA prepared 100-year return period flood risk maps for most of the study area. To enhance safety, this research focuses on modeling 500-year return period flood, assessing its impacts on human and economy, devising flood evacuation system, and proposing mitigation measures. HEC-RAS and GIS tools were used to conduct the study, with model parameters calibrated and validated using flood maps from FEMA. Flood impacts on the population, public infrastructures and land use were analyzed. Results indicate that over 100,000 acres of land across six counties would be inundated, affecting key infrastructures including interstate highways, major roads, schools and land parcels. A flood evacuation system was analyzed, and an optimized road network and public shelters like hospitals and schools are proposed for emergency response. To mitigate impacts, the study recommends community awareness programs, flood protection infrastructure, and nature-based solutions. The study demonstrates that integrating flood hydrodynamic modeling with spatial analysis provide effective solutions for mitigating flood risks and minimizing socio-economic impacts.

Publication Date

4-1-2025

Keywords

Flood Modeling, Flood Impact Analysis, Neuse River, HEC-RAS

GIS-based Analysis of Flooding Impacts on the Coastal Plains of Neuse River Basin, North Carolina

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