Abstract
Over the last two decades, several datasets have been developed to
assess flood risk at the global scale. In recent years, some of these
datasets have become detailed enough to be informative at national
scales. The use of these datasets nationally could have enormous
benefits in areas lacking existing flood risk information and allow
better flood management decisions and disaster response. In this study,
we evaluate the usefulness of global data for assessing flood risk in
five countries: Colombia, England, Ethiopia, India, and Malaysia.
National flood risk assessments are carried out for each of the five
countries using global datasets and methodologies. We also conduct
interviews with key water experts in each country to explore what
capacity there is to use these global datasets nationally. To assess
national flood risk, we use 6 datasets of global flood hazard, 7
datasets of global population, and 3 different methods for calculating
vulnerability that have been used in previous global studies of flood
risk. We find that the datasets differ substantially at the national
level, and this is reflected in the national flood risk estimates. While
some global datasets could be of significant value for national flood
risk management, others are either not detailed enough, or too outdated
to be relevant at this scale. For the relevant global datasets to be
used most effectively for national flood risk management, a country
needs a functioning, institutional framework with capability to support
their use and implementation.