1. Levees, Liability & Mitigation
NHMA Symposium – July 2016
Jim Murphy, PE, CFM
AECOM

2. The Flood Control Infrastructure Has Provided Protection/Reduced Risk to Millions

3. Risk = f(Hazard, Performance, Consequences)
What are the hazards and how likely are they to occur?
How will the infrastructure perform in the face of these hazards?
Who and what are in harms way?
How susceptible to harm are they? How much harm is caused?
Risk = Likelihood x Consequences
Includes
Factors affecting performance of system
Factors affecting consequences
Any uncertainty
Risk reduction actions
(May include classification)
USACE Levee Safety Program: Focused on People, Risks, and Actions
Recognizes Uncertainties

4. Levees – Not Just an Engineering Challenge
“Building a levee is initially an economic decision. A levee may not always eliminate the misery, it may only delay it until that point in time when nature’s forces exceed man’s willingness to invest in greater risk protection.”

5. Murphy’s Axiom:
If you build it they will come and assume that someone else is paying.
The Floodplain Management Challenge What happens on the dry side of a levee?
Rule # 1. A levee would not be there if it
was not meant to protect stuff!
Rule # 2. Economics dictates the accumulation of more stuff – barring constraints.
Rule # 3. Most of the time levees and floodwalls look REALLY STRONG!
Rule # 4. Folks do not like constraints.

6. USACE Slide courtesy of Pete Rabbon

7. PRACTICAL EXERCISE Split into 3 Groups:
City Mayor & Development Authority
City Engineer
City Attorney

8. Area A – Behind certified levee
Issues/concerns & mitigation strategy
City Mayor & development Authority
City Engineer
City Attorney

9. Area B – Behind a non- certified levee
Issues/concerns & mitigation strategy
City Mayor & development Authority
City Engineer
City Attorney

10. Area – No levee (area of potential development?)
Issues/concerns & mitigation strategy
City Mayor & development Authority
City Engineer
City Attorney

11. Thought for the Day Flood Insurance
For Property Owners – A certified levee will help reduce risk. What Does a Certified Levee Protect Against?
Flood Insurance

12. Questions/Comments