Investigating the Source – Pathway – Receptor – Consequence Framework for Coastal Flood System Analyses

Introduction

Coastal floods account for a large proportion of the damage to life and property due to natural

disasters world-wide. Out of the 15 greatest natural disasters in the world in terms of

monetary losses between 2004 and 2008, 14 were coastal (Kron 2008). However, despite the

enormity of a particular flood event, people often return to a flood-prone area after a disaster

(Cigler 2007; Parker 1995). This necessitates a need for pro-active management of coastal

flood systems. A coastal flood system may be thought of as a geographic unit comprising all

natural and human elements potentially affected by coastal floods.