Examining the Impacts of Development Patterns on Flooding on the Gulf of Mexico Coast

Abstract

This article addresses this understudied aspect of development patterns and community resiliency by examining a five-year record of insured flood loss claims across 144 counties and parishes fringing the Gulf of Mexico. Linear regression models are employed to isolate the effects of five different development patterns on observed flood losses from 2001 to 2005 while controlling for multiple contextual variables. A novel approach is taken to measuring development form by using a series of landscape metrics usually reserved for ecological analysis. These measures enable the assessment of the form of the regional built environment with more specificity than has been possible in previous studies. Results indicate that more connected and concentrated development patterns lead to a reduction in the amount of observed flood losses. These findings illustrate the importance of regional planning and design for fostering flood-resilient communities.