Predicting flood severity of repetitive-loss properties in southeastern Florida.

Flooding due to tropical storm activity is a costly issue impacting the coastal communities of Broward and Miami-Dade counties. This study investigates the potential impacts of storm activity coupled with climate change-induced sea level rise on coastal communities, emphasizing on areas with high numbers of repetitive loss properties. Research methods include hot-spot analysis using Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) actuarial claims data for both counties from 1978 to 2014, hydrological modeling and LiDAR-derived data processing via ArcGIS Pro to simulate inundation scenarios based on recent hurricane events (Irma and Ian) combined with projected sea level rise for 2050 and 2100. Results indicate that by 2050 Miami-Dade County coastlines could experience a 1.44% increase in flooding likelihood for Irma-like conditions, with a 9.5% increase in the highest-risk areas. For Ian-like conditions, the increase is 1.1% and 5.3%, respectively. Broward County shows slightly lower increases. By 2100, the impact accelerates, with Miami-Dade County potentially seeing an 18.62% increase in the highest-risk areas for Irma-like conditions. The study highlights the critical need for long-term planning and targeted interventions in identified hot-spot areas to mitigate future losses. It emphasizes the importance of incorporating location-based vulnerabilities in flood insurance policies and developing proactive flood risk management strategies to enhance community resilience in the face of increasing coastal flooding risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]