Yazeed Alabbad, Ibrahim Demir

Flooding is one of the most common natural disasters affecting communities worldwide. It is expected to persist with increasing magnitude and frequency as a result of climate change, resulting in both direct and indirect negative consequences. The flood impact assessment is considered as a key component of flood risk management strategies, such as benefit-cost analysis for mitigation planning. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of socio-economic impacts for the 100 and 500-year flood scenarios for major Iowa communities. The analysis includes impact on essential facilities, businesses, and vehicles, loss of life, amount of debris transported downstream, displaced population, and floodplain vulnerability classification. Due to the differences in the topography and the spatial distribution of buildings and infrastructure, and the absence of sufficient flood prevention measures within the study area, our findings illustrate that some communities will suffer significant damage and losses during flooding. This research could aid communities in making more effective decisions regarding damage reduction, prioritizing mitigation actions, and preparing for future flood events.