1. Discussion # 4 What Approaches are Needed? Lewis E. Link, Ph.D., HG, M.ASCE Robert G. Traver, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE

2. Goals A sustainable framework for Flood Risk Management requires a systems approach that enables the collective consideration of all aspects of risk and associated consequences. Clear standards and coherent policies are required that address tolerable risk and a framework for analysis of alternatives and decision making. We need to continue to develop tools to resolve the physical processes that drive performance and span the spectrum of decision making.

3. Clear standards and coherent policies That include tolerable risk Framework for analysis of alternatives and decision making. Without comprehensive policies that create a coherent and consistent framework for life cycle investment priorities and operations, we remain plagued by short term solutions that have little excess capacity to deal with surprise or even anticipated change.

4. Systems Approach Collective consideration of all aspects of risk include costs and integrated performance of all mitigation measures and consequences. strength is in understanding both the cost and benefits of measures in terms of their likelihood. At times decisions are negatively influenced by perceived regulatory barriers or political boundaries or policies. For Example Non-Structural measures (e.g., land use restrictions); Full value of non-infrastructure resources Failure to consider changes in both the hazard and the condition or capacity of structural systems; and the benefits of resilience in flood risk reduction. Lacking a systems approach leads to fragmented and at times conflicting measures that are less adaptive and typically less capable in the long term.

5. Challenges Achieving these goals requires quantifying risk in sufficient detail to characterize the costs and benefits of alternative measures. This requires a suite of tools that are only now emerging within the water resources management community. These tools need to resolve: The physical processes that drive performance The implication of performance on consequences The ability of communities to rebound and recover. Span the spectrum of decision-making from regional planning to specific design. Katrina and Rita in the Gulf, Sandy on the East Coast, and the massive flooding on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers have demonstrated the value of having a systems approach to flood risk management. However, achieving the new level of risk-based water resources management requires: An entirely new regime of integrated policy, assessment tools and decision support Coupled with effective risk communication capabilities. While initiatives are underway to create at least individual pieces to this puzzle, these efforts are far from comprehensive or well coupled to each other. The benefits of achieving these goals can be game changing for our future.