KCC Flood Model Certified by Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Karen Clark & Company (KCC) today announced that the KCC US Flood Reference Model Version 2.0 has been certified by the Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology (FCHLPM). The KCC model is the first flood model that has been found acceptable by the Commission under the latest standards, and the only flood model to be approved under both the prior standards and the current standards.

"The FCHLPM certification process, as always, was a rigorous examination of the model assumptions and methodologies," said Glen Daraskevich, KCC Senior Vice President. "KCC experts in meteorology, hydrology, engineering, statistics, actuarial science, and computer science ensure the KCC models stay up to date with the advancing science and most current atmospheric data."

The KCC Flood Model provides a high-resolution view of both coastal flooding from storm surge and inland flooding from extreme rainfall. The model includes a catalog of over 100,000 flood intensity footprints created and stored at 30-meter resolution along with thousands of vulnerability functions accounting for important property features, such as building construction, height, first floor elevation, type of basement, wet and dry floodproofing, and other secondary characteristics.

"Version 2.0 of the KCC US Flood Reference Model includes several enhancements, most notably the incorporation of the effects of climate change to date. Climate change has led to an increase in both the frequency and severity of coastal flooding and inland flooding,” said Dr. Daniel Ward, KCC Senior Director of Model Development. “The updated model also explicitly represents urban drainage systems, which is especially important for coastal cities like Miami and Tampa.”

The inland flood peril accounts for both riverine and surface flooding. Surface water is modeled using an advanced method that captures the physics of water flow along with the temporal evolution of surface flooding. The KCC model accounts for variations in soil properties, and both flow and depth for riverine flooding have been extensively validated with all available USGS stream data.

The storm surge peril is coupled with KCC’s high resolution hurricane model. For every five-minute time step along the hurricane track, the peak storm surge is calculated along the coast accounting for local bathymetry, storm track direction, and coastal features such as inlets and bays. Inundation is calculated using land use and digital elevation data and incorporates mitigation features, such as sea walls and levees.

“Recent hurricanes, including Helene, demonstrate how important flood damage is from both storm surge and inland floods,” said Karen Clark, KCC President and CEO. “Even if insurers don’t write flood policies specifically, it’s important to know which policyholders are likely to experience flooding in the future. KCC’s advanced model provides insights into the locations most at risk from storm surge and inland flooding.”

About Karen Clark & Company

Karen Clark & Company (KCC) provides advanced models, innovative software, and comprehensive consulting services for deeper insight into climate, weather, and catastrophe risk. KCC professionals are globally recognized experts in catastrophe modeling and risk management who work with company executives to enhance business strategies, competitive advantage, and financial results. KCC models cover tropical cyclones, extratropical cyclones, severe convective storms, winter storms, wildfires, floods, and earthquakes in over 80 countries. For more information, please visit www.karenclarkandco.com.