Extending flood damage assessment methodology to include sociological and environmental dimensions

Optimal and sustainable flood plain management, including flood control, ca n only be achieved when the impacts of flood control measures are considere d for both the man-made and natural environments, and the sociological aspe cts are fully considered. Until now, methods/models developed to determine the influences of floods and flood control measures in South Africa, and el sewhere in the world, focus on the man-made environment and neglect the nat ural environment and social dimensions. Two models, recently completed in S outh Africa, namely FLODSIM (flood damage simulation model for irrigation a reas) and TEWA (flood damage simulation model for urban areas) are cases in point. This paper gives and overview of the development of flood damage assessment and mitigation methodology in South Africa. Emphasis is placed on the evol ution from the traditional ex-post approach to the lates ex-ante approach i n which the sociological and natural environmental dimensions are included. Deliverables from the presentation should be of value to researchers and m anagers in the fields of flood management and environmental impact assessme nt worldwide.