Researchers at West Virginia University (WVU) have developed a toolkit aimed at helping communities in West Virginia better prepare for and recover from flood events. The initiative comes after recent flash floods impacted Ohio and Marion counties.
Aaron Maxwell, an associate professor of geography at WVU, led the project with support from the National Science Foundation’s Civic Innovation Challenge. The team included stakeholders such as the GIS Technical Center and former WVU faculty member Jamie Shinn, now affiliated with SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry.
The toolkit, known as the West Virginia Flood Resiliency Framework (WVFRF), provides analytical and visualization tools to enhance flood resiliency. It targets decision-makers across various levels of government, nonprofit organizations, planners, and emergency managers.
Maxwell explained that the framework improves understanding of flood risks and identifies gaps in organizational capacity that could hinder response efforts. It also addresses coordination issues identified during the 2016 floods in West Virginia when severe rainfall resulted in significant damage and loss of life.
One feature of the framework is the Risk Explorer tool, which assesses potential impacts on critical facilities during a 100-year flood event. Additionally, resources like the Best Practices Guide are available to aid community leaders in disaster preparation and response.
The WVFRF includes user-friendly tools such as the West Virginia Hazard Library. This online database offers hazard-specific resources for stakeholders within West Virginia. Users can access 3D maps and reports to assess flooding risks and explore mitigation strategies.
The project initially focused on smaller communities before expanding statewide. “We primarily engaged with flood hazard management professionals,” Maxwell noted, highlighting collaboration with local groups involved in disaster management.
Several organizations participated in developing the framework, including the West Virginia State Resiliency Office and other state entities. Before this initiative, systematic documentation of lessons learned from past floods was lacking.
West Virginia faces high natural hazard risks due to its topography and climate conditions. All 55 counties have significant flooding risk levels but lack a comprehensive long-term recovery plan.
Maxwell emphasized that WVFRF aims to be a centralized resource for community-level flood resiliency information: “We have data for towns…regions…watersheds.”
While unique to West Virginia, discussions are underway to adapt this model for states like North Carolina and Kentucky facing similar challenges. “I don’t think there’s any other state that has something like it,” Maxwell said regarding potential expansion opportunities.
Recent flash floods underscored the importance of such tools: “It also highlights important work…which we hope will benefit from [WVFRF],” Maxwell added about ongoing efforts supporting emergency responders’ roles during crises.
