Statistical methods for enhanced coastal flood risk assessment and adaptation planning

Extreme hydrometeorological events are becoming more severe and frequent due to climate change, highlighting the need to continuously expand our knowledge to protect lives and assets. Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to multiple types of flooding while also being economically significant, making their protection even more critical. This study aims to analyze the connections and interactions between different types of flooding to develop a deeper understanding of these extreme events and helping to address the limitations of current engineering solutions. First, I conducted a frequency analysis of compound flood drivers to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of these events along the U.S. Gulf Coast, where various types of flooding can occur. Our findings indicate that rainfall is the dominant contributor to most flood events in this coastal system. This analysis provides valuable insights into how different types of flooding have contributed to flood events over the past 30 years and how their combinations and locations have changed across different seasons. Next, I established the relationship between intensity, duration, and frequency of elevated water levels caused by extreme events, emphasizing the importance of considering event duration in coastal flood protection infrastructure design. Traditionally, extreme water level analyses focus on questions such as how often and how high these events occur, but less attention has been given to how long they last—an equally critical factor in designing resilient coastal defenses. Finally, I examined hurricane events to explore the relationship between storm characteristics (i.e. intensity and trajectory) and on the associated flooding impacts. Gaining insight into this connection helps assess the expected risk of flooding and damage in areas projected to be impacted by the upcoming hurricanes. This, in turn, enables more efficient resource allocation for preparedness, facilitates faster response efforts, and improves estimates of potential damages. This dissertation enhances coastal adaptation planning by addressing flood hazard assessment gaps. It analyzes compound flooding, develops duration-based design curves, ranks hurricane scenarios, and creates probabilistic flood maps. These tools help planners assess vulnerabilities and design resilient infrastructure amid growing climate challenges.