Assessment of flood event based on numerical models and legal statute: A case of Eskinoz Stream in Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

Floods are natural disasters that cause serious loss of life and property, especially in highly urbanized regions. Studies based on the numerical modeling and evaluations regarding the legal statute are required to prevent or mitigate adverse effects of flood. This paper focuses on the assessment of flood regulations from the point of stream flood due to insufficient stream section. The entire process was illustrated by using a case study of a stream flood event in Istanbul, Turkey. For this purpose, initially, the hydrologic-hydraulic models of the Eskinoz Stream Watershed, where the flood occurred on September 8-9, 2009, were created and the flood map was obtained by using Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) and Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS), respectively. The causes of the flood were determined using the maps via the Watershed Modeling System (WMS). In the second part, the public institutions and organizations that have responsibility for the flood damage of the buildings in a private school campus located on the streamside were determined. The current paper presents a comprehensive legislative assessment and an effective approach for flood events in Turkey that may affect both public and private buildings by evaluating the regulations and developing flood models using various methods.