Integrating Multi-Hazard Scenarios for Enhanced Flood Risk Management

Flooding is increasingly exacerbated by cascading and compounding risks, necessitating a systematic understanding of natural hazard interrelationships and the influence of anthropogenic processes on these dynamics. Integrating multi-hazard scenarios into flood hazard, impact, and risk models provides a more comprehensive understanding of flood risks by considering interactions such as earthquake-triggered landslides and rainfall-induced flooding, alongside the impacts of urbanisation, land-use change, and climate change. This approach enhances decision-making frameworks, enabling more effective preparation and response. Here, we first illustrate hazard interaction matrices as a methodology to systematically identify potential triggers and secondary hazards by synthesising evidence from local and global literature. We then highlight multi-hazard scenarios through examples from Nairobi (Kenya), İstanbul (Türkiye), the Kathmandu Valley (Nepal), and the Philippines, where frequent and high-magnitude hazards underscore the critical importance of preparedness and mitigation. Effective flood risk management also requires interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, leveraging disaster science methodologies to assess hazard relationships, enhance response strategies, and build resilient communities.