Risk of Flash Floods in Urban and Rural Municipalities Triggered by Intense Precipitation in Wielkopolska of Poland

Abstract

This research analyzed interventions of State Fire Service (SFS) units in the Wielkopolska region of Poland that were triggered by extreme precipitation for the period 2010–2021. Our results demonstrated that the most populated and urbanized towns in the Wielkopolska (Greater Poland, west of Warsaw) region are at the most risk in the event of extreme precipitation occurrence as measured by the total number of interventions made by the SFS. The number of SFS unit interventions in towns, standardized to 10,000 inhabitants, indicates that the highest proportional volume of interventions also occurred in smaller towns. In the rural municipalities the number of SFS unit interventions increases along with higher population density and proportion of infrastructure areas. As analyzed in this study, the 12 years from 2010 to 2021 were characterized by a higher number of days with heavy precipitation, for example, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mm, in comparison to the previous periods 1961–2010 and 1981–2010. Intervention databases collected by emergency services are a valuable source of information for hazard mapping. Based on those and other available data, a statistical model was created and factors influencing the local and regional occurrence of interventions were determined. Increasing suburbanization, the rising proportion of impermeable surfaces, and the impact of climate change are of considerable importance in urban flood risk. It is necessary to help municipalities develop abilities to absorb larger amounts of rainwater.

Legal Tools for Blue-Green Infrastructure Planning—Based on the Example of Poznań (Poland)

“…It should be introduced in place of the PBC indicator in the MPZP. It would allow the creation of BGI masterplans, control urban environment quality in terms of sanitation, and build the ecosystem-based resilience of Polish cities to climate change and extreme weather events, significantly impacting towns in the Wielkopolska region [76,77]. Moreover, some applications could have a positive impact on reducing the outflow and decreasing environmental degradation [78].…”

“…Wielkopolska region [76,77]. Moreover, some applications could have a positive impact on reducing the outflow and decreasing environmental degradation [78].…”

Urbanization vs climate drivers: investigating changes in fluvial floods in Poland

“…A variety of studies have dealt with the topic of urbanization effect on floods in Poland, taking different perspectives (Pińskwar et al, 2023;Szeląg et al, 2021;Szwagrzyk et al, 2018). For example, Pińskwar et al (2023), studied the interventions of the State Fire Service units at the west of Warsaw (Wielkopolska region) in urban floods and concluded that this area is most at risk in case of extreme precipitation and therefore at high risk of flash floods. Then, a probabilistic methodology was also applied to study the interactions between changes in rainfall dynamics and impervious areas in different urban watersheds in Poland.…”