APPEOTTX D 

 FLOOD LOSSES AND BENEFITS 



NARRAGAI^SETT BAY 

 RHODE ISLAND-MSSACHUSETIS 



D-1. MEiLSUREMENT OF FLOOD DAMAGES 



a. Daniage surveys . Dana ge -surveys were initiated in the Nar- 

 rangansett Bay area in September 1955 to obtain data for economic 

 studies of the various proposals for hurricane flood protection. 

 Essentially, the survey was a door-to-door inspection of the hun- 

 dreds of industrial, commercial, residential, and other properties 

 affected by the flood. Information obtained included (1) the ex- 

 tent of the areas flooded; (2) descriptions of properties; (3) the 

 nature and amount of damages; and (h) depths of flooding, highwater 

 references, and relationships to prior flood stages. Estimated 

 evaluations of damage were generally furnished by property owners. 

 ''•Jhere these estimates appeared \mrealistic, they were modified ty 

 the investigators, Xn those cases where owners were unable to fur- 

 nish loss estimates, the investigators made their own evaluations. 

 Sampling methods were employed where several residences of similar 

 characteristics and like depth of flooding were encountered. Data 

 for public property, utility, highway, and railroad losses was ob- 

 tained from central headquai»ters and applied to field information. 

 Siifficient data was obtained to derive losses for (1) the 195U 

 flood stage; (2) a stage 3 feet in excess of 195Uj and (3) the stage 

 where damage be^ns (zero damage) referenced to the 195U flood 

 level. Losses were also obtained for those stages where there was 



a marked increase in damages at points such as floor levels and 

 window openings. 



b. Loss classification . Flood loss information was recorded 

 by type of loss and by location. The loss types used were indus- 

 trial, urban (commercial, residential, public), rural, hightjay, 

 railroad, and utility. The type of loss was recorded by main areas, 

 sections, and blocks to provide a basis for later use in stage-loss 

 and benefit analyses. The survey followed the Narragansett Bay 

 shoreline from Providence to Point Judith on the west and from East 

 Providence to Sakonnet Point on the east. 



Losses evaluated in the survey were the result of tangible, 

 primaiy damages. Primary losses comprise (l) physical losses such 

 as damage to structures, machinery, stock, and cost of cleanup and 

 repairs; and (2) non-physical losses such as unrecovered loss of 



D-1 



