Which strategy can enhance community resilience against flooding?

Developing green infrastructure solutions is an effective strategy for enhancing community resilience against flooding for several reasons. Green infrastructure encompasses practices that use natural systems or processes to manage stormwater and reduce flooding impacts. This includes strategies such as creating vegetated swales, green roofs, permeable pavement, and restoring wetlands.

These methods improve water absorption, reduce runoff, and help to filter pollutants, thus decreasing the likelihood of flooding during heavy rainfall events. They also provide multiple co-benefits, such as improving air quality, enhancing urban biodiversity, and offering recreational spaces for the community. By using nature-based solutions, communities can adapt to changing climate conditions and manage flood risks more sustainably.

In contrast, implementing artificial barriers alone may create localized protection but does not address the underlying issues of stormwater management and can lead to increased runoff downstream. Increasing land development in flood-prone areas may exacerbate flooding by reducing natural water absorption and increasing impervious surfaces. Reinforcing existing concrete structures can provide short-term solutions but often requires ongoing maintenance and may not adequately address the source of flooding issues. Therefore, green infrastructure offers a holistic approach to improving both resilience and sustainability in communities facing flooding challenges.