Application of the Flash Flood Potential Index in torrential floods risk assessment (FFPI): A case study of Svilajnac municipality

Abstract

This paper analyses areas at risk of torrential floods in the municipality of Svilajnac. Flash floods are very important from the aspect of environmental protection and disaster management, considering that they can have serious consequences. Damage caused by floods results in the destruction of homes and infrastructure, as well as the displacement of people and loss of agricultural land, alteration of ecosystems and landscapes. For the purposes of this analysis data about geological structure, terrain slope, land cover and bare soil index were processed in the GIS environment. Flash Flood Potential Index (FFPI) was used to calculate the predisposition for flash flood occurrence in the study area. The obtained results indicate a high vulnerability to flash flood occurrence and they are classified into five vulnerability classes.