Coastal flood analysis and visualisation for a small town

Extreme sea levels and floods are a widespread threat to coastal communities, and sea-level rise is increasing the probability of such events. This paper describes how inundation modelling was used to engage local stakeholders about climate change and adaptation, for a town (Yarmouth) on the UK south coast. This included a participatory visualisation exercise using three extreme sea level scenarios, informed by a recent flood event. Further analysis, informed by the repeated floods during the 2013/14 storm surge season, placed these scenarios in a broader perspective across a range of events. Results indicate that coastal flooding may become a significant issue during this century due to sea-level rise, unless there is adaptation. These methods engaged the interest of the community, and this paper presents practical considerations for future studies. A similar approach could be applied widely at the community level and form an important component of coastal flood management, including planning responses to sea-level rise. •Describes part of a climate change engagement project to inform adaptation to sea-level rise.•Integration of community-led scenarios for coastal flood event modelling and 3D visualisation.•Scenarios were extended following extreme storm surges observed during the UK's winter of 2013/14.•Results show markedly increased flood impacts with only moderate scenarios of 21st century SLR.•Generic recommendations for future projects.