Fathom case studies in Disaster Risk Reduction

Presented at The Association of State Floodplain Managers conference in 2024.
Case study 1: The 2023 Nova Kakhovka Dam Aack in Ukraine
On June 6th, 2023 The Nova Kakhovka Dam failed in Ukraine. “The dam, 30metres tall, 3.2 km long, holding a volume equal to the Great Salt Lake in the U.S. state of Utah, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro river as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. It is not known how many people may have died as a result of the flooding.” “Ukrainian officials estimated about 42,000 people were at risk from flooding, including some 25,000 in Russia-held parts on the right bank of the river. In total, c.80 communities were threatened by flooding.” (Reuters). This event is not only an example of the “residual risk” associated with hydraulic infrastructure but also an example of the cascading effects of disasters.
In this presentation, Gavin will explore the methodology behind the rapid response mapping Fathom provided for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to assess flooded areas downstream of Nova Kakhovka dam post-event.
Case study 2: The Mosul Dam, Iraq
The Mosul Dam, built in the early 1980s on the Tigris River, is one of the largest dams in the Arab region. Its foundation on highly soluble gypsum layers poses significant risks of failure. If the dam were to fail, it could create a 45-meter high tsunami wave, reaching Mosul city within 2-4 hours and potentially causing over 500,000 fatalities. Additionally, floodwaters could reach Baghdad within 60-70 hours, inundating the city with up to 8 meters of water and affecting 4-6 million people along the Tigris River floodplain.
In this presentation, Barney will share his experience and insight of working on the Mosul Dam in Iraq, exploring the potential reasons of failure and consequences, should it breach.
Speakers:
Gavin Lewis, Head of Engineering - Fathom
Dr. Barney Austin, PE, President and CEO - Aqua Strategies