Windstorms are among the costliest climate extremes in Europe. Estimates of damages mostly rely on post-disaster insurance data, which is often not publicly available. It is therefore difficult to model and assess windstorm damage. The WISC model provides an open-source model which gives damage estimates in line with reported damages from previous windstorms. Damage estimates show that the western part of Europe is greatly impacted by wind extremes.
The tool relies on open-source code repository. It requires basic phyton coding skills to make use of the free code, However, a higher degree of coding skills will be necessary if users wish to adapt the tool/methodology to other hazards.
This tool has been used to assess windstorm risks in Europe for Copernicus. Read more here.
The main benefit of the tool is its open-source windstorm damage model that does not rely on input data from insurance, but on hisorical records, so it can be applied globally, if data are available. The tool can be of benefit for:
The tool is open-source but it requires some effort to adapt/adjust the code for users specific needs.
The tool can be used in the following Triple-A phase:
Koks, E.E., Haer., T. A high-resolution wind damage model for Europe. Sci Rep 10, 6866 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63580-w
The tool outcomes can be integrated with the climate story tool and it can also be complementary to other climate hazard and risk assessment tools.
During an extreme rainfall event, Jan watches in fear as water rises dangerously close to flooding his apartment. His experience highlights the urgent need for climate adaptation in Gdynia, inspiring the community to take action and build a more resilient future together.
