Coastal communities are increasingly at risk from storms, hurricanes, and flooding, which cause major damage each year. In areas where buildings are placed close together, floodwaters and waves interact with structures in complex ways. How these buildings are arranged can change the way water moves through a neighborhood during a storm. To better understand this, we used a computer model that simulates how water flows and how waves hit buildings during flooding events.

We tested several building layouts to see how different arrangements affect wave forces. We found that houses in the front row facing the waves receive the most force. However, buildings located behind them are much more protected. The amount of space between rows of buildings, both in the direction of the waves and along the shoreline, also affects how much wave energy reaches the back rows.

Our findings show that smart building layouts can reduce damage during flooding. Planners and engineers can use this information to design coastal neighborhoods that are better protected from wave impacts. This approach helps protect both people and property and can lead to more resilient coastal communities.