Floods

FLOODING 

What is flooding?

A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land which are normally dry or a covering by water of land not normally covered in water. Flooding may occur as an overflow of water from water bodies, such as a river or lake, in which water overtops or breaks levees or an accumulation of rainwater on ground. Floods can also occur in rivers when the flow rate exceeds the capacity of the river channel particularly at bends or meanders in the river. 

There are two types of floods, a flash flood and a slow-developing flood. A flash flood can develop in just a few minutes and without visible signs of rain. A slow-developing flood can take hours, even days to form with heavy rainfall.

What causes flooding?

• Dams: Dams can fail with very little warning. A dam failure can contribute to the causes of floorings. More than 2000 dams in the united states are at risk of failing.
• Heavy Rains: The excessive amount of rainfall can contribute to flooding.
• La Niña
• Levees: They can be overtopped or fail during large floods.
• New Development: It is because they lessen the land to absorb excess precipitation from heavy rainfall
• Snowmelt: It can produce large amounts of runoff in a short period of time.
• Hurricanes & Tropical Storms

How to prepare for flooding?

1. Evaluate the flood risk of your property
2. Insure your property.
3. Prepare a flood kit.

Waterproof Clothing, Portable Radio, First aid kit, Bottled water,Torches, Batteries, Mobile Phone, Important Documents, Tinned food, Blankets

   4. Plan an evacuation route.

   5. Prepare flood defences (sandbags)

   6. Put Items as high as possible 

   7. Listen to news update.

   8. Keep rain clothing easily available.

What to do during a flood?

• Listen to a radio or television for information
• Mover to higher ground.
• Secure your home.
• Turn off utilities such as water, electricity and gas
• Do not walk through moving water
• Do not drive through flooded area
• Evacuate when told

What to do after a flood?

• Use local alerts and warning systems to get information and expert informed advice as soon as available.

• Avoid moving water.

• Stay away from damaged areas unless your assistance has been specifically requested by police, fire, or relief organization.

• Emergency workers will be assisting people in flooded areas. You can help them by staying off the roads and out of the way.

• Play it safe. Additional flooding or flash floods can occur. Listen for local warnings and information. If your car stalls in rapidly rising waters, get out immediately and climb to higher ground.

• Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.

• Roads may still be closed because they have been damaged or are covered by water. Barricades have been placed for your protection. If you come upon a barricade or a flooded road, go another way.

• If you must walk or drive in areas that have been flooded.

• Stay on firm ground. Moving water only 6 inches deep can sweep you off your feet. Standing water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.

• Flooding may have caused familiar places to change. Floodwaters often erode roads and walkways. Flood debris may hide animals and broken bottles, and it's also slippery. Avoid walking or driving through it.

• Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.

• Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.

• Use extreme caution when entering buildings; there may be hidden damage, particularly in foundations.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood

http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/flooding_flood_risks/what_causes_flooding.jsp

http://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-for-Flooding

http://www.ready.gov/floods

 

Done by: Su-Anne 7 Kappa

37 deaths from floods in China (August 16 2013)

37 lives were taken by floods in North-east China on August 16 this year. 

Liaoning province reported 12 flood-related deaths, with 32  missing in Fushun city after heavy downpours on Friday and yesterday, Xinhua news agency said.

Floods also hit a residential compound in Jilin province on Friday, leaving 14 dead, while Heilongjiang province reported 11 deaths.

More than 2,500 homes have been destroyed by the flood water and about 12,500 others severely damaged, while losses have been put at 7.13 billion yuan (RM3.8 billion), the agency said.

140,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes.

Southern China, meanwhile, is recovering from the passage of Typhoon Utor last week which killed 10 people. 

Picture of the flood

Reference:http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/severe-floods-kill-37-in-northeast-china 

Chow Jo Yi (7 Kappa) 

What is a flood and What causes floods?

What is a flood and What causes floods?

What is a flood?
A flood is an overflowing of a large amount of water beyond its normal confines. A flood is a natural event that can have far reaching effects on people and the environment. Put simply, a
flood is too much water in the ‘wrong’ place!

What causes floods?

A flood is caused by a combination of heavy rainfall causing river / oceans to over flow their banks. Floods generally develop over a period of days, when there is too much rainwater to fit in the rivers and water spreads over the land next to it (the ‘floodplain’).

 The information above has been summarised to make it easier to understand:)

 Done by: Harsheni (7 Kappa)

Date: 21-8-2013

Teacher: Mr Ratanam

 

Flood management in Malaysia

Definition of Flood

Flood can be defined as a body of water, rising, swelling and overflowing land not usually thus covered. Also, overflowing of the bank of a stream, lake or drainage system of water onto adjacent land as a result of storm, ice melt, tidal action and channel obstruction.

Types and Nature of Flood

There are no formal categorizations of floods in Malaysia but is often broadly categorised as monsoonal, flash or tidal floods. In addition, floods are also described based on its location, characteristics, the cause, the timing as to when it occurs and its duration.

Causes of flood

• Natural Causes of flood: Short, high intensity leads to flash flood, heavy widespread rain leads to land inundation
• Human Induced floods: Disposal of solid wastes into rivers, sediments from land clearance and construction areas, increase in impervious areas and Obstruction and constriction in the rivers

Flood Prone Area in Malaysia

 

Impacts of flood

• Positive: Sustaining, enriching and rejuvenating certain sector of biodiversity in the floodplains, replenishes the land with nutrient rich soils and therefore good for agriculture and natural vegetation, clear debris as well as remove sediments from the flooded area, recharges groundwater storage
• Negative: threaten lives, disrupt social and economic activities and destroy properties, causes distress and recovery can be costly both to individuals and the Government, and deterred new investments in the flood prone area

Estimates of flood damages by State

Flood Management

Approaches

Initially, flood management focused on the urgent need to provide immediate flood relief works as well as to implement major flood mitigation projects to "catch-up" with the continuous and intense urban development.

New non-structural measures were introduced and the most significant being that required under Manual Saliran Mesra Alam. Compliance to this manual is now a mandatory requirement for all new urban development projects since 2001.

Since the new millennium, the DID has adopted the Integrated River Basin Development and the Integrated Flood Management approaches for its flood management programs. These will provide a balanced approach between structural and non-structural measures as well as higher levels of public participation.

Flood Relief Machinery and Organization

Government has established the Natural Disaster Relief Committee in 1972 with the task of coordinating flood relief operations at national, state and district levels with a view to prevent loss of human lives and to reduce flood damage. DID is one of the committee members and the organization of flood relief and operation is based on the Operation Procedure No.29 published by the National Security Council. Beside that, DID has published Circular No.2/2003-"Guidelines for Management of Flood Disaster during the Monsoon Season and Flash Floods" which is to coordinate the preparation of flood operations at federal, state and district levels.

Structural Measures

List of flash floods in malaysia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floods_in_Malaysia

reference:
http://www.water.gov.my






Done by: Brayden Ng Zheng Lin

               7 Kappa

Ways to prevent and respond to flooding

Prevent flooding???

• Keep storm drains clear of leaves and debris by raking or sweeping materials away from the drains. Drains near street corners and low areas of streets and parking lots are particularly key.
• Dispose of fallen leaves and other yard debris properly - in compost areas, gardens, or take to the landfill.
• Direct downspouts to at least 10 feet away from your home or business and clear gutters of any debris.
• If you're in an area where flooding is known to occur, keep sandbags on hand and put valuables in a safe place.

Prepare for flooding...

• Figure out the safest route from your home or business to safe ground. You may have to leave in a hurry so make sure everyone understands the plan and agree on a meeting point just in case people get separated. Don't forget about your pets.
• List all valuables in your home or business, including all personal property. Keep the list in a safe location.
• Put supplies of canned food and drinking water, medicine, and first aid supplies in a safe and accessible place, away from flood waters. Include flashlights, radio, extra batteries and cooking equipment.
• Fill up your gas tank. Keep food, water, flashlights and medications in your car.
• If you have lawn furniture or other items outside your home or business, put them inside.

When the water begins to rise???

• Monitor radio and TV stations or the National Weather Service for updates, particularly for your area.
• If local officials advise evacuation, then evacuate quickly and safely. You may be directed to go to a specific location. Please follow instructions.
• If water begins to rise around your home, evacuate to higher ground or a shelter, even if officials have not advised evacuation.
• As you travel, watch for washed-out roads, areas where streams or rivers may be flooding the area, and for downed power lines. Also assess low areas, such as dips in the roadway, or areas below water level. Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road. Turn around and drive another way.

After the flooding

• Drinking water can become contaminated by material carried by the flood to wells, and clean up is important to prevent illness from mold and mildew. Pierce County residents who have been affected by flooding should take precautions to preserve their health.
• The Health Department recommends that anyone using water from a well in a flooded area should disinfect the water by heating it to a rolling boil for three to five minutes, then let cool before drinking. Water used for brushing teeth, washing dishes, or food requires the same treatment as drinking water. An alternative method of disinfection is to place eight drops of household liquid bleach into a gallon of water if the water is clear, or 16 drops of household liquid bleach into a gallon of water if the water is cloudy. After adding the bleach to the water, let the mixture stand for 30 minutes. Otherwise, bottled drinking water should be purchased from a local market.
• Once the flooding has receded, chlorination and flushing of the well is recommended. If you decide to test your water for the presence of bacteria, the testing should be done by a certified laboratory to determine if bacteria levels are safe for human consumption.
• Also after the floods, check for moisture on walls, floors, carpets and furniture. The dampness can support mold and mildew, which may cause asthma and other problems. To prevent mold growth, remove as much moisture as possible immediately after a flood. Dry the inside of your home by opening windows and doors and warming the house at least 15 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Mop up any standing water from floors. If furniture, clothing and other items have been dampened by floodwaters, remove them.
• Hand washing is important during clean up to prevent illness. Wash your hands frequently even if you wear gloves. When the only water for available is contaminated, wash your hands with soap and water and then use an antibacterial hand sanitizer.
• Protect yourself during clean up by wearing gloves and boots. Check with your medical provider to be sure your tetanus vaccine is up-to-date. A booster is needed every 10 years.

For more information, please go to these websites:

https://www.google.com/#fp=8ec42b3a160d73b4&q=how+to+prevent+floods   (General)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_control

or

read textbook page 74 and 75.

By : Bee Qi Pin 7 Kappa

;) thanks for reading!

The simple but efficient flooding 'tool kit' used for emergency during floods
This is used in Cumbria, UK.

Flood-threatened communities in Cumbria have been offered a "toolkit" to help them plan for future emergencies.

The 10-step Community Emergency Planning Toolkit has been created by the charity Action with Communities in Cumbria (ACT).

ACT said the scheme could help sparsely populated areas of Cumbria which have a "slow emergency services response during events such as flooding".

It suggests users identify skills and resources and test plans.

The charity's business development manager, Terry McCormick, said the kit was "designed to help with all emergencies, including unexpected events for which there is no plan".

"The current combination of climate change challenge and economic recession has put communities in Cumbria under new pressures," Dr McCormick said.

"Emergency planning is essential and can now be developed by communities in association with the emergency services."

By: Justin Liew

7 Kappa

Hope this knowledges all the people reading this and sir, hope you like it