Flooding Case Studies

Question 1

What is your flooding case study for a poor part of the world? When did it happen? Which rivers were involved?

Answer 1

South Asia (India and Bangladesh)
July and August 2007
Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers

Question 2

What were the causes of the Carlise flood?

Answer 2

1- HEAVY RAINFALL
200mm of rain fell in 38 hours

2- Carlise is an URBAN AREA
impermeable materials like concrete increased runoff

3- DISCHARGE OF RIVER EDEN
1520 cumecs in flood (average is 52 cumecs)

Question 3

What were the causes of the South Asia flood?

Answer 3

1- HEAVY RAINFALL
In one region 900mm fell in July. Saturated soil= increased surface runoff

2- MELTING SNOW from glaciers in the Himalayan mountains, this increased discharge

3- Peak discharge of both rivers ( Brahmaputra and Ganges) happened at the same time.

Question 4

Name the primary effects of the Carlise flood?

Answer 4

1- 3 deaths

2- 3000 homeless

3- 4 schools flooded

4- 350 businesses shut down

5- 70 000 addresses lost power

6- roads and bridges damaged

7- River polluted by sewage

Question 5

What were the primary effects of the South Asia flood?

Answer 5

1- 2000 deaths

2- 25 million homeless

3- 44 schools destroyed

4- Rivers polluted by sewage

5- 10 000km of roads destroyed

6- Factories closed

7- livestock dead

Question 6

What were the secondary effects in Carlise?

Answer 6

1- Children lost out on education
(One school was closed for months)

2- stress related illnesses increased after flood

3- 3000 jobs at risk in businesses affected by floods

Question 7

What were the secondary effects in South Asia?

Answer 7

1- Children lost out on education
(4000 schools affected)

2- 1000 people caught water borne diseases
(Dysentery and Diahorrea)

3- flooded fields reduced basmati rice yield
(Prices rose 10%)

4- mass unemployment

Question 8

What were the immediate responses in Carlise?

Answer 8

1- Evacuation

2- reception areas (providing food and drink for evacuees)

3- temporary accommodation set up for homeless

Question 9

What were the immediate responses in South Asia?

Answer 9

1- Evacuation however many people didn’t want to and blocked transport links slowed down evacuations

2- Governments and charities sent food, water, rescue boats and medical aid.

Question 10

What were the long term responses in Carlise?

Answer 10

1- Community groups created ( provides emotional support and practical help)

2- Flood Defence Scheme ( e.g. build up the banks of the Eden to prevent flooding)

Question 11

What were the long term responses in South Asia?

Answer 11

1- International charities funded rebuilding of homes and the agriculture and fishing industries

2- Some homes rebuilt on stilts - flood resistant

Question 12

What is your flooding case study for a rich part of the world? When did it happen? Which rivers were involved?

Answer 12

Carlisle England
8th January 2005
River Eden