Floodplains And Floodplain Management Flashcards
What are the three most common types of floods?
Riverine, coastal and shallow flooding
LIST some examples of shallow flooding.
Poor urban drainage, sheet flow, ponding
Is mudflow a form of flood?
If the mud flow is caused by a precipitation event yes, if it is just dry earth that is just a land slide type of erosion
What type of terrain is susceptible to flash floods?
Hilly or mountainous areas, with steep slopes and narrow valleys
How is the speed of flood waters measured?
Velocity
Define overbank flooding
When downstream channels recieve more water than normal, or channel is blocked by ice jam, excess water overloads the channel and flows onto the floodplain
What type of flood has caused the most flood-related depths and why?
Flash floods are most dangerous and destructive due to high-velocity flows and short warning time.
What are the 3 types of Riverine Flooding?
Overbank flooding
Flash flooding
Riverine erosion
How can river channels change with flooding?
Velocity of flood water scours the riverbank and can alter the thalweg or channel bottom geometry.
The pattern of meanders can change as the outermost curve is eroded, or undercut, and sediment deposits on the innermost curve, creating point bars.
What are the most common types of coastal flooding?
coastal storms
coastal erosion
Tsunamis are coastal flooding but are not common
What are some types of shallow flooding?
sheet flow
poor urban drainage
ponding
Where can ponding create flooding?
Depressions in flat areas where water cannot drain out are filled by excessive rains. They are a problem in glaciated areas with poor infiltration, caves and sinkholes and manmade depressions with blocked outlets.
List the types of special flood hazards.
closed basin lakes ice jams dam breaks uncertain flow paths mudflows
What are closed basin lakes?
where there is no natural outlet, or the outlet is inadequate, regulated or elevated
Describe how uncertain flow paths develop?
Stream channels can change location. Alluvial fans, developed at the base of valley rivers can have numerous channels. Alluvial fan floods are unpredictable, the floodwaters spread out over the fan and the channel can move across the fan. Dry river beds are another example of stream beds that can shift due to the loose soils that may simultaneously erode and redeposit during a flood
Why are dam breaks so dangerous?
Breach often occurs with no warning, can be on a dry day, so no time to evacuate
When does NFIP cover mudflows?
NFIP provides flood insurance coverage if mudflow or mudslide meets NFIP definition. If it is not associated with a “river, flow or inundation of liquid mud and accumulation of water on the ground preceded by a period of heavy rain”, then it is considered simply erosion and doesn’t qualify.
List beneficial functions of floodplains?
natural flood and erosion control
maintains biological diversity and provides habitat
recreational opportunity
scientific observation
What problems arise from developing in the floodplain?
flooding dynamics are altered
buildings and infrastructure are damaged
How does development worsen riverine flooding?
channel alteration, including constricting channel with bridges and culverts,
filling in the floodplain restricts the ability to store excess water
both can lead to higher flood levels, and increase in flood velocity
How does development within the watershed impact flooding?
more impervious surfaces are created , preventing absorbtion of precipitation and acceleration of runoff.
stormsewers will speed flood flows, increasing downstream flooding,
patterns of watershed development impacts timing of flows along tributaries, altering timing of peak flows and resulting in increased downstream flooding
How is coastal flooding impacted by development?
sea walls and jetties change the natural sand transport dynamics, and deplete the source of sand to support formation of dunes, and barrier beaches. Land at the end of sea walls and jetties erodes, and has adverse impacts on properties.
List the main causes of flood damages
hydrodynamic forces debris impacts hydrostatic forces soaking sediment and contamination
What are the major health and safety impacts from flooding?
Hazards from utility damage, including electrocution, gas leaks and contaminated water
Fire from electrical shortages
Garbage and mosquitoes and dead animals from flood waters
molds, mildew especially in heating ducts
mental health from stress associated to loss of time, money, property and personal possessions
Fatigue and anxiety
Young and old are especially vunerable
What are the three types of hydrodynamic force and its impacts on a buidling
frontal impact- direct impact on structure
drag effect- pull on the structure as water runs along the sides
negative pressure or eddies, suction created on the downstream side
How much flood elevation is needed to move a car?
2 feet of moving water can float a car, floods trap and kill people in cars more than anywhere else.
What velocity is considered dangerous, and why?
Water moving faster than 5 feet per second is considered high-velocity flood. The higher the velocity, the more pressure is put on a building and more erosion to stream banks that may scour a building foundation.
What is the total impact of moving water
The velocity and the depth of flooding. Shallow, fast moving waters can have as much impact as slow, deep flood water.