floods Flashcards
1
Q
why do floods usually occur
A
an increase in the level of a river
2
Q
how are most floods caused
A
exceptionally heavy rain
3
Q
What is a FLOOD and
What happens during a flood
A
river overflow its bank
water covers flood plain of the river system
for few days or weeks
dry land usually is covered during a flood
floods are concern for agriculture and infrastructure and public health
some floods develop slow
others are flash floods
can develop in minutes and without any sight of rain
floods can be local, impacting a neighbourhood/comunnity
or floods can be very large affecting river basins
if river bursts its banks community is affected
4
Q
What causes flooding (8)
A
- exceptionally heavy rains - Tropical Cyclones
- melting snow
- flooding coasts - Tsunamis
- dam walls burst
- landslides, e-quakes, volcanoes that change course of river
- Miss use of land by people e.g. deforestation, overgrazing and erosion. Natural vegetation destroyed water cannot slow down or sink into ground. Water rush over ground sweeping ground away
- Roads, buildings and canals increase run off
- Poor people build houses on dangerous ground eg. river beds
5
Q
What’s the effects of Flooding
A
- Loss of live
- Damage to infrastructure and bridges
- Damages to sanitation
- Loss of Drinking water
- Damage to power supply
- Damage to road
6
Q
How can we make a FLOOD safety plan
A
- Look at prev and present flood hights in area
- Maping the area of flooding heights
- Long term land use and regulation
- Construct stuctures to withstand flooding
- Emergency response planning
- What is response and reaction time
