Floods and Fire disaster and

management

Aditya kumar
160040058
b.Arch 10 th sem
Contents
● Introduction
● Types of floods
● Causes
● Effects
● Flood prone areas
● Flood management
Definition
● Flood is overflow of excess water that
submerges land and inflow of tide onto land.
● Most frequent and deadliest
● O ccurs when the geomorphic equilibrium in
the river system is disturbed because of-
◦ Intrinsic threshold
◦ Extrinsic threshold
Types of floods
● Flash floods
● River floods
● Coastal Floods
● Urban Flood
Causes of flood
● Natural
◦ Heavy rains
◦ Melting of ice during volcano eruption
◦ Undersea earthquake
● Man-made
◦ Bank erosion
◦ Breach of dam/barrage/embankment
Causes of flood
Causes of flood
FLOODS IMPACTS
● Human Loss
● Property Loss
● Affects the Major Roads
● Disruption of Air /Train /Bus services
● Spread of W ater-borne C ommunicable
Diseases
● Communication Breakdown
● Electricity Supply C ut off
● Economic and Social Disruption
● Increase in Air /W ater Pollution
INDIA FLOOD PRONE AREA
The macro-flood zones of India may be broadly
grouped into the following zones:

● Brahmaputra River Basin,

● Ganga River Basin,
● North-W est Rivers Basin, and
● Central India and Deccan Rivers Basin.
Flood management
Cannot be absolutely controlled only managed
● Aims of flood management
◦ Protection of people & property
◦ Reduction of flood risk
◦ Monitoring, research, forecasting & warning
Embankments, Dams & reservoirs
Z O N E R E G U L AT I O N
● PRIO RIT Y - I
● ACTIVITY LIMITED TO WATER LEVELS CORRESPONDING
TO100 YEARS FLOOD FREQUENCY A N D DRAINAGE
CONGESTION FOR 50 YEARS RAINFALL.

● PRIO RIT Y - II
● ACTIVITY LIMITED TO LEVELS CORRESPONDING TO 25
YEARS FLOOD FREQUENCY A N D DRAINAGE CONGESTION
FOR 10 YEARS RAINFALL FREQUENCY.

● PRIO RIT Y - III

● LESS ECONOMIC A N D COMMUNITY ACTIVITY IN AREAS
VULNERABLE TO FREQUENT FLOODS.
Indian forecasting
network
◦ Covers major and inter state basins
◦ 166 stations
Forecasting consists of 4 steps
1.Data collection
2. Data transmission
3. Data analysis and forecast formulation
4. Dissemination
FLOOD MANAGEMENT
◦ Use of Remote Sensing and GIS
◦ Research and Development
◦ Weather /Rainfall Forecasting
◦ Capacity Building
◦ Flood forecast (FF) modeling
◦ International C ooperation
 Flood benefits
Floods (in particular more frequent or smaller floods) can also
bring many benefits, such as
● Recharging ground water, Making soil more fertile and increasing
nutrients
● in some soils.
Flood waters provide much needed water resources in arid and
semi-arid regions where precipitation can be very unevenly
distributed throughout the year.
● Freshwater floods particularly play an important role in maintaining
ecosystems in river corridors and are a key factor in maintaining
floodplain biodiversity.
N ational Disaster Management Guidelines
● To minimize vulnerability to floods and consequent loss of lives,
livelihood systems, property and damage to infrastructure and
public utilities
Flood damage assessment be made on a realistic and scientific
basis and recorded basin /sub-basin-wise.
● The use of flood plains be regulated and a suitable legislation for
flood plain zoning be enacted and enforced.
● Water Resources planning and construction be basin wise and
basin organizations be set up.
● Storages in various forms is an important component of the
package of measures for FM and flood space in reservoirs be
provided to the extent feasible and flood control not relegated to
a non- priority activity as against competing water requirements
for hydropower and Irrigation purposes.
● International dimensions of problem of floods be kept in mind and
the GO I should play an important role in the matter.
● Requisite funds be made available for construction of new and
maintenance of existing works.
Fire disaster,effects and
management
● Definition
● Fire is rapid, self-sustaining oxidation process accompanied
by the evolution of heat and light in varying intensities.
● Fire is believed to be based on three elements being present:
fuel, heat and oxidizer. Fire disasters can occur above the
ground (in tall buildings and on planes), on the ground, and
below the ground (in mines).
Definition
● Sometimes they occur in circumstances that are unexpected or
unpredictable. Firestorms can be natural or human generated.
● Natural firestorms develop from forest fires like one happened
in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, in 1871. It burned more than 2,000 square
miles of forest and killed approximately 2,300 people.
● Human-generated firestorms result from incendiary bombing.
In Hamburg, Germany, on February 27, 1943, the Allied Forces
dropped bombs that caused a firestorm, which destroyed 3.2
square miles of the city and killed 21,000 residents.
Types
● All fire incidents can be divided in many ways depending on the
cause of fire outbreak, but broadly there are two types of fires,
one is Natural and other is M anmade.
● Forest fires can be either due to natural or manmade reasons.
● All residential and non-residential structural fires are largely
manmade.
● Similarly, all industrial and chemical fires are due to explosions or
fires made by humans or due to machine failures.
Casual Factors
● Faulty wiring and reckless use of electrical appliances
● Unattended stove and gases
● Children playing with matches
● Careless use of candle
● Storage of hazardous chemical and other flammable materials
around the house
● The use of cheap and defective equipments
● Pouring kerosene into the kerosene tank of a lamp while the
lamp is lit
W ork Place Fire Hazard
● Flammable chemicals: found in laboratories, shops, art
studios, maintenance activities(painting, cleaning, auto
repair… ) engines, boilers and other heating appliances.
● Processes involving open flame: Welding, brazing and
similar operations, cooking, smoking and some lab
operations.
● Experiments in labs, hazardous waste handling, oily rags in
art studios, and shops.
● Electrical equipment: Short circuits and malfunctioning
equipment
● Fire work industries
Effects
● But fire can be deadly,
◦ Destroying homes,
◦ Wildlife habitat and timber, and
◦ Polluting the air with emissions harmful to human
health.
● Fire also releases carbon dioxide- a key greenhouse
gas into the atmosphere.
● Fire's effect on the landscape may be long-lasting
Effects of w ildfires
● Loss of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
● Wildfires destroy the habitats and the intricate relationships
of diverse flora and fauna leading to loss of ecosystems
and biodiversity.
● Wildfires simply damage the habitable and adaptable land for
specific animal and plant species.
● It alters or kills the plant life features which support
thousands of wildlife thereby forcing the animals out of the
regions or even killing them.
Effects of W ildfires
● Forest Degradation
● Forest fires such as the ones that commonly happen in dry
tropical forests are a major cause of forest degradation.
● Whenever forest fires are experienced, thousands of acres
of trees and vegetation cover are wiped out.
● Almost every year, forests fires are witnessed across
different forest regions which persistently reduce the quality
of certain forest features like soil fertility, biodiversity, and
ecosystems.
Effects of W ildfires
● Air Pollution
● We all know that living plant matter purifies the atmospheric
air we depend on for respiration.
● They achieve this by taking in carbon dioxide, greenhouse
gases, and air impurities and later give off oxygen.
● When plant life is exterminated by fires, the quality of air we
breathe in declines and greenhouse gasses increase in the
atmosphere leading to climate change and global
warming.
● In addition, the huge clouds of smoke instigated by wildfires
lead to massive air pollution.
● Trees and vegetation covers act as purifiers of the air we
breathe by absorbing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases as well as other air impurities and gives out oxygen.
Effects of W ildfires
● Soil Degradation
● Forest soils are loaded with nutrients emanating from
decaying forest debris.
● Forest soils also consist of numerous natural features that
support a plethora of life forms and organic activities.
● Wildfires also kill beneficial soil microorganisms that are
responsible for breaking down the soil and promoting soil
microbial activities.
● The burning of trees and vegetation cover also leaves the soil
bare making it readily vulnerable to soil erosion.
● The high temperature caused by wildfires destroys almost
the entire nutritive value of the soil.
Effects of W ildfires
● Economic Losses
● The damage wildfires can cause to the vegetation and
wildlife.
● Wildfires devastate everything in their path including
property.
● On top of that, local authorities spend millions of dollars to
put out or control the fire.
● An army of firefighters is normally deployed to extinguish
raging fires.
● Airplanes are deployed to drops huge liters of water and
phosphate fertilizer from high above, not to mention the
truck and logistics involved. All these costs money and the
area could suffer economically moving forward.
Effects of W ildfires
● Destruction of Watersheds
● Trees and vegetation cover acts as watershed protectors
since approximately all the water comes from forest-derived
water tables.
● Whenever they burn, the natural protection systems for
water tables, streams, and rivers may be affected.
● Impacts to Human Well-being and Health.
● Wildfires have contributed to some fatalities, especially
impacting firefighters and lifesavers. The effect of smoke and
dust also causes intense breathing discomfort and can
worsen the health of people with allergies and respiratory
disorders.
Effects of W ildfires
● The old vegetation burnt down allows new ones to spring
up. There is always remarkable growth after a wildfire.
● Some tree species have their seeds opened and thrown to
ash-enriched soils and begin to grow.
● Wildfires also promote flowering and fruiting of some plant
species. This is because wood ash is one of the best
fertilizers around.
● Wood ash contains just about every nutrient plants need
including magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Ash also
contain carbonates that help neutralize acidic soils to allow
healthy growth of plants.
● The destructive effects of wildfires can be mitigated by being
responsible when handling aspects that could trigger any fire
and reporting early when you witness any nature-instigated
fire.
Fire Prevention
Plan & Mitigation Measures
● Flammable Chemical Proper Handling and Storage
procedures
● Chemicals use and storage at them are either covered under
the specific Chemical Hygiene Plan in each or laboratory or
under the Hazard Communications Policy.
● These plan sand policy define safe storage and handling of
chemicals.
● Basically either follow the manufactures recommendation or
industry standards and guidelines.
● Open flames, electrical equipment, heat producing devices,
and use and disposal of chemicals.
 Types of Fire Protection Equipment
and systems to control fires:
● Types ofFireProtection Equipmentand systemstocontrol fires:
 Many systems are in place including the following;
 Fire suppression equipment (sprinklers and fire
extinguishers);
 Proper storage areas (flammable storage rooms and
cabinets);
 Fire alarm sand detectors; Building systems such as doors,
walls, ceilings, and floors.
Dos & Don’ts
● The following are things you can do to protect yourself, your
family, and your property in the event of a fire:
● Smoke Alarms Install smoke alarms.
◦ Properly working smoke alarms decrease your chances of dying
in a fire by half.
◦ Place smoke alarms on every level of your residence.
◦ Place them outside bedrooms on the ceiling or high on the wall
(4 to 12 inches from ceiling), at the top of open stair ways, or at
the bottom of enclosed stairs and near (but not in) the kitchen.
◦ Test and clean smoke alarms once a month and replace
batteries at least once a year. Replace smoke alarms once every
10 years.
Dos & Don’ts
● Escaping the Fire Review escapes routes with your family.
Practice escaping from each room. Make sure windows are not
nailed or painted shut.
● Make sure security gratings on windows have a fire safety-
opening feature so they can be easily opened from the inside.
● Consider escape ladders if your residence has more than one
level,
● Clean out storage areas. Do not let trash, such as old
newspapers and magazines.
Dos & Don’ts
● Electrical Wiring
● Have the electrical wiring in your residence checked by an
electrician.
● Inspect extension cords for frayed or exposed wires or
loose plugs.
● Make sure outlets have cover plates and no exposed wiring.
● Make sure wiring does not run under rugs, over nails, or
across high-traffic areas.·
● Do not overload extension cords or outlets.
● Make sure insulation does not touch bare electrical wiring.
prevention.
Dos & Don’ts
● Sleep with your door closed.
● Install A-B-C-type fire extinguishers in your residence and
teach family members how to use them.
● Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your
residence.
● To escape a fire, you should: Check closed doors for heat
before you open them.
● If you are escaping through a closed door, use the back of
your hand to feel the top of the door, the doorknob, and the
Crack between the door and door frame before you open it.
● Never use the palm of your hand or fingers to test for heat -
burning those areas could impair your ability to escape a
fire(i.e., ladders and crawling).
THANKYOU