Natural disasters in various areas

Assignment-2
India- floods
{A} Reason :
Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water
submerges usually dry land. Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, or a
storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas.

Floods can cause widespread devastation, resulting in loss of life and damages to personal
property and critical public health infrastructure. Between 1998-2017, floods affected more
than 2 billion people worldwide. People who live in floodplains or non-resistant buildings, or
lack warning systems and awareness of flooding hazards, are most vulnerable to floods.
There are 3 common types of floods:
 Flash floods are caused by rapid and excessive rainfall that raises water heights
quickly, and rivers, streams, channels, or roads may be overtaken.
 River floods are caused when consistent rain or snowmelt forces a river to exceed
capacity. 
 Coastal floods are caused by storm surges associated with tropical cyclones and
tsunami
Causes:
Flood is usually a result of natural causes. It may also be caused by man-made factors. It causes
huge damage to life and property. There are many different causes leading to flooding. Some
prominent among them include:

Massive Rainfall
Drainage systems and the effective infrastructure design aid during heavy rains. They help
the drainage of excess water into reservoirs in an easy way. But in cases of heavy rainfall, the
systems stop working. Thus flood is caused.

Overflowing of the Rivers

The people living along the river always have a risk of life from the overflowing of the Rivers.
To prevent such a situation, a string of dams are built. However, if these dams are not managed
properly, they may cause flooding and huge damage.

Collapsed Dams
In the event of huge rainfall, the dams built begin to collapse. Thus, causing the flood situation
to become even more critical for the people living around.

Snowmelt
At the time of the high melting of snow due to heavy precipitation and other factors, the
situation of flooding arises. Adopting sustainable measures for heavy precipitation can help in
dealing with the flooding situation.

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 Natural disasters in various areas

Deforestation
The cutting of trees in a reckless manner i.e. deforestation is also a major cause of man-made
flooding. Trees prevent soil erosion and also the loss of crops. The vegetation is also enriched as
a result of more and more trees. This also blocks the massive flow of rain, thus preventing
flooding.

Climate change
The climatic changes caused due to human practices also add to the risk of flooding. Human
beings cut trees in a large number, thus affecting the process of photosynthesis. Thus increased
levels of carbon-di-oxide in the atmosphere cause changes in climate posing threats of natural
disasters like floods etc.

Emission of Greenhouse Gases

The burning of fossil fuels, the industrial influences, the pollution all is depleting the level of the
ozone layer and increasing the level of greenhouse gases, becoming a major cause of man-made
flooding

{B} Precautionary is a measure taken to minimize the effect:

Floods are one of the most recurring disasters across the world. It causes enormous socio-
economic loss in the country. Not just monsoon season, it may hit the land at any time
influenced by several factors.
Natural disaster management has set some rules as precautions of flood to safeguard the
community.
Here is a detailed discourse on dos and don'ts during flood 

What To Do During a Flood?

 Elevate your home from the base while constructing to avoid entry of floodwater or
construct walls to stop it.
 Install "check valves" in sewer pipes to prevent floodwater from entering the drains of
your home.
 Seal the basement walls to let water enter.
 If your home is in very low land, then shift to a safer place and keep all furniture at an
elevated level.
 Keep all your documents in a safe water-proof bag.
 Keep updated with flood safety tips given by the Government.
 Know the safest route of escape to the nearest shelter.

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 Natural disasters in various areas

 Install the electricity supplying switches and plugs above a certain level from the floor,
which is most unlikely to get reached by the floodwater.
 Keep all your electronic devices charged.
Safety precautions for floods when it is about to hit your land are as follows:
 Keep calm and updated with news broadcast channels.
 Be aware of the flash flood.
 Take all flood safety measures.
 Do not enter flood-prone areas as precautions during floods.
 Keep the drainage system of your house clean and out of any blockage.
 Unplug electrical gadgets and machinery and keep away from the reach of the water.
 Store enough food and drinking water with you.
 Turn off gas valves and connected devices.
 Move family and pets in the safe zone.
 Keep the first aid box with necessary medicines with you.
 You may put sandbags in drains to obstruct the entry of floodwater.
 Store drinking water.
 Try to control the temperature of the home to 65 degrees F to impede bacterial growth.
 Try to keep a check on insects and mosquitos.
 Take your vehicles to an upland area, and do not leave them in the garage if evacuating
the home.
 Do not keep any valuables in homes

{C}How disaster is manged

Flood management strategies generally involve multiple engineering projects. Rivers are
powerful & unpredictable, stopping rivers from flooding is not completely possible but we
can do a lot to mitigate and manage the risks that arise from flooding the potential impact of
flooding, the vulnerability of people and property, and the consequences that result from a
particular flood event. Flood risk management seeks to reduce the risk from flood events to
the people who are located in flood-prone areas

Floodplain Restoration:
Increasingly drainage basin managers understand the importance of the floodplain for its
capacity to store water, reduce discharge, and recycle harmful agricultural run-off. Floodplain
restoration is the process of engineering the river to restore its natural patterns of meander
migration and flooding

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 Natural disasters in various areas

River management: Channelisation

Floods can be controlled by redirecting excess water to purpose-built canals or floodways,
which in turn divert the water to temporary holding ponds or other bodies of water where
there is a lower risk or impact of flooding

Afforestation:
During heavy rains, trees reduce the risk of flooding. There are two major ways in which
trees protect against flooding. Experts say that woodland acts as a barrier to floodwater, while
trees also prevent soil erosion, reducing sediment going into rivers and increasing water
absorption into the ground. This slows rainwater running off into swollen streams and helps
lower peak flood levels

{D}Disaster management agencies:

 State flood control departments
 Central water commission
 Ganga flood control commission
 MHA – NDM Division
 Brahmaputra Division

2. AMERICA CYCLONES:
Reasons/Causes:
A tropical cyclone, also called a typhoon or hurricane, is an intense circular storm that
originates over warm tropical oceans and is characterized by low atmospheric
pressure, high winds, and heavy rain. Drawing energy from the sea surface and maintaining
its strength as long as it remains over warm water, a tropical cyclone generates winds that
exceed 119 km (74 miles) per hour. In extreme cases, winds may exceed 240 km (150 miles)
per hour, and gusts may surpass 320 km (200 miles) per hour. Accompanying these strong
winds are torrential rains and a devastating phenomenon known as the storm surge, an
elevation of the sea surface that can reach 6 meters (20 feet) above normal levels. Such a
combination of high winds and water makes cyclones a serious hazard for coastal areas in
tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Every year during the late summer months (July–
September in the Northern Hemisphere and January–March in the Southern Hemisphere),
cyclones strike regions as far apart as the Gulf Coast of North America, northwestern
Australia, and eastern India and Bangladesh.

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 Natural disasters in various areas

High winds cause some of the most dramatic and damaging effects associated with tropical
cyclones. In the most intense tropical cyclones, sustained winds may be as high as 240 km
(150 miles) per hour, and gusts can exceed 320 km (200 miles) per hour. The length of time
that a given location is exposed to extreme winds depends on the size of the storm and the
speed at which it is moving. During a direct hit from a tropical cyclone, an area may endure
high winds for several hours. In that time even the most solidly constructed buildings may
begin to suffer damage. The force of the wind increases rapidly with its
speed. Sustained winds of 100 km (62 miles) per hour exert a pressure of 718 pascals (15
pounds per square foot), while an approximate doubling of wind speed to 200 km (124 miles)
per hour increases the pressure almost fivefold to 3,734 pascals. A building with a large
surface area facing the wind may be subjected to immense forces. Some of the local
variability in damage that is often observed during tropical cyclones is due to the direction
that buildings face relative to the prevailing wind
{B} precautionary measure, taken to minimize the effect.
 Be aware of the official cyclone warning by listening to the radio or other authentic
sources.
 Install storm shutters or board-up glass windows.
 Keep all the doors and windows closed.
 Take proper care of adults or children who need attention.
 Switch off the electrical mains in your house.
 Park your vehicles beneath a solid shelter with a hand brake or in gear to guard them.
Other than this, if the eye of the cyclone passes over your house, you should strictly avoid
doing some activities as follows -
 If you are asked to evacuate, do not hesitate. Move to a house built on high grounds.
 Do not move outside the house immediately after the eye passes, as there will be wind
gusts from the opposite direction.
 Avoid rumors of any sort, and do not panic.
 Do not drive immediately after a storm because the roads are left slippery due to heavy
downpours.
 Stay away from concrete walls and floors because thunder lightning can pass through
the metal bars in them.
Therefore, by following these do's and don'ts during the cyclone, one can ensure utmost
safety.
Apart from the safety measures to be taken during a cyclone, one must consider following
some rules even after the cyclone passes.

{C} How cyclone is managed:

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 Natural disasters in various areas

Americans have weeks of the sun to look forward to. In many parts of the country, however,
the season brings a much more threatening force of nature. The Atlantic hurricane season
officially begins on June 1st. This year, America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration expect 10-16 big storms and five to nine hurricanes (a typical year has around
12 storms and six hurricanes). After a record-breaking season in 2017, which brought ten
hurricanes that inflicted around $265bn in damage, this year’s rather average forecast may
come as a relief. But policymakers would be foolish to ignore the growing risk.
America is much better prepared for hurricanes today than it was when Katrina struck in
2005. But the process for responding to such crises remains wasteful and inefficient. When a
hurricane strikes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) uses its Disaster
Relief Fund to pay for food, shelter, and repairs to infrastructure. In the past eight months,
FEMA has doled out over $17bn from the fund (see chart). This pot of money, which pays
for about half of all federal spending on hurricane relief and recovery, is often woefully close
to empty: it held just $2.2bn when Hurricane Harvey struck last August. It is only after the
roaring winds and rising waters have done their damage that Congress allocates new funds to
top it up through “supplemental appropriations”.
Gather emergency supplies.
During and after a hurricane, you may need supplies to keep your family safe and healthy.
Remember that a hurricane could cut off your power and water supply. You also may not be
able to drive because of damage to your car. Roads may be flooded or blocked.
That’s why it’s best to be prepared—stock up on everything you might need now. Be sure to
prepare the following:
 An emergency food and water supply.
 An emergency medicine supply.
 Emergency power sources such as flashlights (don’t forget extra batteries).
 Safety and personal items.
 Important documents, including medical documents, wills, passports, and personal
identification.
 A fire extinguisher. Make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it!
Read the National Fire Protection Association’s
{D} Disaster management agencies.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States
Department of Homeland Security. (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by
Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on
April 1, 1979.[1] The agency's primary purpose is to coordinate the response to a disaster that
has occurred in the United States and that overwhelms the resources of local
and state authorities. The governor of the state in which the disaster occurs must declare
a state of emergency and formally request from the President that FEMA and the federal
government respond to the disaster. The only exception to the state's gubernatorial
declaration requirement occurs when an emergency or disaster takes place on federal property
or to a federal asset—for example, the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal
Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, or the Space Shuttle Columbia in the 2003 return-
flight disaster.

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