Geography

School based Assessment

Natural Hazards: Flooding

What are the causes and effects of flooding in Beaujesour?

Name: K-Zahn Elwin

School: Leon Hess Comprehensive

Teacher: Mrs.Compton

Registration No.:

Island: St.Lucia
 Table of contents
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………1

Aim Of
Study…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2

Methodology…………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………3

Location of study
area…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………4

Maps…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………….5
 1

Introduction
This report hopes to identify the causes and effects of flooding so that they can be stopped.

A natural Hazard is a natural phenomenon that might have a negative effect on humans and other animals,
or the environment.

A flood is an overflow of water (or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry.

When the mangrove in Beaujesour floods it causes gutters to fill, and spreads garbage around the
community. This also causes the roads to flood.

The shaded area is a mangrove situated in the Beaujesour community, and is bordered on its east by the
Atlantic Ocean. It Is located at 14°04’20”N and 60°55’42”.03W and measures 2.76sqkm in area.

When the mangrove in Beaujesour floods It causes gutters to fill, and fill and spreads garbage around the
community and causes the roads to flood.

Recent attempts in 2020 only temporarily stopped the flooding.

Aim of study
What are the causes and effects of flooding in Beausejour?
Suggest methods to mitigate flooding

4
 Location Of Study Area

The mangrove is located at 14°04’20”22N and 60°55’41”.03W

It is bordered on its East by the Atlantic ocean.

The mangrove measures 2.76km in area.

Methodology
When?
Primary data was collected on Friday 14th of January between 3:00pm UTC and 4:15pm UTC.
Internet research was conducted nightly at approximately 8:00pm UTC between Jan 20 th and Jan
24th.

Where?

Data was collected in phase two of Beaujesour, Gros Islet, St.Lucia along Nadine George Drive,
Julian Hunte Drive and Beaujesour Road.

How?

The researcher carried out a questionnaire to the residents of the Beaujesour community. Ten
questionnaires were handed out to residents and the researcher waited for each one to be filled
out. All residents were extremely co-operative and helpful. The researcher measured the height
of the water within the mangrove, using a yardstick.

During the distribution of the questionnaires, the researchers noticed that there was no uses of
hard engineering to mitigate the effects flooding.

Presentation Of Data
 Figure1

Question7.The pie chart above shows the ways in which 6 residents were negatively affected by flooding,
by which 50% or 3 residents experienced the loss of property, 2 experienced loss of lives and 1 the loss of
crops.

As shown in the graph above a major percentage of people have suffered from the loss of of property.
One of the more prominent dangers floods pose is the loss of life, but as easily as they take a life, it is just
as easy to destroy buildings, houses and agriculture. Residents should take action to protect themselves as
well as their properties and belongings
 Figure 2

The divided circle diagram above shows the percentage of residents who had thoughts on which
strategies would reduce flooding. Of the ten respondents five or 50% of respondents thought
improved drainage would reduce flooding.

Of the ten respondents 50% thought the problem was drainage. A common reoccurrence is that
drains that are unable to drain seem to be the main factor in the flooding of multiple homes and
roads. Why are more efforts not being made to rectify this issue? By simply cleaning drains,
lives could be saved and thousands of dollars saved.
In the bar graph above, shown is the reasons residents think excessive rainfall causes flooding,
with 3 saying that is it is the poor irrigation, 6 selecting Drains are clogged and 1 selecting Land
is low.

Clogged drains is a problem that plagues many communities and can have all sorts of harmful
effects on its surrounding area like sickness and hazards like flooding. One can say that it is the
obligated responsibility of the government to clean up drains but the responsibility also lies in
the community to help prevent hazards from having negative effects on the surrounding area.
 Picture showing an area affected by flooding

Plate#1: The picture shows the area affected a flood and the severity of saturation.
 Garbage in the Mangroove

Plate#2

This shows plastic bottles in the mangrove which can be directly linked to clogged
drains and shows the effects of improper garbage disposal.
 Flooded Road

Plate#3 The main road leading to the Darren Sammy Stadium floods and blocks
access to walkers and bicyclers, causing major inconvenience and posing multiple
hazards.
 Conclusion

It can be observed from the findings that the community suffers from littering and improper garbage
disposal. These problems can be directly linked to flooding as garbage clogs drains and prevents excess
water from draining when it rains heavily. From the data collected a list of problems can be made:

-Loss of life

-Loss of crop

-Blockage of main roads

-Pollution of water ways

These are problems that can be fixed with simple solutions, implemented by both the government and
residents of the Community

-Removal of garbage from mangroove

-Construction of flood walls to minimize damage to crops and protect human life

-Construct more drauns to increase effectiveness

-Inform the public of the importance of properly disposing of garbage and encourage taking care of the
community by doing the above.

Bibliography
 Sources:

Mark Wilson, The Caribbean Environment for CSEC Geography, Oxford

University Press, Oxford, 2016.
 Appendix

Questionaire

1. Age

a. 16 and under

b. 17-25

c. 26-35

d. 36-45

e. 46-55

f. 56 and above

2.Sex

Male Female

3. How long have u been residing in beaujesour?

a. Less than 5 years

b. Less than 10 years

c. Less than 15 years

d. Over 25 years

4. Are you property insured?

Yes No

5. Have you experienced flooding in the house you live in now?

Yes No

6. When was the last time you have been affected by flooding?

a. 1-5 years ago

b. 6-10 years ago

c. 11-15 years ago

d. 16+ years ago

7. Were you impacted negatively?

Yes No

8. If yes, how were you negatively affected?

a. Loss of friends or family

b. Loss of property

c. Loss of livestock

d. Loss of crops

9. Does the government warn about possible flooding?

Yes No
10. How do you prepare for possible flooding?

a. Set up flood walls

b. Set up an evacuation plan?

c. Store important documents

d. Sand Baggin

e. Sewer Valve

f. Flood vents

g. Other

11.Why do you think excessive rainfall causes flooding?

a. Poor irrigation

b. Drains are clogged

c. Land is too low

d. Seawall runs over

e. Koker releases large amounts of water

f. Other

12. How do you think the government has tried to reduce flooding?
13. How often does your place of residence flood?

a. Frequently

b. Very often

c. Rarely

d. Only in the rainy season

e. Never

14.Which of the following strategies do you think will reduce the problem of
flooding?

a. Better road design

b. Proper garbage disposal

c. Improved drainage

d. Improved garbage collection