DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)
LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION
STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2
MAIN
SUB-TOPIC
EXTRA (MISC)
6.4 FLOODING
➢ is the abnormal rise of water level
in rivers, coastal areas, plains, and
in highly urbanized centers, which
may be a result of natural
phenomena, human activities, or
both.
PRIMARY FLOOD TYPES AND
CAUSES
1. RIVERINE - When the level of water
flowing through rivers increases and
goes beyond the average water
level, or worse, further encroaches
levees, the type of flooding is
riverine. The rate of increase of
water level is dependent on the river
type and source of additional water
input. Water levels usually rise
slowly in larger rivers with large
catchment areas and rise more
rapidly in smaller rivers which have
smaller catchment areas. Extreme
and sustained rainfall is one cause
of riverine flooding.
2. ESTUARINE & COASTAL
ESTUARINE - Estuarine and coastal
flooding occur when seawater
encroaches upon low-lying land that
is usually still above sea level.
Flooding in these areas can be the
result of storm surges. Storm surges
are far-reaching and residents in
coastal areas are encouraged to flee
inland as far and as high as
possible, way before the tropical
cyclone makes landfall.
a. Flooding can also be caused
by unusually high tides,
Astronomical high tide is a
short-term sea-level rise
caused by the gravitational
pull of the Moon and the Sun
on the Earth's waters (mainly
oceans and to a lesser
extent, lakes). Coastal and
estuarine areas, the lowest
portions of land, are the most
susceptible during high tide.
b. Spring tides happen when
the Sun, the Earth, and the
Moon are aligned during the
new moon and full moon and
cause water to bulge in the
direction of the alignment.
c. Neap tides, which occur
during quarter moons, do not
cause extreme tides because
the gravitational pull of the
Moon and the Sun are
perpendicular to each other
and cancel each other out.
3. URBAN FLOODING - Urban
flooding usually occurs in highly
populated, developed areas set on
relatively low-lying areas like valleys
and plains. Urban flooding is largely
a result of (1) saturation of the
ground due to too much rainfall
and (2) the presence of large
areas of impermeable surfaces
like concrete pavements and
rooftops.
DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)
LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION
STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2

Urban flooding is largely due to

man-made causes. Flooding may be
DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF
due to lack of proper drainage FLOODING
systems. A proper drainage system
is one which (1) has a wide
➢ PRIMARY EFFECTS - are those
coverage (2) has sufficient
which result from direct interaction of
capacity to accommodate
humans and their property with flood
volumes of water based on
waters. Primary effects of flooding
predicted worst case flooding-event
include loss of lives and damage to
scenarios; and (3) is not prone to
amenities and loss of access to
blockage.
basic necessities. These may
4. CATASTROPHIC FLOODING -
include damage to infrastructure
Catastrophic flooding may result
such as houses, commercial
from ground failure and/or major
buildings, bridges, roads,
infrastructure failure. Ground failure
transportation facilities drainage and
is the weakening of the rock or soil
sewerage disposal systems, power
such as subsidence, liquefaction,
generation and/or transmission
and occurrence of landslides that
facilities, water supply and treatment
may be triggered by earthquakes,
facilities, and farmland.
volcanic eruptions, Intense rainfall,
➢ SECONDARY EFFECTS - are the
and other natural disasters.
short-term, immediate, but indirect
5. FLASH FLOODS - A flash flood is
consequences of flooding. These
the rapid, short-lived, and violent
may include power loss; domestic
arrival of a large volume of water
and potable water loss or shortage
which can be caused by intense
risk of acquiring waterborne
localized rainfall on land that is
diseases, usually due to mixing of
saturated or unable to absorb water
human sewage with floodwaters:
(e.g., concrete pavements).
difficulty of mobilization due to
damage to transportation facilities;
DRIVING IN FLOOD WATER and food shortage.
➢ TERTIARY EFFECTS - are the
Driving a passenger car when floods have long-term indirect consequences of
reached 15 cm high can become flooding. Economic hardships at the
unmanageable and can cause irreparable local and national levels and
damage when the engine dies and you unemployment may result from the
attempt to restart it. destruction of production- and
services-based businesses, decline
in tourism in affected areas, and
additional government expenditures
for the rehabilitation of public
infrastructure.
DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)
LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION
STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2
MITIGATION OF FLOOD HAZARDS
There are several methods that can be
employed in the mitigation of hazards.
These are categorized as (1) flood hazard
assessment and mapping, (2) flood
prediction (3) flood forecasting and
warning, and (4) flood-control
engineering measures.
FLOOD FORECASTING USING
MODELING SOFTWARE
Real-time or forecasted data on
precipitation and streamflow, degree of
ground saturation, amount of permeable
soil, and amount of vegetation can be input
into hydrological modeling software to make
short-term predictions of flow rates and
water levels several hours to days in
advance.
- State-of-the-art flood modeling
software also considers the
presence of flood plains, man-made
flood defenses, and the effects of
astronomical tides and storm surges
in coming up with a forecast model.
Flash-flood forecasting is more
challenging and warnings are
automatically released in areas
which are prone to flash floods once
it has been determined that the area
will be affected by heavy rainfall.
FLOOD CONTROL
Hard engineering measures can be
implemented in order to prevent flooding in
certain places. The following are structures
that are being utilized to control water and
prevent water from reaching destructive
levels/volumes and distance.
DAMS
is a barrier that holds back water and can
regulate water flow rates. In the Philippines,
dams are constructed primarily for
hydroelectric power generation. Water is
impounded in a reservoir at a certain height
to accumulate sufficient potential energy
such that when water is released, the water
will drive turbines and a generator to
produce electricity. Dam operations are
closely monitored to determine when and at
what rate to release water to prevent
flooding downstream because of
unanticipated overflow.
DIVERSION CANALS
Diversion canals are artificial waterways
utilized to reroute the excessive storm water
to an area with lower risk or impact to
flooding.
RIVER AND COASTAL DEFENSES
The most common flood control structure
used to prevent water from escaping
riverbanks are artificial levees (or dikes). A
levee or dike is a permanently fixed barrier
which is constructed parallel to the channel
DRRR: VOLCANIC HAZARDS (6)
LECTURE — DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION
STEM 12 | PROF: CHRISTOPHER BALANAY | SEM 2

and built to be sufficiently higher than the #3. During the Flood. As much as
estimated maximum flood levels in the area. possible, avoid having to walk or drive
through floodwaters. Make Sure to wear
boots to avoid getting electrocuted. Turn off
A SELF-CLOSING FLOOD BARRIER
(SCFB) gas lines or cooking gas tanks (liquefied
petroleum gas or LPG), shut down
electricity from control panels to avoid
is designed to prevent floods due to
possible electrocution, and turn off water
overflow of natural and artificial waterways
gauge valves to prevent possible harm/
from entering property. Once flood water
damage and potential costs if left
reaches a certain level, it flows through an
unmonitored during evacuation.
opening in the lower portion of the
#4. After the flood. Take precautions
self-closing flood barrier and buoys the
against the risk of entering property that
barrier.
may be structurally compromised and
contaminated. If water has not entirely
SEA WALLS subsided, make sure to we boots to avoid
getting electrocuted. Then, if possible,
are constructed along coasts to protect document the damage to your property by
communities from being destroyed by taking pictures and describing these in
flooding during high tide, by a storm surge, detail. This documentation will be necessary
or a tsunami. for claiming insurance funds for the repair of
your property.
⚠️ WHAT TO DO BEFORE, DURING, AND
AFTER THE FLOOD ⚠️
#1. Long before the flood. Find out if your
area is prone to flooding from existing flood
maps prepared by the Mines and
Geosciences Bureau. Havean easy kit. This
kit should ideally be a bag containing a
flashlight, batteries, first aid kit, radio,
clothes, blankets, towels, bottled water, and
ready-to-eat food.
#2. Before an impending flood. Keep
tuned-in to the news on television and radio
for weather updates, flood warnings, and
evacuation alerts. Gather or call all family
members and/or persons in your household
to inform them of the impending flood so
that they can accordingly plan their activities
for the day. Also, try to get very important
and delicate personal property to higher
grounds to avoid damage.