DISASTER MANAGEMENT

FLOODS
“ Disasters disrupt progress and destroy the hard-earned fruits of painstaking
developmental efforts, often pushing nations, back by several decades. “

Thus, efficient management of disasters, rather than mere response to their occurrence
has, in recent times, received increased attention both within India and abroad.

 India is vulnerable, in varying degrees, to a large number of natural as well as man-made

disasters.

1. over 40 million hectares (12 per cent of land) is prone to floods and river erosion;

2. the 7,516 km long coastline, close to 5,700 km is prone to cyclones and tsunamis;

3. 68 per cent of the cultivable area is vulnerable to drought;

4. Hilly areas are at risk from landslides and avalanches;

5. Vulnerability to disasters/ emergencies of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear

origin also exists.
 Paradigm shift in Disaster Management
On 23 December, 2005, the Government of India took a
defining step by enacting the Disaster Management Act,
2005

Which envisaged the creation of…

1.The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),
headed by the Prime Minister
2.State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed
by the Chief Ministers
3.District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs)
headed by the Collector or District Magistrate or Deputy
Commissioner
 FLOODS
 Basically a flood is a when the water level in an area rises where there was normally
little or none before. Floods can be dramatic and quick or slow and creeping.

 The word 'Flood' comes from Old English, Flod, or Pleu, of an Indo-European language
root.
 Floods are natural phenomena common in many places around the world where either
there is river nearby or the local weather can dump large amounts of rain.

A Diagram of normal water level A Diagram of flooded area

Flood
zones
in India
 Reasons for floods
Heavy Rain flow

Huge Snow Melting

Failures of Dams

 Landslides causing
blockage of river
 Effects of floods
 The damage due to flood may vary with respect to the magnitude of the flood

we can classify the effects as:

PRIMARY EFFECTS

1. Physical damage - Can range anywhere from bridges,cars, buildings, sewer systems,
roadways, canals and any other type of structure.

2. Casualties - People and livestock die due to drowning. It can also lead to epidemics
and diseases.

SECONDARY EFFECTS

1. Water supplies - Contamination of water. Clean drinking water becomes scarce.

2. Diseases - Unhygienic conditions. Spread of water-borne diseases.

 Flood Management

 Greater losses due to flood

 Need for control, Measures to be taken

 No complete control of flood to zero level
…So, Flood Management rather than Flood Control
 Classification of control measures
1.Structural measures
2. Non-structural measures
FLOOD MANAGEMENT
 STRUCTURAL MEASURES
STORAGE RESERVOIR:
Most reliable and effective flood control method

Storage reservoir to absorb incoming flood

Release in controlled way so that downstream channels do not get

flooded.

Several reservoirs to be placed in a river for complete flood control.

 STRUCTURAL MEASURES
DETENTION RESERVIORS
Consist of an obstruction to a river with uncontrolled
outlet.

For small structures and temporary storage

LEVEES
Also called dikes or flood embankments

Earthen structures parallel to the course of river

 STRUCTURAL MEASURES

FLOODWAYS
 Channels into which part of the flood will be diverted during
high stages.

 Natural or man-made

CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT
 Widening or deepening of channel

 Reduction of channel roughness (clearance of vegetation)

 STRUCTURAL MEASURES
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

-> Aims at cutting down and delaying the

runoff before it gets into the river.

-> Check dams, contour bonding,

terraces etc.

-> Improve soil infiltration capacity hence

reduce soil erosion
 NON - STRUCTURAL
FLOOD PLAIN ZONING
MEASURES
-> Identifies the flood prone areas of a river
and regulates the land use to restrict the
damage due to flood.

-> Development plans are prepared

FLOOD FORECASTING AND WARNING

-> Enables civil authority to take appropriate

control measures.

-> Orbiting satellites—Pictures—Cloud growth

—rainfall prediction—flood prediction
 FLOOD MITIGATION

Protection of individual properties

Protection of communities

Flood risk management

 CONCLUSION

-> Flood is on of deadliest natural disaster.

-> Preventive measures to be taken in time.

-> Better engineering structures to prevent flood

control.

-> Stringent government steps.

-> Awareness on flood disaster is required.

THANK YOU