Flashfloods

Flashfloods, dangerously fast moving floods caused by a large amount of heavy rain, are basically a natural hydrological phenomenon. This torrential downpour comes from a normally calm area into a devastating river of death in a short period of time, the main reason many people are caught unprepared. Flash floods are somewhat different from normal floods. Normal floods involve water rising and overflowing from its normal path. However, flash floods appear quickly and move swiftly across land with little warning. The water in a flashflood moves at such a high velocity that it can move boulders, uproot trees, demolish buildings, and destroy bridges. The walls of water in such a flood and be anywhere from ten to twenty feet tall and usually carry a substantial amount of debris. (http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00758/en/disaster/flood/flashfloods.html)

Flashfloods commonly develop in hilly and mountainous terrains where the slope of the river is rather steep. The prompt development of the flood is due to the extremely short concentration time of the drainage catchment which means precipitation falling on a point in the catchment farthest from the river takes only a short time to reach the river channel and become part of stream flow. Thus, the amount of stream flow rapidly increases and, consequently, the rise in water level. When the flow capacity of the stream is exceeded, the channel overflows and the result is a flash flood. (http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/genmet/floods/cause_types.html)

As land is converted from fields or woodlands to roads and parking lots, it loses its ability to absorb rainfall. Urbanization increases runoff two to six times over what would occur on natural

terrain. During periods of urban flooding, streets can become swift moving rivers, while basements and viaducts can become death traps as they fill with water.

Flooding occurs in known floodplains when prolonged rainfall over several days, intense rainfall over a short period of time, or an ice or debris jam causes a river or stream to overflow and flood the surrounding area. Countries having four seasons, melting snow can combine with rain in the winter and early spring; severe thunderstorms can bring heavy rain in the spring and summer; or tropical cyclones can bring intense rainfall to the coastal and inland states in the summer and fall.

Floods are also caused, indirectly, by seismic activities. Coastal areas are particularly susceptible to flooding due to tsunamis (seismic sea waves). Sinking of land due to earthquakes reduces the elevation of land areas. In the vicinity of lakes and rivers, these areas become floodprone. Likewise, the uplifting of lake and river beds from seismic causes sometime results in the overflowing of these bodies of water. The water then inundates the surrounding and adjacent areas. To a certain extent, astronomically influenced phenomena such as high tides coinciding with the occurrence of heavy rainfall frequently cause flooding.

Occasionally, floods occur unnaturally. These are usually the result of human activities. Some of these undertakings are: blasting causes landslides in the slopes of hills and mountains which may result in the unintentional damming of rivers and streams; construction of temporary dams this produces an obstruction to the flow of a river or stream which then results in an overflow; failure of hydraulic and other control structures result in the entry of an enormous quantity of water in a protected area such as accidents like the breaking of a dike; and mismanagement of hydraulic structures results in an untimely and sudden release of large amounts of excess water, control

structures like dams which are utilized for various purposes are usually operated according to what is known as an "operation rule" and mismanagement which the violation of the rule may the root of such catastrophic event.

While not quite so obvious, human activities that tend to alter the ecological system in a river basin will have an impact on the hydrology of the catchment. This could, in the future, result in frequent floods. Foremost among such activities is the denudation of forest and watershed areas. (http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/genmet/floods/cause_types.html)

Flash floods have a variety of effects that affect the lives of people living in flood-prone areas. Economically, flash flooding is a natural disaster responsible for millions of dollars in property damages every year. Flashfloods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss. As much as 90 percent of the damage related to all natural disasters (excluding droughts) is instigated by floods and associated debris flows (Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages, 1999). Disaster stricken place caused by flashfloods lose their houses (appliances and things inside), livelihood especially in agriculture and etc.. After flooding, government has to input many resources for aiding or reconstruction such as police force, aid worker, resources used for resisting flood which also brings loss to society.

Environmentally, flash floods carry unconceivable damages. Floodwaters have enough strength to damage or destroy buildings, sometimes washing them completely off their foundations. Some floodwaters can destroy roadways, wash out bridges and wipe out most anything in their path. This dangerous effect of flash flooding can trap people in their homes and make roads

impassable, rendering victims helpless to escape from the danger. Air rescues are sometimes necessary to pull people to safety.

The sudden rise in the water level can often destroy sewer and drainage systems, making a potential health hazard anywhere that has been affected. Human waste and other hazardous materials can wash out into the streets and into homes and potentially contaminate drinking water supplies.

Flash flooding can also quickly evict people from their homes. Rising water may not even give residents time to save their belongings before they must evacuate. Family photos and expensive or sentimental possessions can be washed away or destroyed. People who are forced from their homes must find shelter and may not be able to return to their homes for an extended period of time. Even when the water recedes, there are likely mold problems, which also pose a health threat. Rebuilding and treating homes damaged by flooding can take weeks or even months depending on the severity. In the meantime the victim families must find alternative housing which will likely only lead to more stress and anxiety.

Floods can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges, and scour out new channels. Flood waters can reach heights of 10 to 20 feet and often carry a deadly cargo of debris. Flood-producing rains can also trigger catastrophic debris slides. (disastercenter.com)

When floodwaters forcibly wash away river or creek banks, trees, shrubs and other natural features of the land it can increase the chance of the same problem happening again. This extremely fast erosion of the land can mean water will now move in a different way and could flood places

repeatedly following major flood damage. Rebuilding the land to help manage water flow can mean the difference in making an area livable or too risky to stay (Lee Morgan, 2011).