Disaster
Flash Flooding
What is flash flood?
•A flood caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short
period of time, generally less than 6 hours
•usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains
that rip through river beds, urban streets, or mountain
canyons sweeping everything before them
•an occur within minutes or a few hours of excessive
rainfall
•an also occur even if no rain has fallen, for instance after
a levee or dam has failed, or after a sudden release of
water by a debris or ice jam
Flood
•An overflow of water onto normally dry land
•The inundation of a normally dry area
caused by rising water in an existing
waterway, such as a river, stream, or
drainage ditch
•Ponding of water at or near the point where
the rain fell
What is the difference between flash flood and
flood?
•Flooding is a longer term event than flash
flooding: it may last days or weeks.
•Flash flood can occur within minutes or a
few hours of excessive rainfall
•Flash floods are distinguished from a
regular flood by a timescale less than six
hours
Causes of flash flood
•occurs when a barrier holding back water fails or when
water falls too quickly on saturated soil or dry soil that has
poor absorption ability
•The runoff collects in low-lying areas and rapidly flows
downhill
• occur in normally dry areas that have recently received
precipitation
• also occurred after eruptions, when glaciers have been
melted by the intense heat.
Causes of flash flood
•May be caused by heavy rain associated with a
storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from
ice or snow flowing over icesheets or snowfields
•can occur after the collapse of a natural ice or
debris dam, or a human structure such as a man-
made dam, as occurred before the Johnstown Flood
of 1889
Effects of Flash Flood
Primary Effects
•Physical damage- Can range anywhere from bridges,
cars, buildings, sewer systems, roadways, canals and
any other type of structure.
•Casualties- People and livestock die due to drowning.
It can also lead to epidemics and diseases.
Secondary effects
•Water supplies- Contamination of water. Clean
drinking water becomes scarce
•Diseases- Unhygienic conditions. Spread of water-
borne diseases
•Crops and food supplies- Shortage of food crops
can be caused due to loss of entire harves
•Trees - Non-tolerant species can die from
suffocation
Tertiary/long-term effects
Economic- Economic hardship,due to:
temporary decline in tourism,
rebuilding costs,
food shortage leading to price increase
etc, especially to the poor.
Historical examples of flash flood
Johnstown Flood
•occurred on May 31, 1889
•It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork
Dam
•made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall
•The flood killed over 2,200 people and caused US$17 million
of damage
•victims suffered a series of legal defeats in their attempt to
recover damages from the dam's owners
Flash Floods in India's Remote
Himalayan Region
•Occurred in 6 August 2010
•the worst floods in 80 years have swept through the country
•caused by nightime heavy rainfall
•The flood waters, carrying mud and debris, coursed down the mountain
slopes of Ladakh
•More than 60 people have died and about 200 others injured in flash
floods
•Buildings, homes, power and telephone lines collapsed, vehicles were
washed away and many people were trapped under the debris.
•causing widespread damage in the region's main city, Leh, and
surrounding villages.
Pakistan Flood
•the worst floods since 1929 in Pakistan's northwest
•killing more than 1,000 people and forcing hundreds of
thousands to flee from their homes
•In total, one million people have been affected by the
monsoon.
•Three days of torrential rains caused rivers to burst their
banks in several places and unleashed widespread destruction
in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province
•hundreds and thousands of people without food, shelter or
clean water
Ways to prevent and control flash
flood
•Flood-control dams were constructed throughout history across rivers
•Dikes and levees are built alongside rivers to keep them from
overflowing during periods of high water
•Canals are also used to help drain off extra water. Streams and rivers
can be diverted to avoid highly populated areas
•Regulation of floodplain development and urbanization would reduce
flood losses
•Prevention of soil erosion
•Plant lots of trees, treat slopes and grads, and create reservoirs to
catch sediment and debris.
Flood Safety
•Stay out of areas subject to flooding. Dips, low spots,
canyons, washes, etc., can become filled with water
•If outdoors, climb to high ground and stay there. Move
away from dangerous flood waters
•If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above
your ankles, stop, turn around, and go another way
•Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift water
THE END
Thank You.
