What experience have you had of flooding?
Floods
Flooding has been part of life for people in flood plains, near the sea, and other vulnerable places since time immemorial. Many societies have their own stories of the great flood, which may have been local or widespread, and archaeological evidence has been found for some of these. There are stories of both historic and mythical cities (such as Atlantis) being lost under the waters.
Some times floods are predictable. Some floods are even beneficial, as the flooding of the Nile used to be before it was dammed, the fish harvests in the Mekong Delta during floods, and silt deposits in the Vietnam and Cambodia floodplains. Some areas would become salty and unproductive if it were not for floods. Some fish rely on floods for spawning.
Sometimes floods are the result of the ground finally having been saturated, as with the floods in Lynmouth in the UK on 16 August 1952 or of a freak downpour as in Boscastle in the UK last year, 50 years later. A less common, but sometimes far more unexpected and widespread cause can be a tsunami, like that of December 24 1004 which devastated many coastal communities around the Indian Ocean. More commonly, though, it is due to fairly regular phenomena such as monsoons, typhoons and hurricanes that devastate parts of India, Japan, the Philippines, the USA and other countries each year.
These days when flooding appears more severe, it tends to be blamed on deforestation, overgrazing, urban development, cultivation or global warming. Coral mining and mangrove cutting can reduce coastal protections, as happened in Sri Lanka. The Yangtze River catchment suffered from a wide range of human activities which make it less able to soak up water, and 3,600 people died after record rains in 1998. Global warming can give storms extra energy to make them more devastating, and it can cause sea levels to rise so that low-lying places such as the Netherlands and New Orleans and several island nations are under greater threat. Floods due to burst dams can be more sudden and severe than the floods that would have taken place if the dam had not been there in the first place.
Some places are under greater threat simply because they are sinking; for example London, UK is slowly sinking at about 8 inches a century mostly because Scotland is rising because the weight of the ice that was on it during the last ice age has gone.
In some countries mapping and modelling has enabled us to determine which places are at risk of flooding in the future, even if they have not suffered in the past. Increased weather forecasting including satellite images plus better communications enable many people to be warned of impending storms, and we are also improving our warning systems for tsunamis.
In spite of our flood defences, though, there is no way to eliminate flooding, and it seems likely that it will only increase in the future. Add to that the fact that more and more people are living in low-lying areas, such as Bangladesh of which two thirds was under water for 3 weeks in 1988, and it seems likely that there can only be more death and destruction due to flooding, and not less. An average of 66 million people suffered flood damage a year between 1973 and 1997.
As we build more cities we often make the problem worse, as the water cannot soak into the concrete and tarmac and buildings that have replaced the bare earth, and runs straight off. A new town such as Milton Keynes, England may have flood defences built in: the areas along rivers are expected to flood and there are lakes to take excess water. It is not so easy to retrofit flood defences into older towns. And then, the more of us there are, the more deaths there will be; the more buildings and infrastructure we build and belongings we possess, the more we will lose, often including our pets. If you want to know just how much more, ask the reinsurance industry.
There are many dangers after floods. In the immediate aftermath there may be posionous wild snakes and other animals, and even dangerous escapees from zoos and private collections. Sewage will be mixed in with the water and it may be hard to find fresh drinking water. Many pollutants may have been washed into the water. There may be dead animals decomposing. If the electricity has not been cut off everywhere, then there is danger of electrocution. Gas mains may be broken, and fires started. Water-borne disease can reach epidemic proportion, closely followed by diseases spread by mosquitoes if they thrive in the climate.
Defences such as the Thames Flood Barrier seem unlikely to be able to hold back the tide for long. More natural defences, such as planting mangroves or deliberate breaches of flood defences to let the land as has been done in the Blackwater Estuary in south east England to take the sting out of high tides, may have more success. But if sea levels continue to rise, abandoning the low-level land altogether may be the only option. Sea level changes are not new - the sea level has varied by 100 metres in the past, but the rate of change is higher than usual at present.
Other ways to reduce flooding are to stop all our activities which add to the problem, such as coral mining, and reverse the deforestation and other changes that we have made to the landscape. In cities we can add to our parks and trees and other pervious surfaces. Studies have estimated that Baltimore/Washington region forests save the area more than $1 billion in man-made flood defence costs, but it has lost more than a third of its heavy tree cover since the 1970s.
Please see the following message for the remaining stories.
Katrina Packing Wind of Nearly 175 Mph, New Orleans to be evacuated as Katrina's winds near, Bush Urges People to Heed Evacuate Orders, Katrina a top-strength hurricane, aims for U.S., Katrina Heads for Gulf Coast at 160 Mph, New Orleans Could Be 15' Underwater, Floridians Wait for Food After Storm Hits
New Orleans inhabitants evacuated as hurricane Katrina approached packing winds of nearly 175 mph. Many of those who couldn't leave headed for centres such as the Superdome. It was anticipated that the storm surge could be as high as 18 feet, and could overwhelm the levees and pumps that keep the water back from the city which is 6 feet below sea level. Parts of the city could be 15 feet underwater, remaining under water for months. Water-borne disease could become a problem. It could be hard to care for the sick and elderly and animals. Some animals such as snakes could be dangerous to people. Crude oil output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, which supplies about a quarter of U.S. domestic oil and gas output, was cut by more than one-third.
Meanwhile, in the wake of Katrina's earlier strike there, Floridians were queuing for food, ice and water. A category 1 storm at the time, Katrina killed 9 people. Many were still without power.
Katrina was the 6th named storm to hit Florida since August, and the 11th of the hurricane season which started June 1.
Other stories
Firefighters Battle Northern Calif. Blaze
The progress of a 2,300-acre wildfire in California thanks to the efforts of more than 1,700 firefighters. Large fires were also blazing in Utah and Oregon.
In Future, Lighting May Boost Health
Lighting researchers believe that lighting could be developed to improve health and play a greater role in communication. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, already offer energy savings, but as the technology develops they can be made larger and smarter. Now they can act as stop lights and illuminate swimming pools, and communicate with devices by blinking faster than people can see.
Bird Flu Kills 3 Rare Civets in Vietnam
Three civets have died from bird flu at the Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam. The Owston's palm civets are endangered. Neighbouring civets and other animals and birds are healthy and it is not known how the three were infected. SARS is believed to have originated in civets in China. Other animals that have been infected with bird flu include ostriches in South Africa and 30 tigers and a clouded leopard in Thailand.
Possible Case of Bird Flu First in Finland
Finland has its first suspected case of bird flu, a gull in Oulo. It is thought unlikely that it had the H5N1 strain that is considered dangerous to humans and likely to cause a pandemic.
Thai Elephant Fitted With Prosthesis
The Thai elephant Motola who had a foot amputated after stepping on a land mine has had a temporary prosthesis fitted, to prepare her for a permanent one once the leg has strengthened. There are about 2,000 working elephants in Thailand, down from 10,000 in the 1970s.
Index of topics in this series.
[Views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of CompuServe, Netscape, any government, agency, or news organization. External Websites are "At Your Own Risk," and no endorsement is expressed or implied.]
Here's the part of FEMA's National Situation Update for Sunday, August 28, 2005 relating to hurricane Katrina:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the North Central Gulf Coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida border including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect from east of the Alabama/Florida border to Destin, Florida and from west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City, Louisiana. At 5 am EDT (0900z), a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Destin Florida eastward to Indian Pass, Florida and from Intracoastal City, Louisiana westward to Cameron, Louisiana. At 5 am EDT (0900z), the center of Hurricane Katrina was located near latitude 25.4 north, longitude 87.4 west or about 275 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Katrina is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph. A gradual turn toward the northwest is expected later today. Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph with higher gusts. Katrina is a Category Four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles. Estimated minimum central pressure is 935 mb (27.61 inches). Coastal storm surge flooding of 15 to 20 feet above normal tide levels, locally as high as 25 feet along with large and dangerous battering waves can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible along the path of Katrina across the Gulf Coast and the southeastern United States. The hurricane is still expected to produce additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches over extreme western Cuba and 1 to 3 inches of rainfall is expected over the Yucatan Peninsula.
Isolated tornadoes will be possible beginning sunday evening over southern portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and over the Florida Panhandle. (National Hurricane Center, media sources)
South: Outer rainbands and high surf ahead of Hurricane Katrina will affect coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and parts of the Florida Peninsula today. These outer bands may contain discrete thunderstorms that may produce short-lived tornadoes. Otherwise, winds will slowly increase along the central Gulf coast in advance of Hurricane Katrina. Northeast winds from 15 to 25 mph should be common, with a few gusts above 35 mph during the day. The threat of rip currents will continue to be high today, particularly along the Alabama and Florida Panhandle beaches. Heat and thunderstorms will dog others from the Carolinas to Texas again today. An area of thunderstorms will persist from the coastal Carolinas to north Florida. A weak frontal boundary will stall out from the southern Appalachians into the Lower Mississippi Valley, focusing thunderstorms from the Smoky Mountains to southern Arkansas. This boundary may also focus flooding rains once the remnants of Hurricane Katrina move inland Tuesday into Wednesday. There will be a significant footprint of heavy, potentially flooding rainfall from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Tennessee Valley as Katrina moves well inland along a slow moving cold front. Thunderstorms should continue to rumble across Oklahoma and parts of Texas into the overnight and then flare again today. While widespread severe weather is not anticipated, a few pulse severe storms producing strong wind gusts, hail, and heavy rainfall are possible. Northeast: Excessive heat will continue to give the Northeast a break to round out this last weekend in August. Highs today should hold in the 70s over much of New England and Upstate New York, and manage only the 80s over the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachians. Rain and thunderstorms may put a damper on your day from Upstate New York to Virginia. A few of these storms may turn briefly severe with high winds and some hail in Upstate New York and western New England. A stubborn combination of strong high pressure off Newfoundland plus a stalling frontal boundary will keep the threat of rain along much of the Northeast seaboard again tomorrow.
Midwest: Only a few minor blemishes are expected to tarnish the end of the last weekend in August in the nation’s mid-section. Only the Ohio Valley will be sweating in late summer 90-degree heat on Sunday. On the flip side, highs should hold in the 70s over much of the Upper Midwest, including Minnesota, the eastern Dakotas, and much of Michigan. Folks near Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, northwest Wisconsin, and western Upper Michigan may need to grab a jacket for some 60s Sunday. Clouds and light showers can be expected to accompany these chilly temperatures in northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and the U.P. of Michigan. A second sluggish frontal boundary may spawn additional storms from southern Michigan to Kansas. Some locations are running an August rainfall surplus of over 6 inches from the past 2 weeks’ heavy rains.
West: Two active areas will dominate the western weather picture this weekend. Thunderstorms will rumble again today in the southern Rockies and adjacent High Plains. While severe weather should be rather hit-or-miss, locally heavy rainfall and a brief high wind gust or burst of large hail are possible in the strongest of storms. A cool front will slide into the Pacific Northwest, and clouds, showers, and perhaps a rumble of thunder is possible in association with this cool front. This will keep temperatures much of the day in the 60s in Seattle-Tacoma, and in the 70s in Portland. Ahead of the front, highs will soar well into the 90s in the interior Northwest and northern Rockies, including the active wildfire areas. Unfortunately, stronger winds and thunderstorms (lightning strikes and shifting winds) should become a problem in the wildfire battle tomorrow as the front sweeps through. Following highs in the upper 90s in Boise today, mid-70s should result on Tuesday behind the front. (NWS, Media Sources)
Please see the following message for the rest of this report.
Coastal residents jammed freeways and gas stations as they rushed to get out of the way of Hurricane Katrina, which grew into a dangerous Category 4 storm early Sunday as it headed for New Orleans and the Louisiana coast. Katrina gained strength overnight, become a Category 4 with 145 mph sustained winds as it moved over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico early this morning. Katrina could become a Category 5 storm before landfall.
A hurricane watch extended from Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border, and President Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana. His spokesman urged residents along the coast to heed authorities' advice to evacuate. Katrina could be especially devastating if it strikes New Orleans because the city sits below sea level and is dependent on levees and pumps to keep the water out. A direct hit could wind up submerging the city in several feet of water.
Making matters worse, at least 100,000 people in the city lack the transportation to get out of town. The Superdome might be used as a shelter of last resort for people who have no cars, with city bus pick-up points around New Orleans.
Owners of gas stations in and around New Orleans were forced to direct traffic as lines to the pumps stretched down surrounding streets. Gas stations were running low on gas by midafternoon Saturday Louisiana and Mississippi made all lanes northbound on interstate highways. Mississippi declared a state of emergency and Alabama offered assistance to its neighbors. Some motels as far inland as Jackson, Miss., 150 miles north of New Orleans, were already booked up.
By 2 a.m. EDT this morning, the eye of the hurricane was about 310 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. It was moving west-northwest at about 8 mph and was expected to turn more to the northwest during the day, the National Hurricane Center said. "We know that we're going to take the brunt of it," Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said. "It does not bode well for southeastern Louisiana." Some tourists heeded the warnings and moved up their departures, and lines of tourists waited for cabs on New Orleans' famed Bourbon Street. But plenty of people in the French Quarter stayed put, and bars were rocking Saturday night.
New Orleans' worst hurricane disaster happened 40 years ago, when Hurricane Betsy blasted the Gulf Coast. Flood waters approached 20 feet in some areas, fishing villages were flattened, and the storm surge left almost half of New Orleans under water and 60,000 residents homeless. Seventy-four people died in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. Katrina was a Category 1 storm with 80 mph wind when it hit South Florida on Thursday, and rainfall was estimated at up to 20 inches. Risk modeling companies have said early estimates of insured damage range from $600 million to $2 billion.
Katrina is the 11th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. That's seven more than typically have formed by now in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane center said. The season ends Nov. 30. (Media Sources)
Federal Actions:
The FEMA National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) Red Team is activated at Level I (Full Activation). FEMA headquarters is conducting daily video-teleconferences at noon EDT with FEMA Region IV, the National Hurricane Center and the potentially affected States. The FEMA ERT-N (Blue) team was activated and deployed to Baton Rouge, LA at noon August 27. FEMA Region IV: The RRCC in Atlanta activated at Level I (full activation). FEMA Region VI: The RRCC in Denton, TX activated at Level I (full activation).
State Actions:
Alabama EOC is activating, with full operations on 8/27. Florida EOC is at Level 1 (full activation). Georgia EOC is at Level 1 operations. Mississippi EOC activated, State of Emergency has been declared. Louisiana EOC is fully activated, with mandatory evacuation orders issued.
(FEMA HQ)
FEMA-3212-EM-LA was declared on August 27, 2005 to provide Emergency Assistance for 39 parishes in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Katrina. (FEMA HQ)
Here's the EPA's Preparation Notice for Sunday, August 28, 2005 relating to hurricane Katrina:
Aug 28 - In response to FEMA's call for help, EPA has activated its response network and has personnel at the FEMA center in Denton, Texas, the State of Louisiana command center in Baton Rouge, the Mississippi Emergency Operations Center in Jackson, and the Alabama Emergency Operations Center in Clinton. EPA is responsible for coordinating work to address oil and chemical spills in the area.
Once safe travel into the impacted area is possible, EPA will deploy additional response members to help ensure measures to protect public health and the environment can be taken quickly. In the wake of a natural disaster, EPA assists state and local authorities in conducting aerial and ground surveillance to evaluate potential problems involving oil and hazardous chemicals.
Last year, EPA deployed about 150 Response Support Corps members from across the country to Florida to help the disaster victims. EPA went door-to-door in the disaster-affected communities to disseminate information about available disaster assistance.
Created in 2003 to enhance EPAs emergency preparedness, the Response Support Corps is a pool of several hundred employees from across the country to provide assistance during emergency response.
