UNWINDING THE DELUGE OF FLASH FLOOD: “REALIZING ITS ROOTS”

Flash flood- (Flooding, river flood, house flood, flash, drainage, roots, impact of flash flood, environment, damage, disaster management, loss of life, warning, heavy rain, cyclones, thunderstorm, monsoon, debris flow)

Flash floods are deadly natural disasters that happen exceedingly in many places of the world. These sudden, intense floods pose an imminent danger to infrastructure, private assets, and human life. Understanding the origins of flash floods is essential for disaster management and mitigation. Let us have a closer look at the root causes behind the grand disaster along with the worldwide scenario of flash flood.

Causes of flash flood:

Weather patterns and precipitation: One of the most significant precursors to flash floods is heavy rainfall and flooding. Precipitation can be produced for short stretches of time by weather patterns like frequent thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, or severe monsoon rains. Saturated soil and fast moving water surpass natural drainage systems, triggering quick and uncontrolled flooding.

Topography & Terrain: Geographical factors play a significant part on assessing an area’s susceptibility to flash floods. It is especially receptive owing to rocky terrain, mountain regions, and areas with minimal channels for drainage. At these sites, water can quickly gather and flow into the river, causing flash flooding with little notice.

Urbanization and Human Impact: Rapid urbanization along with substantial human landscape transformation might boost the potential of flash floods. The substitution of concrete and asphalt for natural surfaces reduces the soil’s capacity to absorb rainfall. As a result, rainfall quickly bypasses drainage systems and exceeds their capacity, leading to rapid flooding. The effects of heavy rain can be made even worse by infrastructure with poor design, such as inadequate drainage systems.

Deforestation and soil degradation: Deforestation threatens the fragile equilibrium of the ecosystem and raises the possibility of flash floods. Tree cover is crucial for controlling water flow because trees catch rainwater, reduce the flow of water, and increase soil absorption. In the absence of such a natural barrier, rainwater penetrates the soil more directly, causing more floods and soil erosion. As a result, rivers and streams receive more water, which causes floods to occur downstream.

Climate Change: major changes in weather trends have a substantial effect on the frequency and severity of flash floods. Global warming causes an increase in atmospheric moisture, which causes rainstorm events to occur more frequently and with greater intensity. Additionally, changing climate variables and changes in the distribution of rainfall might make some areas more vulnerable to flash flooding.

Identifying the causes of flash floods can help to comprehend how both natural and human factors contribute to these disasters. Policy-makers, municipal planners, and emergency responders can create effective flood prevention plans, warning systems, and resilient infrastructures if they are fully aware of the causes. Moreover, it essential that residents are knowledgeable and equipped in order to reduce the loss of life and property due to flash flooding. If we fully comprehend the reasons, we can reduce the effects of flash floods and create communities that are more resilient.

Some General facts concerning flash floods worldwide:

Flash floods are an international occurrence that can happen anywhere in the world. Based on topographic characteristics such as climatic conditions, geographic location, and weather patterns in their area, the frequency and severity might vary. Here are some countries affected the most with flash floods:

United States: In the United States, flash flooding is a common occurrence, particularly in regions that are more susceptible to heavy rains, such as the Gulf coast, the southwest, and the Midwest. States like Texas, Florida, and Colorado have recently witnessed devastating flash floods.

India: States like Assam, Uttarakhand and Kerala are the worst hit regions by flash floods in the country. Assam witnesses this phenomenon annually causing a havoc and threat to the ecosystem. Significant flash floods have also been brought on by glacial lake explosions in the Himalayan region of northern India. The consequences of a flash flood in the Himalayan area have left India in ruins right now.

China: China is a prey to flash flood in its summer days. This is largely because of the possibility throughout China’s large river basins, especially those of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers.

Indonesia: Due to its tropical environment and abundance of islands, flash floods are likely to occur in Indonesia. Heavy rains, monsoons, and volcanic eruptions can cause flash floods in a number of regions of the nation, including the capital city of Jakarta.

Bangladesh: Bangladesh, which is located on the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta, frequently experiences flash floods during the monsoon season. The region’s insufficient drainage systems, heavy rainfall, and swollen rivers all combine to create a huge problem.

Europe: Due to severe rainfall, some EU countries, notably France, Germany, and Italy, have experienced flash flooding. A prime example of how vulnerable densely populated areas are is the flash floods that occurred in cities like Paris in 2016.

Australia: Flash flooding is possible anywhere in the nation, but it’s most common in places like Queensland or the northern half of the State that have recently had floods from tropical cyclones and/or received a lot of rain. When brief downpours fill up barren rivers, flash floods can also occur in arid areas.

Keep in consideration that flash floods are possible in an array of nations and areas globally. Region oriented weather authorities and disaster management organizations frequently give unique data and statistics with reference to flash flooding in their country to aid in the monitoring and mitigation of these disasters.