Floodshttp://www.cdera.org/doccentre/fs_floods.php WHAT IS A FLOOD? Abnormal progressive rise in the water level of streams or rivers which may result in overflowing.

A!S"S OF FLOODS Heavy Rainfall Dam or levee failures Torrential rains from cyclones Tsunamis Storm Surges L"%"LS OF FLOODI&'

Burst water mains T#$"S OF FLOODS Flash Floods River Floods Coastal Floods

Inundations due to flooding vary in cause and severity can be categorized as follows MINOR FLOODIN Due to the accumulation of e!cessive surface runoff" Flood waters consigned to the flood #lain immediately along a river$channel or in random low lying and to#ogra#hically de#ressed areas" Flooding is relatively shallow and there is no #erce#tive flow of water as when inundation is ra#idly s#reading to ad%acent areas"

MA!OR FLOODIN Due to overflowing of rivers and la&es' une!#ected and serious brea&s in di&es' levees and other #rotective structures or uncontrolled releases of dam water " Coverage of a wide continuous area and ra#id s#reading to ad%acent areas of relatively lower elevation" Flooding is relatively dee# in most #arts of the flood(stric&en areas" Currents of flowing flood water will be swift as the flood s#reads to other areas"

LI("L# I)$A T Flood waters can destroy infrastructure' #articularly those at ground level' Cro#s and livestoc& can also be destroyed and considerable water damage to critical assets will occur in the #ath of flood waters" )any #ersons may be &illed es#ecially when flash floods occur but the in%uries are few" Food su##ly may become an issue" FLOOD WAT H Designation of the perio" "uring which floo" monitoring forecasting an" floo" warnings are carrie" out "

The #rinci#al activities are Flood monitoring" Data collection and #rocessing" *ssessment of #robability of flooding" Dissemination of information to #ublic" ")"*'"& # A TIO& +fficial announcements are issued before during and after the occurrence of floods" These are intended to a##raise the #ublic in the affected area of the #resent and #ro%ected flood situation" FLOOD AD%ISO*# Content of such bulletins include ,resent and e!#ected situation of the meteorological cause of flooding" ,resent and forecasted hydrological situation" *reas li&ely to be affected" Time and severity of flooding ,recautionary measures recommended" Routine announcement of ne!t bulletin" Safety #recautions to be ta&en before the flood' when *dvisories are issued and during and after the flood" #efore the Floo" -now the flood warning system in your community and ensure that your family &nows the warnings" .earn all you can about the flooding )onitor weather conditions -ee# on hand material li&e lumber' #lywood' nails' ro#ed' wires' #lastic sheeting' sandbags' etc" -ee# a #ortable transistor radio with s#are batteries and emergency e/ui#ment" Store all chemicals away from flood waters" Store livestoc& feed and su##lies above e!#ected water levels" During the $arning .isten for emergency instructions 0atch for ra#idly rising water Store drin&ing water in sealed #lastic containers as water service may be interru#ted" )ove household items to higher levels 1et livestoc& to higher ground 2vacuate if necessary when it is safe to do so' don3t move /uic&ly" Turn off electricity at the main switch before evacuating During the Floo" *void areas sub%ect to flash flooding Don3t attem#t to cross rivers or flowing streams where water us above the &nees" Beware of water(covered roads and bridges After the Floo" Re(enter building with caution" 4se flashlights' not lanterns or torches as flammables may be inside" Be alert for fire hazards such as bro&en electrical wires" If the building has been under water' do not switch on the main' wait for #rofessional assistance" 5ever touch electrical switches while wet or standing in water Don3t use a##liances or e/ui#ment until they have been cleaned' dried and thoroughly chec&ed for damage" Re#ort utility lines 6electricity' water' gas and tele#hone7 to the a##ro#riate authorities"

Boil all water and don3t eat left(over food until it is chec&ed for contamination -ee# away from disaster areas as your #resence may ham#er rescue efforts

)ITI'ATIO& )"AS!*"S Flood )+t+gat+on )eas,res may be divided into three 687 main areas Control over the river Control over the land +ther measures ontrol O-er The *+-er Reliance is mainly on the #hysical alteration to the channel' flood #lain or watershed to control the river" )easures include Dams and reservoirs built on mainstreams or tributaries that store e!cessive water and releases it gradually after the threat has #assed" Le-ees or floodwalls confine flood waters to a floodway' thereby reducing flood damage" Channel im#rovements which include 9" Straightening to remove undesirable bendways :" Dee#ening and widening to increase size of waterways 8" Clearing to remove brush' trees and other obstructions ;" .ining with concrete to increase efficiency Watershed Treat.ent which renders the soil more absorbent of e!cessive rainfall until flood heights have receded" )eas,res +ncl,de: 9" Cro# rotation" :" Construction of terrace" 8" Contour stri# cro##ing" ;" Selective #lanting and reforestation" ontrol o-er The Land )easures are embodied in the following Land !se $ol+c+es: Des+gnated floodwa/s and encroach.ent l+nes are the lateral boundaries of the floodway where no construction or land filling should be #ermitted" 0on+ng is a legal tool used by governments to control develo#ment" S,1d+-+s+on *eg,lat+ons s#ecify the manner in which land may be divided" Ty#ical #rovisions show the e!tent of the flood #lain on ma#s" Floodway limits or encroachment lines #rohibit filing in channels and floodways that restrict flow and re/uire that each lot contain a building site with an elevation above the flood level" 2,+ld+ng odes are standards for construction of buildings and other structures and if enforced can reduce damages to buildings in flood(#rone areas" So.e re3,+re.ents +ncl,de: 9" 2stablishment of basement elevations and first flood elevations consistent with #otential flood levels" :" Structural strength to withstand water #ressure or high velocity of flowing water 8" ,rohibition of e/ui#ment that might be hazardous to life when submerged" ;" ,revention of flotation of buildings by re/uiring #ro#er anchorage" Other )eas,res These include flood proofing % floo" forecasting% warning and evacuation systems"

Flood $roof+ng is a combination of structural changes and ad%ustment to #ro#erties which can be used in new or e!isting construction" *ction include" see#age control' #rotective coverings' elevation or raising anchorage and under #inning" Flood Forecast+ng is reliable accurate and timely forecasting of floods cou#led with timely evacuation to save lives and reduce #ro#erty losses" Te.porar/ "-ac,at+on removes #ersons and #ro#erty from the #ath of flood waters" $er.anent "-ac,at+on removes an affected #o#ulation from areas sub%ect to inundation" This involves the ac/uisition of lands and the removal of im#rovements" The ac/uired lands can be used for agriculture' #ar&s or other #ur#oses that would not interfere with flood flows or result in material damage" Flood Ins,rance assists by com#ensating for flood damage but insurance rates should realistically reflect the flood ris& in order to avoid encouragement of im#ro#er develo#ment of flood #lains" )ost flooded sections in the reason are monitored at the natural level htt# $$www"cdera"org$doccentre$fs<landslides"#h# Caribbean Countries )ost *ffected Haiti' Dominican Re#ublic' Barbados' *ntigua and Barbuda' St =incent and the 1renadines' The British =irgin Islands' Bermuda' Belize' >amaica and St" .ucia S#ecific Instances Haiti ? :@@; 6: wee&s of rain7A :@9@ 6: rainstorms ? 9B &illed7 Dominican Re#ublic ? :@@; 6: wee&s of rain ( over 98'@@@ homeless' over BB@ dead7 >amaica ? tro#ical storm 5icole 6:@9@7 *#ril :C' :@9: ? 6heavy rainfall7 >amaica' Haiti' Dominican Re#ublic' St )aarten' Trinidad and Tobago

Case Studies ? Flooding Flood+ng4 the s+lent 5+ller for ar+11ean co,ntr+es htt# $$www"nationnews"com$articles$view$flooding(the(silent(&iller(for(caribbean(countries$ 2# F"*&"LLA W"DD"*2!*& 6 SAT4 O TO2"* 784 97:7 ; <:77 $) ItDs called the silent &iller" *nd for many Caribbean countries' flooding has emerged as the most common natural hazard affecting their socio(economic develo#ment" Eet more than five years after the Caribbean Disaster 2mergency )anagement *gency 6CD2)*7 im#lemented the regional flood hazard management #rogramme' not all regional states have fully embraced the initiative" CD2)* e!ecutive director >eremy Collymore said there can be no mista&ing that floods #ose the most fre/uent threat to the region' adding Fwe call it the silent &illerG" The regional flood hazard management #rogramme has been drawn u# with assistance from the >a#anese government' the 4niversity of the 0est Indies 640I7 and the Caribbean Institute of )eteorology" Collymore said that the #ro%ect focuses on community level hazard management bringing together science and traditional &nowledge for community safety" F0e need to have more of those re#licated" 0e do have the science and the local &nowledge together and that now has to be disseminated broadly and we are certainly loo&ing to address that in our future resource mobilization'G he added" In recent wee&s' several Caribbean countries have had to deal with floods occasioned by unsettled weather over the region' resulting in death and wides#read destruction running into millions of dollars" In Haiti' 9B were &illed in two se#arate rain storms and hundreds more left to start all over again even as they continue

to struggle for survival following the >anuary 9: earth/ua&e that &illed more than 8@@'@@@ #eo#le and left more than a million others homeless" >amaica said it would need more than 4SH99@ million to deal with infrastructural damage caused by Tro#ical Storm 5icole that also left 98 dead" The St" .ucia government was forced to declare the eastern village of Dennery a disaster zone after nearly 9@@ houses were submerged in water caused by un#recedented floods" Infrastructural damage in Barbados' *ntigua and Barbuda' St" =incent and the 1renadines' the British =irgin Islands' Bermuda and Belize also tell a tale of the severe floods that have affected the region in recent wee&s" Collymore said that while the regional flood hazard management #rogramme is in #lace' at the national level' most countries fall short" FI donDt thin& that many countries have really addressed a com#rehensive national flood management #rogramme" They may have drainage interventions" They may have river control but the conce#t of a national flood management #rogramme' it still to be embraced" F0e see this to be to the ne!t frontier of intervention where national flood hazard management #rogramme is #art of a national resilience #olicy" FIf you are going to #re#are for the irregularities that are associated with climate variability and change' these are the &ind of things that will ha##en" F.ots of water in short time' so the absor#tive ca#acity may be a challengeIbut then we have to have the &ind of resilient intervention Iand this is what we are trying to do to u#scale the nature in how we res#ond" Ta&ing in consideration that the nature of the hazards is changing while the magnitudes are increasing'G Collymore said" But the head of the Barbados(based regional disaster management agency believes that there are common lessons to be learnt from the recent floods' #articularly the inade/uacy of drainage systems to manage water flow" He said the destruction of natural drainage systems allowing for the water to find its #lace among #o#ulated areas and the need to revisit the whole /uestion of the integrated a##roach to watershed management are other common factors observed as a result of the recent rains" But he said CD2)* is on stand(by to assist member states co#e with the situation" F>amaica and the British =irgin Islands say they will be loo&ing for e!ternal assistance" In the case of the =irgin Islands' they will be loo&ing for su##ort in relation to an engineering assessment of the damage to the infrastructure' roads and bridges etcetera"G F0e are certainly collaborating with the 4niversity of the 0est Indies in hel#ing to res#ond to some of these technical re/uests" *dditionally our team will be in >amaica ne!t wee&' now that they have had the damage assessment and im#act information' to loo& at how our assistant technical su##ort #rogrammes can be rearticulated to address some of the ca#acity ga#s of our short term lease'G he said" But Collymore stressed that governments must act on flood management and assess land usage to mitigate against wides#read flooding" FEouDve seen the damage" There is wind damage and there is water damage and so we have to o#en our minds to the

total #otential im#act" FThe thing about water damage 6is7 that it touches everything' everything" Roads' homes' cro#s' water systems" 0hereas the winds sometimes &noc&s out #ower but you can still move around free and so on"G He said it is necessary therefore for the region to get accustomed to this new threat and deal with it as /uic&ly as #ossible" FI donDt thin& it will go away soon'G he said" 6C)C7

H,ndreds dead +n ar+11ean floods htt# $$news"bbc"co"u&$:$hi$8J;CC9K"stm )ore than BB@ #eo#le are &nown to have died and amid fears of disease' bodies are being buried in mass graves" Some of the worst affected areas are on the border between the two countriesA more than 98'@@@ #eo#le are homeless in the Dominican Re#ublic alone" 4S and Canadian troo#s in Haiti are hel#ing the relief wor&" The BBC3s >eremy Coo&e re#orts from the Dominican town of >imani' where two rivers overflowed' that a huge mudslide flattened everything in its wa&e' leaving what resembles a lunar landsca#e" +n the outs&irts of town' the overwhelming force of floodwaters cut a massive scar through the landsca#e several &ilometres long and several hundred metres wide' with nothing left in its wa&e" *cross the border in the Haitian town of Fonds =erettes' most of the houses were destroyed when roc&s and water cascaded down the mountainside' 45 officials say"

)an/ .+ss+ng The/ fo,nd ./ da,ghter ; now I ha-e to see +f I ha-e an/ fa.+l/ left Flood victim In p+ct,res: Deadl/ floods $ress sol+dar+t/ w+th -+ct+.s The floods came after two wee&s of #ersistent rain saturated the ground on the mountainous island of His#aniola' which the two countries share" 2ntire villages have been obliterated and dozens of bodies are #iling u# in ma&eshift morgues where grief(stric&en relatives are trying to identify lost family members" *s rescue wor&ers reach the more remote areas where the flooding was at its most severe' the number of cor#ses being #ulled from beneath the mud and wrec&age continues to rise" There are sim#ly too many for them to get a #ro#er burial" The dead are being buried in mass graves or sim#ly where they are found" ,t off The casualty figures &ee# rising but Dominican officials say more than :@@ #eo#le are &nown to have died there" Civil #rotection officials in Haiti say the floods have &illed some 8JB #eo#le and left 8'@@@ homeless" *ir force and army teams have been searching for survivors" )any roads remain im#assable after wee&s of rain" ,eace&ee#ers stationed in Haiti have been using helico#ters to carry su##lies to the worst(hit regions' a s#o&esman for the 4S(led 8'C@@(strong force said" The Dominican government has sent emergency teams' including hundreds of e!tra troo#s' from the ca#ital' Santo Domingo" L0e are co(ordinating urgent measures to rescue survivors and evacuate #eo#le who are in danger'L said 5ational 2mergency Commission chief Radhames .ora Salcedo" Damage to both countries3 cro#s and infrastructure is being estimated at many millions of dollars" The 2uro#ean 4nion is #re#aring to send an emergency #ac&age worth some two million euros 6H:";8m7"

WHAT IS A LA&DSLID"? It is a "own slope transport of soil an" roc& resulting from naturally occurring vibrations% changes in "irect water content% removal of lateral support% loa"ing with weight% an" weathering or human manipulation of water course an" slope composition. HA*A T"*ISTI S .andslides vary in ty#es of movement 6falls' slides' to##les' lateral s#read' flows7 and may be secondary effects of heavy storms' earth/ua&es' and volcanic eru#tions" .andslides are more wides#read than any other geological event" LI("L# I)$A T ,hysical Damage *nything on to# of or in the #ath of a .andslide will suffer damage Rubble may bloc& roads' lines of communication or waterways" Indirect effect may include loss of #roductivity of agricultural or forest lands" Flooding " Reduced #ro#erty values' destruction of buildings" Casualties( fatalities may occur due to slo#e failure" FA TO*S O&T*I2!TI&' TO %!L&"*A2ILIT# Settlements built on stee# slo#es' softer soils and cliff to#s Settlements built at the base of stee# slo#es' on mouths of streams from mountain valleys" Roads' communication lines in mountain areas Buildings with wea& foundations Buried ,i#elines and brittle #i#es" .ac& of understanding of landslide hazard $*"$A*"D&"SS )"AS!*"S Community 2ducation after identification of areas most at ris& from landslides" The basic information re/uired -nowledge of where #ast .andslides have occurred' derived from local records and &nowledge of certain ty#es of roc&s #rone to landslides" )onitoring' warning and evacuation systems )ITI'ATIO& )"AS!*"S Ca#ture and drainage of water before it reaches #otential slo#e area 4nderground drainage by using sub(surface #i#es .and Reform by terracing$re(sha#ing Agronomic Reforestation' #lanting of dee# rooting trees to #revent surface sli#s 1round cover with grass or agricultural cro#s 'ngineering 4se of 'a1+on construction to #rotect water course valleys and control the flow of water down slo#e T#$I AL $OST;DISAST"* &""DS Search and rescue 6use of earth removal e/ui#ment7 )edical assistance 2mergency shelter for homeless"

Case Studies ? .andslides .andslides ( Dominica htt# $$dominica#sn"freeyellow"com$Stories$landslides"html The 'ood Hope Landsl+de4 Do.+n+ca4 W.I. The small community of 1ood Ho#e' on the east coast of Dominica' 0est Indies' nestles along a narrow valley bottom by 1rand )arigot Bay" By nightfall of 5ovember 99' 9KMC' the community and surrounding area had e!#erienced several days of heavy rainfall" 2arlier that day' a small landslide develo#ed in the cutslo#e of the Castle Bruce(,etit Soufriere road where it crosses the stee# hillslo#e above the town" 2!ce#t for this landslide' the rains had #roduced no other unusual events" Shortly after 8 @@ *) on 5ovember 9:' 9KMC' nearly 9J'@@@ cubic meters of soil and weathered roc& slid from the hillslo#e above the Castle Bruce(,etit Soufriere road" Bananas' coconut' and bay trees growing on the hillslo#e were swe#t away" The ra#idly moving slide mass destroyed citrus trees and vegetable cro#s growing below the road" The slide engulfed the health clinic near the base of the slo#e' seriously in%uring the nurse and &illing her ten(year(old daughter in their slee#ing /uarters" Several meters farther downslo#e' the im#act of the slide shoved the #rimary school #artly off its foundation' colla#sed the bac& wall' and buried the u#slo#e side to the roof line" *s the debris came to rest' the toe of the slide de#osited material 9 to ; meters dee# along a 9B(meter length of the #rinci#al street through 1ood Ho#e" +n the slo#e above' a K@(meter section of the Castle Bruce(,etit Soufriere road lay bloc&ed by the u##er slide mass 6Fig" 97" Ta&en from De1raff' >"="' Bryce' R"' >ibson' R"0"' )ora' S"' and Rogers' C"T" 9KMK" .andslides Their e!tent and significance in the Caribbean" In 2"2" Brabb and B"." Harrod 6eds7' .andslides 2!tent and 2conomic Significance" #" B9(M@" Rotterdam *"*" Bal&ema" LA&DSLID" DA)S I& DO)I&I A The island nation of Dominica in the 0indward Islands is &nown to tourists as the L5ature IsleL" This term normally refers to the e!tensive remaining rainforest' beautiful waterfalls' and stee# volcanic terrain which attracts visitors interested in eco(tourism" In 5ovember' the country e!#erienced a different side of nature as two landslide dams formed and failed in the .ayou river valley" The .ayou river is the longest river on this :K@ s/uare mile island in the eastern Caribbean" *bout five miles from its mouth on the Caribbean Sea' the .ayou river is %oined by one of its tributaries' the )atthieu river" *t their %unction' the rivers flow through a gorge with 8@@(foot high cliffs carved in welded tuff" This was the site of the landslide dams" *n area sub%ect to #eriodic landslide activity is #resent within the )atthieu river valley %ust u#stream

from its %unction with the .ayou river" Small landslides occurred at this location as far bac& as 9KMM" Several large landslides were triggered in this area by storms during 9KKB" +n 5ovember 9M' 9KKJ' a large debris flow from the unstable valley wall within the )atthieu river #assed down the gorge and into the .ayou river channel to form a landslide dam" The landslide dam was about B@ feet high at its highest #oint and formed a solid #lug in the river for about :@@ feet u#stream and 8@@ feet downstream from the )atthieu river %unction" 0ater rose /uic&ly to form a la&e behind the dam" By early morning on Friday' 5ovember :9' the dam was breached and sent an estimated 8@@ million gallons of water down the valley" The following wee& on 5ovember :B' another landslide too& #lace at the same general location in the )atthieu river valley" * debris flow again #assed through the gorge and de#osited on the remnants of the earlier landslide dam" The .ayou river was again dammed" *dditionally' most of the landslide came to rest as a solid mass wedged between the cliffs forming the gorge and bloc&ed the )atthieu river" The landslide dam on the .ayou river was estimated to be C@ feet high at its highest #oint" The )atthieu landslide dam is about :@@ feet high as measured on its downstream face" By Friday' 5ovember :M' the water im#ounded by the second landslide dam on the .ayou river overto##ed the dam at about : @@ #"m" *n estimated 8B@ million gallons of water flooded the .ayou river valley" Both flooding events re/uired evacuation of several hundred residents of the community of .ayou at the river3s mouth" 0hile few structures were damaged by flood waters' significant cro# loss' road damage' and de#osition of sediments occurred along the river" The landslide dam on the )atthieu river continues to fill" The smaller drainage area u#stream means several wee&s to months will #ass before it is filled to ca#acity" If it com#letely fills before breaching' it is estimated that the water im#ounded behind this dam will be : to B times greater in volume than the water im#ounded by either of the landslide dams on the .ayou river" The stee# terrain and rivers ma&e ta&ing action to #revent com#lete filling of the valley behind the )atthieu landslide dam virtually im#ossible" There is too little time and too few funds to accom#lish an engineering control or stabilization of the landslide dam" 2fforts are being focused on monitoring to ensure safety of inhabitants down stream and #ermanent relocation of #eo#le from the #ath of the future floods" The river channel has lost much of its water carrying ca#acity from sediment de#osited from earlier landslides and the material carried downstream from the two failed landslide dams" From International .andslide Research 1rou# 6I.R17 5ewsletter =ol" 9:' 5o" 9' 9KKM

*a+ns po,nd 'renada4 ca,s+ng landsl+des4 floods *, 0ednesday' *#ril 98' :@99

ST 12+R123S' 1renada 6*,7 N Heavy rains have caused landslides on the Caribbean island of 1renada where officials yesterday relocated families away from swollen rivers that flooded homes and destroyed small fishing boats" L0e should be in the dry season' but we are e!#eriencing so much rain'L 1renada ,rime )inister Tillman Thomas said while he toured the island3s northwest region" Flooding turned the small coastal town of 1ouyave into a %umble of mud' trees' sand and stones" )ore than :@ families were left without shelter" De#uty Disaster Co(ordinator Terrence 0alters said no one died or had been re#orted missing' but residents in the western #arishes of St )ar& and St >ohn lost their belongings" Some 9B fishing boats also were wrec&ed' he said" 4# to si! inches of rain fell during the :; hours through yesterday morning and more rain was e!#ected' said >ohn ,eters at the state meteorological office" Read more htt# $$www"%amaicaobserver"com$news$Rains(#ound(1renada((causing(landslides(( floods<MCC8C@9Oi!zz:*EP>Q/T2

H,rr+cane Tr+ggers Deadl/ Landsl+des on St. L,c+a http://gocar+11ean.a1o,t.co./1/97:7/::/79/h,rr+cane;tr+ggers;deadl/;landsl+des;on;st;l,c+a.ht. The BBC is re#orting at least 9; deaths in St" .ucia after rain from the Category 9 Hurricane Tomas caused a series of landslides on the mountainous island" The town of Soufriere on the island3s southern end was es#ecially hard(hit' according to local sources" C55 is re#orting the one landslide crushed the .ivity *rt Studio' a #o#ular St" .ucia tourist attraction' &illing several #eo#le" The storm also wi#ed out some bridges on the island' ham#ering rescue efforts' and a state of emergency has been declared" Tomas also hit St" =incent and' although wea&ened to a tro#ical storm' is following a #ath towards already battered Haiti" The storm is e!#ected to bring heavy rains to Curacao' *ruba and Bonaire' islands ty#ically considered outside of the hurricane zone"

Dro,ghts = The reep+ng Ha>ard

&D) 4977?htt# $$www"drought"unl"edu$whatis$conce#t"htm

T/pes of Dro,ghts 0hile droughts can be defined in many ways' three main drought ty#es are commonly discussed" *lso available is a chart of the ty#es of droughts" :. H/drolog+cal Dro,ght )any watersheds e!#erience de#leted amounts of available water" .ac& of water in river systems and reservoirs can im#act hydroelectric #ower com#anies' farmers' wildlife' and communities" 9. )eteorolog+cal Dro,ght * lac& of #reci#itation is the most common definition of drought and is usually the ty#e of drought referred to in news re#orts and the media" )ost locations around the world have their own meteorological definition of drought based on the climate normals in the area" * normally rainy area that gets less rain than usual can be considered in a drought" @. Agr+c,lt,ral Dro,ght 0hen soil moisture becomes a #roblem' the agricultural industry is in trouble with drought" Shortages in #reci#itation' changes in eva#o(trans#iration' and reduced ground water levels can create stress and #roblems for cro#s"

"ffects Im#act of drought is mediated by factors such as - Cause - Duration - .evel of rainfall reduction - Sources of water 6groundwater versus surface water sources7 - Demand for water - Social and cultural setting The I.pacts of Dro,ght 0hile droughts do not often cause deaths in the 4nited States' the Dust Bowl in the 4S )idwest is one e!am#le of the devastation that can occur" This site has a great list of other famous droughts" 1. There are three main ways droughts im#act lives and communities" First' the economic im#acts of drought include losses in the timber' agricultural' and fisheries communities" )any of these losses are then #assed on to consumers in the form of higher commodity #ricing" 2. 5e!t social im#acts include increased chance of conflict over commodities' fertile land' and water resources" +ther social im#acts include abandonment of cultural traditions' loss of homelands' changes in lifestyle' and increased chance of health ris&s due to #overty and hygiene issues" 8" Finally' the environmental im#acts of drought include loss in s#ecies biodiversity' migration changes' reduced air /uality' and increased soil erosion" +ther #arts of the world e!#erience long #eriods without rains as well" 2ven during monsoon season' areas that de#end on the seasonal rains will often e!#erience drought if the monsoon rains fail" +nce cro#s fail' famine can become a ma%or #roblem" In some *frican countries' rain rituals are often used to try and thwart the dry seasons and bring on the rain" 0hile it is no cure' modern technology has develo#ed ways to hel# see #otential famine situations as satellites see famine conditions from s#ace" $re-ent+ng4 $red+ct+ng4 and $repar+ng for Dro,ghts Several resources are available to hel# scientists and forecasters to #redict droughts" )itigation - Caribbean Institute for )eteorology and - Desalination Hydrology 6CI)H7' C2HI' 1lobal - Truc&ing water 0ater ,artnershi#(Caribbean 610,(C7 - 0ater shed management - Caribbean Drought and ,reci#itation - Coastal areas management )onitoring 5etwor& 6CD,)57 - 0ater conservation - 2ducation and awareness o Dams - 0ater usersD inventories ? allows for o ,=C tan&s' tan&s #rioritization of users - )onitoring rainfall - Cloud seeding - 0ater rationing So,rces: 5D)C The flow chart and details on the ty#es of droughts are derived from detailed data available from the 5D)C" htt# $$weather"about"com$od$drought$f$droughts"htm

Dro,ghts = ase St,d+es ar+11ean co,ntr+es str,ggle to co.1at dro,ght ; ar+11ean htt# $$www"bnamericas"com$news$waterandwaste$Caribbean<countries<struggle<to<combat<drought The Caribbean institute for meteorology and hydrology 6CI)H7 believes the drought affecting Caribbean countries will continue until )arch and maybe even longer' the head of CI)H3s a##lied meteorology and climatology de#artment' *drian Trotman' told B5americas" LSince +ctober the amount of rainfall has been very low" It is #ossible the drought will continue until )arch and #ossibly beyond then" In )arch we will have another rainfall forecast to determine the situation from that time until )ay'L Trotman said" Saint =incent and the 1renadines' 1renada' Barbados and Saint .ucia have been the most affected by the drought and their situation is considered to be severe' according to Trotman" In Trinidad R Tobago and certain #arts of 1uyana the drought is serious but not critical' while Dominica has not yet been too badly affected" In 1uyana' the lac& of water for irrigation is significantly threatening certain areas' #a#er Trinidad 2!#ress re#orted" The ministry of agriculture is e!#loring alternatives to ensure farming communities have access to water" )eanwhile' in ca#ital 1eorgetown' the surface water that usually #rovides as much as B@S of #otable water is e/ually threatened" *uthorities are closely monitoring the situation but water use will have to be voluntarily and involuntarily reduced in some areas' the re#ort said" CI)H constantly monitors #reci#itation to detect #eriods of high and low rainfall" The institution then gives recommendations to relevant #layers" L2very country has its own res#onse to the drought" 0e monitor rainfall and ma&e the necessary recommendations to different agencies" However' each government is res#onsible for carrying out its own initiatives to combat the drought'L Trotman said" Countries in the region have been im#lementing various measures to control water use in an effort to combat the effects of the drought" These measures include forbidding #eo#le to water lawns or wash vehicles" *ntigua is the latest country to announce water rationing" Clients of the country3s #ublic utilities authority 6*,4*7 will receive water su##ly at scheduled times throughout the day until there is a significant increase in rainfall"

The ,otwor&s dam' which is *,4*3s largest reservoir' is estimated to have enough water to ta&e the country to the end of February" The Dunning3s dam has similar levels' an *,4* release said" The unusually dry weather in the region has been influenced by the climate #henomenon 2l 5iTo" FRegion in drought the thirsty CaribbeanG 2/ Ant+llean4 &ews Des5 Tags :@9@ Caribbean in Drought' C*RIC+) *ffairs' Climate change' 2nvironment htt# $$www"antillean"org$:@9@$@8$@C$region(in(drought(the(thirsty(caribbean$ (he countries of the )aribbean from !amaica in the North to (rini"a" in the *outh are facing the worst "rought in "eca"es. (hroughout March% the Antillean will cover the water crisis in the region% causes% complications an" the regional response. Caribbean countries are considering o#tions li&e desalination #lants and cloud seeding to confront a drought that threatens the regional economy and which e!#erts warned about years ago" In St" .ucia and Trinidad and Tobago' they are warning of #rosecution' including %ail time' if consumers violate measures introduced to curb the use of water other than for drin&ing' coo&ing and bathing" In a #a#er #resented in a :@@J conference in Barbados' entitled FCo#ing with Drought in the Caribbean'G e!#ert Bano )ehdi' cited scientific warnings about this drought' noting that Fmore intense and longer droughts have been observed over wide areas since the 9KJ@s"G From Trinidad and Tobago in the south' to >amaica in the north' governments are im#lementing water rationing to deal with a drastic decline in ca#acity in the reservoirs" Some' li&e 1uyana' are #um#ing a significant amount of money to hel# farmers overcome the #roblem" FSo far we have close to 9@'@@@ acres of rice under stressA we have cattle' too' going through some very difficult conditions'G as well as cro#s under #ressure in the interior of the country' said 1uyanaDs *griculture )inister Robert ,ersaud" FThis time last year we were dealing with rainfall levels higher than the :@@B floods" The effects of climate change are hitting home very often'G ,ersaud added" 0hen the :@9@ national budget was #resented in mid(February' the 1uyana government said it was allocating :K"; million dollars to im#rove agricultural irrigation systems"

* few days later' ,resident Bharrat >agdeo said an additional 9": million dollars would be s#ent on efforts to confront the effects of 2l 5iTo$Southern +scillation' the cyclical #henomenon in which warm surface waters of the e/uatorial ,acific flow eastward' altering weather #atterns across the *mericas" FThe entire a##aratus of the government is focused on bringing as much relief as is humanly #ossible to our #eo#le across 1uyana'G >agdeo told farmers' noting that some communities are having difficulties obtaining even drin&ing water" Trinidad and TobagoDs ,rime )inister ,atric& )anning is convinced that this drought is due the effects of climate change" His administration is loo&ing to add to the single desalination #lant to move the country away from Ftoo(heavy reliance on surface water sources"G F0e believe it is 2l 5iTo' but it does not in any way negate our conclusion that as a result of climate change' among other things' we can e!#erience droughts in Trinidad and Tobago'G )anning said" *ccording to ,ublic 4tilities )inister )usta#ha *bdul(Hamid' the water levels in the reservoirs Fare well below their long(term averages for this time of year"G The 0ater and Sewerage *uthority 60*S*7 has #laced a ban on citizens using water to wash vehicles or water #lants and lawns" So stringent has been the measure that )anning dismissed a contractor wor&ing at his official residence after #ictures were #ublished in the news#a#ers showing s#rin&lers being used to water the lawns" 0*S* regional manager Collin 5ym said the outloo& was blea& for :@9@ because lower rainfall had e!acerbated #roduction constraints at one of the main water treatment #lants and the desalination #lant" F0e have a large reservoir and we did not ca#ture as much rainfall as we antici#ated" Between >anuary and >une :@@K' we faced a lot of #roblems'G he said" FThe )eteorological +ffice #redicted that we would have M@ to K@ millimeters of rainfall for >anuary' and we only saw five"G The >amaican government has hinted at the #ossibility of cloud seeding' which involves the use of chemicals to influence rainfall in areas where the drought is more severe" 0ater )inister Horace Chang met recently with a grou# of e!#erts from the 4niversity of the 0est Indies 640I7 to discuss the #ossibility of cloud seeding' but it is a very e!#ensive o#tion" *uthorities already had to cut a drought mitigation #rogram due to the austerity measures re/uired by a recently signed' multi( billion(dollar Standby *greement with the International )onetary Fund 6I)F7" The scheme was e!#ected to include the reactivation of several abandoned su##ly wells in >amaica" *ccording to Chang' the 5ational 0ater Commission is losing an estimated :": million dollars in revenues #er month as a result of the countryDs worst drought in decades" F0e have been s#ending more money and we have lost significant revenueI ,eo#le canDt #ay if they donDt get water' so we have to s#end more money in terms of o#erational costs'G Chang said" Cor#orations are also com#laining"

FIf the drought continues' we will definitely loo& to start truc&ing water to the different factories' but there is a cost involved in doing that'G said +mar *zan' #resident of the >amaica )anufacturers *ssociation" In St" .ucia' the authorities issued a FDeclaration of 0ater Related 2mergencyG on Feb" :;' and have warned that #ersons contravening the new measures could face both a fine of not less than 9'99@ dollars and im#risonment of not less than si! months" *mong the measures contained in the declaration is a ban on the use of water for watering of gardens' lawns' grounds and farms as well as for su##lying #onds' swimming #ools' For for use other than normal domestic services such as drin&ing' coo&ing' washing' bathing and sanitation"G Dominica' which boasts 8CB rivers' has warned consumers that the drought could get worse" Based on information from the Caribbean Institute for )eteorology' in Barbados' Fwe will e!#erience severe dryness for some time to come" If it does continueI it means the water level will definitely get lower and there will not be sufficient #ressure to #rovide water to many communities'G said 1wennie Dic&son' s#o&es#erson for DominicaDs 0ater and Sewerage Com#any" The *ntigua and Barbuda #ublic utilities authority said that at the normal rate of consum#tion' the ,otwor&s Dam wouldnDt have enough water to ta&e the country to the end of )arch" *drian Trotman' acting chief of a##lied meteorology and climatology at the Caribbean Institute for )eteorology' warned that countries li&e Barbados could e!#erience drought conditions for a long #eriod" FThis is the view of scientists of the Caribbean Drought and ,reci#itation )onitoring 5etwor& 6CD,)57' who have been analyzing rainfall trends in the Caribbean since >anuary :@@K'G Trotman said in a statement" F0ater resources managers across the region are urged to im#lement the necessary measures to conserve water' as the drought conditions are e!#ected to #ersist over the ne!t three months'G he added" The CD,)5' which was launched in >anuary :@@K under the si!( year Caribbean 0ater Initiative #ro%ect' has warned that unless the #reci#itation situation is closely monitored' Fone often does not realize that drought is u#on you or is a##roaching ? until the effects are already felt"G (his story was originally publishe" by Latin American newspapers that are part of the (ierramerica networ&. (ierramerica is a specialise" news service pro"uce" by I+* with the bac&ing of the ,nite" Nations Development +rogramme% ,nite" Nations 'nvironment +rogramme an" the $orl" #an&. -c. NoticiasFinancieras / Inter +ress *ervices / All rights reserve". )opyright -c. 0121 I+*. *elated art+cles:

ar+11ean 1attles dro,ght htt# $$www"bbc"co"u&$caribbean$news$story$:@9@$@:$9@@:9M<drought"shtml

Some countries have been rationing water to households Se-eral ar+11ean nat+ons are 1attl+ng prolonged low ra+nfall that +s h,rt+ng res+dents and econo.+c sectors. *nd the #attern could continue for some wee&s yet' according to forecasters" The drought has been affecting countries from >amaica to 1uyana' as consumers and farmers battle a shortage of water" St .ucia' the latest to re#ort a crisis' is said to be ready to declare La water(related emergencyL" Drought(li&e conditions are not uncommon at this time of year in the 2astern Caribbean in #articular" But the situation has been e!acerbated by the fact that the low rainfall began in +ctober' the wettest month in the sub(region" LTo have a significant de#letion of rainfall in +ctober would have an im#act'L said *drian Trotman of the Caribbean Institute for )eteorology and Hydrology6C)IH7" Da. le-els drop The institute constantly monitors #reci#itation to detect #eriods of high and low rainfall and advises governments and sectors accordingly" L0e are antici#ating that this s#ell should go all the way down to )arch and #ossibly beyond'L he told BBC Caribbean"

The 2l 5iTo ocean warming #henomenon is &nown to influence the world3s weather In St .ucia' the >ohn Com#ton Dam which su##lies the north of the island' has seen it levels dro# by a foot #er day' according to officials" The managing director of the state(owned 0ater and Sewerage Com#any' >ohn >ose#h' described the situation as critical" The com#any was already rationing su##lies and are considering im#orting water" Farmers in 1uyana are crying out as well" The im#ortant rice industry is forecasting that #roduction will be down by CS because there is insufficent water for irrigation of fields"

Flooding Ty#es Flash floods ? heavy rainfall' cloud bursts over a small drainage area - )ost li&ely in mountainous areas' stee# areas with streams flowing through narrow area Riverine - .i&ely with heavy rainfall where rivers have many contributing rivers Tidal flood - 0here water bodies dum# water on surrounded land area - Caused by high tides' heavy rains from hurricanes and similar systems' and waves #roduced by oceanic earth/ua&es ,onding - 0here water builds u# in an area usually with a sin& or de#ression or a slow #ercolation rate" 1eneral causes Heavy rainfall Deforestation Im#ro#er agricultural #ractices Inade/uate design and$or maintenance drainage facilities Construction of settlements on flood #lains ,oor garbage dis#osal Sand mining Caribbean Countries )ost *ffected Haiti' Dominican Re#ublic' Barbados' *ntigua and Barbuda' St =incent and the 1renadines' The British =irgin Islands' Bermuda' Belize' >amaica and St" .ucia S#ecific Instances Haiti ? :@@; 6: wee&s of rain7A :@9@ 6: rainstorms ? 9B &illed7 Dominican Re#ublic ? :@@; 6: wee&s of rain ( over 98'@@@ homeless' over BB@ dead7 >amaica ? tro#ical storm 5icole 6:@9@7 *#ril :C' :@9: ? 6heavy rainfall7 >amaica' Haiti' Dominican Re#ublic' St )aarten' Trinidad and Tobago 2ffects Can lead to famine

Death by drowning Disru#t economic and social activities .andsca#e scaring )udslides ? flattens infrastructure in its #ath )itigation Caribbean Disaster 2mergency management *gency 6CD2)*7 ? regional flood hazard management #rogramme along with 40I and the Caribbean Institute of )eteorology Drainage intervention 0atershed management Droughts in the Caribbean

&D) 4977?htt# $$www"drought"unl"edu$whatis$conce#t"htm

*ffected countries :@@K to :@9@ - +ctober to )arch and beyond - )ost Caribbean countries affected

Saint =incent and the 1renadines' 1renada' Barbados' Saint .ucia' 6TRT' #arts of 1uyana to a lesser e!tent7"

Causes 2S5+ events' 2l 5ino 2ffects Im#act of drought is mediated by factors such as - Cause - Duration - .evel of rainfall reduction - Sources of water 6groundwater versus surface water sources7 - Demand for water - Social and cultural setting Inade/uate irrigation ? agriculture Food su##ly Cost of agricultural #roduce Bush fires which can lead to landslides and flooding' land degradation and loss of soil fertility )itigation Caribbean Institute for )eteorology and Hydrology 6CI)H7' C2HI' 1lobal 0ater ,artnershi#(Caribbean 610,(C7 Caribbean Drought and ,reci#itation )onitoring 5etwor& 6CD,)57 2ducation and awareness 0ater usersD inventories ? allows for #rioritization of users )onitoring rainfall 0ater rationing Desalination Truc&ing water 0ater shed management Coastal areas management 0ater conservation - Dams - ,=C tan&s' tan&s Cloud seeding

0atershed ? area of land that drains rainwater into a single water body whether by allowing to the water

to run underground through the soil or above its surface"

Im#ortance ? 52,* Clean water' trees and o#en s#ace contribute to /uality of life Flood #rotection ? soa&ing u# and directing water to water bodies 1round and surface water 1roundwater ? found in crac&s$s#aces in soils' roc&s or sand underground" It moves through layers of roc&s' sand and soil called a/uifers which ty#ically consist of gravel' sand or fractured roc& li&e limestone" Surface water is water found in rivers' la&es' #onds' streams' wetlands or oceans" 25S+ ? el nino southern oscillation - +ccurs a##ro!imately every five years - 0arming of the eastern #acific oceanDs surface ? el 5iTo - Cooling of the eastern #acific oceanDs surface ? la 5iTa - Southern +scillation ? variations in cooling and warming of the surface of the tro#ical eastern #acific ocean" - The e!tremes of the above are associated with both flooding and droughts - The effects of el 5iTo can last from K months to two years" - *ssociated with #rolonged #eriods of drought in the Caribbean .andslides Do not occur in areas of low relief and limestone bedroc& e!am#les' the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas"

Ty#es Debris flows 2arthflows Roc&slides Roc&falls Slum#s Stee# slo#es caused by tectonic or volcanic forces Stream erosion 0eathering of bedroc& 9K8M St" .ucia 6Ravines ,oisson and 2crivisse7 C died 8: in%ured :B@ missing ,uerto Rico 6)ameyes District7 - 9:K &illed 9K:B ? 9KMC Dominica :B dead' five events

>amaica 9J homes lost ? St" )ary St =incent 9KM9 ? .eft ;@ #ercent of #o#ulation without water su##ly 9KMC ( Damaged #i#elines to hydroelectric generating #lants 1ood Ho#e .andslide in Dominica Scotland district ? Barbados B=I ? St" Thomas ? earthflows' debris slides and individual boulders 9KM8 ? e!tensive flooding lead to slides in Dorothea Bay >amaica -ingston St Thomas ? %udgement cliff landslide ? 9KC:' related to earth/ua&e )itigation )ona 1eoInformatics Institute' 4nit for Disaster Studies

Act+-+t/

!se the +nfor.at+on a1o-e to +nfor. /o,r wr+t+ng of the follow+ng essa/: 2!amine the ways in which either landslides +R droughts influence Caribbean culture and society"