Joshua H.

Matthews
Abstract

FROM THE BRINK OF

DISASTER

The focus of this work is threefold. First it aims to illustrateMatthews.josh@gmail.com

and raise awareness
to the many dangers of flooding which many consider mundane and harmless.
Second it serves as well as to compare the differences faced by differing
socioeconomically regions and related hardships. Finally the goal of this paper is
to access recovery operations responses
and mental
health
strengths
and
Recovering
from the
Wake
of Floods
weaknesses.
Keywords Flood, mental health, recovery operations

From the Brink of Disaster |1

From the Brink of Disaster

Recovering from the Wake of Floods
JOSHUA H. MATTHEWS
BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY

Author Note
Joshua H Matthews, Department of Public Health, Benedictine University.
Correspondences concerning this paper can be sent to Joshua Matthews at 1356 Bunker
Hill Blvd, Columbus Ohio 43220.
Contact: Matthews.josh@gmail.com

From the Brink of Disaster |2

From the Brink of Disaster

Recovering from the Wake of Floods
Joshua Matthews
Benedictine University
[Behavioral and Social Aspects of Public Health -December 25th, 2015]
Abstract
The focus of this work is threefold. First it aims to illustrate and raise awareness to the many
dangers of flooding which many consider mundane and harmless. Second it serves as well as to
compare the differences faced by differing socioeconomically regions and related hardships.
Finally the goal of this paper is to access recovery operations responses and mental health
strengths and weaknesses.
Keywords Flood, mental health, recovery operations

[Acknowledgment] The author wishes to express gratitude to his fianc, Kelly for
her love and endless support she has shown for the pursuit of education.

[Contact information] Correspondences concerning this paper can be sent to

Joshua Matthews at 1356 Bunker Hill Blvd, Columbus Ohio 43220. Address email to
Matthews.josh@gmail.com

From the Brink of Disaster

From the Brink of Disaster |3

Recovering from the Wake of Floods
When people think of natural disasters, or even disasters at all they generally conjure up
mental images from a Michael Bay film of grand explosions, massive tornados, firestorms the
size of cities, or terrorist or alien attacks of a massive scale. Very few whom havent been
witness to the most deadly of disasters would suspect the culprit of the most damage and loss of
life to be flooding. Of all recorded disasters man has witnessed the most catastrophic has been
the China Floods of 1931.
Between 1928 and 1930 central China was continually struck with weather and climate
abnormalities. A cocktail of draught, extreme snowstorms, thawing, and heavy rainfall the danger
of natural disaster was dangerously high. As rains continued through the year and the river
levels raised to match cyclones began to hit, nine in July alone. Following that a series of major
rivers, the Yangtze and Huai most notably, began to spill over their banks. A massive flood zone
averaged 5.6 feet (1.7 m), and in some regions reached 53 feet (16 m) above normal.
Late on August 25th 1931, the Grand Canal erupted, its dykes washing away. In this initial
bursting over 200,000 people drowned in their sleep. Following floods up until November
affected 28.5 million people, and the death toll was reported between 3.7 and 4 million people
across five regions of central China. The waters brought starvation, cholera, typhus, and the
government reported forced slavery, infanticide, as well as cannibalism. This is the destructive
fury that floods can bring.

Mississippi river flood of 1993 compared to the Bihar flood of 2008 had many
similarities, but at the same time were drastically different. Both suffered a relatively low loss of
life for the massive area of effect, largely impacting improvised regions, accrued massive

From the Brink of Disaster |4

collateral and property damage, resulted in evacuations from villages, towns, and cities, as well
as millions of acres of lost farmland. The different was mostly apparent in the recovery as a
result of socioeconomic status and the stark difference between American perceived poverty in
the southern United States as opposed to Bihars extreme poverty perceived at the global level.

Support roles and functions during the recovery phases of each was drastically different
resulting from backing. Mississippi lost 55 million acres of farmland to floods, 55 towns were
damaged or destroyed, 50 fatalities, and 62,000 families were evacuated. Rallying behind the
disaster was many organizations that had budgets and spending with few equals globally. Along
the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers twenty five reservoirs were built. Tennessee Valley
Authority began an afforestation project which resulted in trees to delay run off. Regionally
levees were reinforced and strengthened against erosion and wear. Spillways were installed
where needed, and timing protocols were placed to open and close as needed to release flood risk
levels. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assessed and published materials
of settlements and flood plain regions. And lastly advanced National Weather Authority
responsibilities were increased and prepared for future flood forecasting. Bihar lost 840,000
acres of farmland to floods, 3 million people were forced from their homes with 250 casualties,
and more than 300,000 homes were destroyed. Hunger and disease were a much greater problem
as opposed to Mississippi. From the severe flooding swamps surged destroying yet another
247,000 acres of crops. Nepal was also effected, and added an additional 54,000 households.
Largely with the aid of the US contributing 230 million dollars rescue operations included the
Indian Army, Air Force, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) providing supplies to the
regions. Turmoil in strained relations within governments retrained additional funds, though as a

From the Brink of Disaster |5

global disaster the Dalai Lama and The World Bank came together to provide support. Even with
all of the additional aid many went without aid due to officials not responding and being
unreachable from being on vacation. As a result many of the survivors were left for months and
even years in shelters and camps. This comparison shows between levels of poverty and support
systems, and clearly speaks to both world problems and lack of world view.

The support systems set the stage for all aspects of the recovery phase, and the challenges
to mental health operations were no different. In the United States there are many local and
governmental agencies in place prepared to respond to disaster. In Behar the single biggest
mental health response was prayer. The improvised millions displaced relied almost entirely on
global aid projects and programs as their government was as unprepared and unfunded, as
unresponsive. While in each flood there were certainly mental health concerns and risk, the
likelihood that an American would receive help was infinitely greater due to technology, social
groups, support groups and programs, massive work forces of social and psychiatric workers,
and funding and encompasses the greatest strengths of a global super power. The limitations that
Behar faces are combinations of corruption, unaccountability within the government, extreme
poverty, and social structures that minimalize the needs of the people.

The greatest tragedy between the disasters always lies with the survivors and how they
cope with rebuilding and loss. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is unquestionably a danger
both face, but with the sad reality of how being the critical factor. As with every aspect of the
Mississippi flood of 1993 psychiatric follow up programs were in place. While we can look back
and see there could have been better due to advances, it still outpaces being completely left

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behind as was the case in Behar. This is coupled with an even great problem that faces social
stigmata of mental health, gender differences and value to society, and lacking medical attention.
In Behar survivors cooked rice with diseased water which speaks volumes to levels of medical
and environmental aid. With the inability to receive even basic medical attention or even sanitary
drinking water makes the possibility mental health care, much less follow up care, next to
unheard of.

References
1931 China floods. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2015, from
http://ebooklibrary.org/articles/1931_China_floods
Bihar flood 'catastrophe'; CM seeks Govt's help. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2015, from
http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/india/bihar-floods-nitish-bite-295868.html
Kosi Flood 2008: Justice Walia Commission submits probe report. (n.d.). Retrieved May
31, 2015, from http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/03/kosi-flood-2008-justice-waliacommission-submits-probe-report/
Mississippi. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2015, from
http://www.sln.org.uk/geography/schools/blythebridge/GCSEMississippi.htm
Timmons, H., & Kumar, H. (2008, August 29). Millions Are Displaced by Floods in India.
Retrieved May 31, 2015, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/world/asia/30india.html?ref=world&_r=0

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