Prevention is better than Cure

CHENNAI FLOODS
A Presentation on Causes and Prevention

- N.Karthick, Head, Dept of Mechanical Engg, Veltech

Hightech Engg College.

Reference: http://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/chennai-floods-present-a-lesson-in-urban-planning/storyQOQlkG76xthZcNSqmQ5icL.html

Introduction
A flood is usually caused by rain, heavy thunderstorms, and thawing of
snow.
Its considered to be a temporary condition of two or more acres of dry
land either:
Overflowed with inland or tidal waters
Rapid or runoff of surface waters
Mudflows

CAUSES:
PRECIPITATION
INADEQUATE CAPACITY (WITHIN BANKS)
BANK EROSION AND SILTING
LAND SLIDES
TIDAL AND BACK WATER EFFECTS
POOR DRAINAGE
SNOW MELT AND GLACIAL OUT BURSTS

How does Flooding Start and end?

The shore or land by or surrounding a body
of water erodes and this erosion causes
waves currents that result in a flood.
Flood disasters have been increased
because of the expansion of settlements
and growth in floodplains.
Floods could be slow or fast but usually
occur over a matter of days.
After the water eventually goes down or
dries up. On coastal floods, low tides and
high tides makes a change in heights.

Why does it occur ?

A flood is too much water in the wrong place.

Sometimes a flood occurs from :

Sewer (drain) backup

Collapse of land along the shore of a lake or another body of water. This results in waves or
currents during a flood

Where does flooding

occur ?
Flooding is the most worldwide natural disaster. It
occurs in every country and wherever there is
rainfall or coastal hazards.
They are most likely to happen in tropical areas and
tsunamis.
Most common floods happen around the worlds
largest/greatest rivers.
Believe it or not, smaller rivers could cause more
damage even though people dont pay as much
attention to them.
Most Flooding occurs during the beginning of spring.

Types of floods:1.Flash Floods

2.River Floods
3.Coastal Floods
4.Lakeshore Floods
5.Urban and Ice Jams

FLOOD

MANAGEMENT

Human response to Flooding:

1. Flood protection decreases risk
of bankfull capacity being exceeded
2. Flood abatement reduces
stormflow and reduces peak
discharge levels
3. Behavioural responses
societies adopt different coping
strategies

Flood Protection
1)

Modification to channel or banks:

)Bank raising and dredging both increase

bank full capacity
)By increasing the hydraulic radius, channels
also become more efficient (velocity
increases and so water levels drop)
)Widely used (e.g. Mississippi 3000 kms of
raised levees up to 15 m high)

Flood Protection
2.

Artificial channel linings :-

. Concrete lined channels create

smoother wetted perimeter and so
increase velocity
. Thus water levels drop and flood risk is
reduced
. Expensive, and high maintenance
. E.g. Los Angeles

Flood Protection
3.

Dam construction :-

. Multi-purpose, but key tool for flood protection

. Controlled release of water stored in reservoir
through sluice gates can spread discharge
over a longer period (reducing peak flows)
. Effectiveness depends on relative scale of
reservoirs catchment area to that of the whole
drainage basin
. Geo-politics can cause problems
e.g. India and Bangladesh (Ganges), Spain and
Portugal (Tagus), Zimbabwe and Mozambique
(Limpopo and Floods of 2000)

Flood Protection
4.

Flood relief channels:

. It effectively increases bank full

capacity and diverts flow away from
high impact zones
. It requires there to be space on
floodplains to skirt around high
impact zones, so not always
possible

Flood Protection
5. Spreading grounds:

. Diverting flood water to low impact flood

plain zones, for storage
. Reduces downstream peak flows
. Low impact zones can be recreational
land use
. Flood water will evaporate or eventually
infiltrate, replenishing groundwater
supplies

Flood Protection
6.

Debris dams:

. To trap sediment in upper catchments to

prevent downstream bed aggradation
. Maintains higher bank full capacities
downstream
. Periodic need for emptying, but can be
used for construction materials
. Especially important in semi-arid,
mountainous catchments

Flood Protection
7. Straightening of sinuous rivers:

. Increases gradient increases flow

rates
. Thus water levels drop and flood risk
is reduced
. Also reduces deposition and averts
bed aggradation
. Also keeps channels navigable

Thank
You