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INTRODUCTION
Floods are almost annual events in Pakistan. Pakistan has been experiencing floods mainly
because of its topography, Sind, Kabul and swat are three hazard prone rivers, and due to
climatic and ecological condition, Pakistan constantly received flooding every year. This is
not a matter of concern every year. However, when floods exceed normal flooding level,
they take dangerous turns. Many times in the history of Pakistan, floods took severe and
sometimes catastrophic turns. In the past Pakistan experienced severe floods in 1973,
1992, 2006 and 2010. But 2010 flood breaks all past records. Latest Government estimates
put the number of people directly affected by the floods at 15.4 million, and the number
continues to rise (National and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities, 16 August).
Assessments to establish the degree to which affected populations are in need of immediate
humanitarian assistance continue. The official death toll has risen to 1,402, with 2,024
people reported as injured. Over
893,000 houses are now reported to have been either damaged or destroyed.
Pakistan is one of the most natural disaster-prone countries in the World. Natural disasters
often result in great losses, both in terms of materials and people¶s lives.
Due to its unique geo-climatic conditions, Pakistan is one of the most disaster prone
countries in the world. Four provinces, AJK and Gilgit baltastan are vulnerable to one or the
other geo-climatic disaster. Over 40% of landmass is vulnerable to earthquakes, 6% to
cyclone, 60% to floods and 25% of the Barani land under cultivation is vulnerable to
drought.
2010 extreme floods results the loss in terms of lives and assets have been incalculable. A
disaster wipes out the gains achieved in decades of development in the affected area.
Repeated disasters threaten sustainable development in Pakistan Disasters destroy decades
of human effort and investments, thereby placing new demands on society for
reconstruction and rehabilitation.
. If one adds the losses in countries like Pakistan, where most of the property of the people,
especially in the rural areas remains uninsured, the losses are astronomical.
The unique geo-environmental setting of the North Himalayas, the heavy rainfall, weak
geological formations, accelerated rates of erosion followed by silting and meandering of
rivers, very high seismicity makes the Northern area one of the most disaster prone regions
in the country. Considering this, and the comparative inaccessibility, the North region
demands special attention to minimize loss of lives and social, private and community losses
and to ensure sustainable development.
Vulnerability to natural disasters combined with socio-economic vulnerability of the people
pose a great challenge to the government machinery.
Disasters in Pakistan
Pakistan is confronting series of disasters in recent past, 2005 earth quake, Hunza land
slide, air blue crash, and 2010 Floods, are major disasters. These disasters have different
type and onset but resulted huge damage to life and property .Pakistan is facing different
problems like terrorism, political uncertainty which badly affected the government and its
institutions capacity.
Government of Pakistan after 2005 earth quake establish a authority for disaster
management but due to lack of technical knowledge and manpower the authority fail to play
its role effectively while coping these disasters, there is an urgent need to built the capacity
of this authority and also clearly lay down its bylaws and mandate , NDMA think that its role
is only to regulatory which is totally wrong perception, the role of any National disaster
management authority all over the world is to regulate ,coordinate , develop systems and
train technically manpower for disaster management.
Complex Disasters-
Complex disasters exist where adverse political conditions compound a disaster or
emergency situation. Such situations are complicated because the breakdown of the political
structure makes assistance or intervention difficult. This sort of emergency is usually
associated with the problems of displaced people during times of civil conflict or with people
in need caught in areas of conflict.
Supportive Technologies
A number of tools are available to array and display information for the use of technical
experts, to explain programmes of flood damage reduction to the decision-makers, and to
communicate real time forecasts and warnings to the public. In general the tools should be
interactive in the sense that the information can be easily updated, and flexible enough to
develop scenarios, and to provide visual and quantitative information regarding the state of
conditions during the forecasted event.
MEANING
The message suggests awareness that flooding is possible within the next24 hours The
message suggests preparedness and that flooding is threatening within the next 12 hours
The message prompts response as flooding is expected to occur/or will persist within the
next 12hours.
To minimize flood damage the basic approach is to prevent flood waters from reaching the
damage vulnerable centers. The Flood Forecasting Network sends information to all the
major flood prone inter-Provincial river basins in the country. Information from satellites is
used for mapping and monitoring flood prone areas. The Flood commissioner under the
Ministry of Water issues flood forecasts and Warnings. A flood alert is issued well in advance
of the actual arrival of floods to enable People to take appropriate measures and shift to
safer places.
Despite this, floods continue to be a menace primarily because of the huge quantum of silt,
which has raised the bed level in many rivers. During high floods, many breaches occur,
causing inundation over vast areas for most of the monsoon months of June to September.
The country thus needs a better and effective flood mitigation system to ensure the safety
of its people and economy.
(2)Global warming
Global warming is an other major factor of floods in Pakistan, Developed industrial states
and wild fires contributing major share in global warming which resulted heavy and long
spell rains, melting of snow, raise in sea level, storms and floods, in my view moon soon
rains are annually fall but this time the unpredictable increase in rain fall is due to global
warming resulted flood in Pakistan e.g. recent wild fire in Russia resulted heavy and large
scale rains in Pakistan resulted flood.
FLOODS
A flood is a situation in which water temporarily covers land where it normally doesn¶t. This
water comes from the sea, lakes, rivers, canals or sewers. It can also be rainwater. Floods
can be described according to speed (flash flood), geography or cause of flooding.
Floods are among the most common and destructive natural hazards causing extensive
damage to infrastructure, public and private services, the environment, the economy and
devastation to human settlements. Recurring flood losses have handicapped the economic
development of both developed and developing countries. Floods usually are local, short-
lived events that can happen suddenly and sometimes with little or no warning. They
usually are caused by intense storms that produce more runoff than an area can store or a
stream can carry within its normal channel. Rivers can also flood its surroundings when the
dams fail, when ice or a landslide temporarily block the course of the river channel, or when
snow melts rapidly. In a broader sense, normally dry lands can be flooded by high lake
levels, by high tides, or by waves driven ashore by strong winds. Small streams are subject
to floods (very rapid increases in runoff), which may last from a few minutes to a few hours.
On larger streams, floods usually last from several hours to a few days. A series of storms
might keep a river above flood stage (the water level at which a river overflows its banks)
for several weeks.
RIVER HEIGHT
Level 4 (The River at a Particular reference point is about 40% full)
Level 6 (The river at a particular reference point is about 60% full)
Level 10 (The River at a particular reference point is 100% full)
However, all floods are not alike. Some floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of
days. But flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any
visible signs of rain. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries
rocks, mud, and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path. Overland flooding
occurs outside a defined river or stream, such as when a levee is breached, but still can be
destructive. Flooding can also occur when a dam breaks, producing effects similar to flash
floods.
Flood types
Flash floods
Coastal floods
Urban floods
River (or fluvial) floods
Ponding (or pluvial flooding)
Flood has always been a annual phenomenon in Pakistan , According to the MET department
Government of Pakistan, around 75% of the total rainfall is concentrated over 4 months of
monsoon (June ± September) and, as a result almost all the rivers carry heavy discharge
during these four months.. The most flood prone area is the Indus basins. The whole
country is vulnerable to floods includes Gilgit Baltastan, KPK, Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan and
AJK. But of recent 2010 floods breaks all past records,
Lists of simple things one can do to stay safe and protect one from floods.
During Floods
1. Drink boiled water or use halogen tablet to purify water before drinking.
2. Keep your food covered
3. Do not let children remain on empty stomach
4. Use bleaching powder and lime to disinfect the surroundings
5. Avoid entering flood waters. If you need to enter then were proper foot wear.
6. Stay away from water over knee level.
After a Flood
1. Stay tuned to local radio.
2. Do not allow children to play in, or near, flood waters.
3. Stay away from drains, culverts.
4. Do not use electrical appliances.
5. Do not eat food, which has been in floodwaters.
6. Boil tap water.
7. Use halogen tablets before drinking.
8. be careful of snake bites, snakebites are common during floods.
Future Proofing
It is important that new developments, particularly in the higher flood risk zones, are future
proofed against uncertainty. Therefore it is advised that proposed flood mitigation measures
associated with developments are reviewed at the detailed FRA stage, paying attention to
the potential implications of future changes in climate and land use. The application of the
precautionary principle and the provision of freeboard and flood resistance and resilience in
buildings can mitigate future increases in flood risk at relatively low cost at the design and
construction stage.
.
Other Measures
Measures to mitigate the risks of flooding both to and from development are not necessarily
limited to those above. Depending on the specific risks relating to a site, the following
investigations / options may need further consideration at the detailed FRA stage of
development planning:
Flood resistance / resilience measures specific to the potential for groundwater flooding;
Management of surface µrun-on¶ (i.e. runoff entering the site from upslope areas) as part
of the development¶s drainage strategy;
Maintenance / improvement of watercourses, culverts, drain and sewerage networks to
reduce associated flood risks.
The key to flood preparedness planning is to have a clarity and agreement on the roles and
responsibilities of relevant stakeholders such as the government line agencies, disaster
management organizations, Red Cross, voluntary groups as well as community members.
Such an arrangement is possible by forming disaster management authorities and teams at
various levels to agree on set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) defining what
actions to be taken before, during and after floods.
Implementation Arrangement of the Flood Control and Search & Rescue Plan at all levels.
Roles and Responsibility of Line Agencies at Province, District, Cities in three phases of
Flood
a. Agriculture
b. Transport
c. Education
d. Committee of Population
e. Construction
f. Health
g. Electricity & Water
h. .Post, Radio and Television
i Industry:
j. Hydrometeorology station
k Police
l. Armed forces
m. Red Cross
n. Labor, invalids and social affairs:
. Immediate and Long-Term Measure for Flood, Storm Control, Search and Rescue Planning
in the Province
a. Safety for infrastructure
b. Protection of Agriculture production
c. Exploit the advantage of flood management programs
d. Ensure safety for people, particularly, households in high risk areas
e. Measures for storing food, medicine, equipments, and materials
f. Plan to mobilize military forces and transportation to be ready to respond to natural
disaster situations
g. Policies to support people to overcome the impact of natural disaster
h. Invest to enhance the flood, storm forecasting and warning, search and rescue, dyke
protection and information dissemination work
a. Hazards
b. Vulnerability analysis
c. Provincial Resources
d. Number of Safe Area and Location
e. Transportation
f. Communication system
g. Human Resources
h. Organizations
CBFEWS
The capability of communities to monitor and warn people about impending floods is crucial
to protecting lives and property. The high cost of telemeter flood forecasting equipment
prompts a lot of communities in developing countries to search for cheap but equally
effective mechanisms. One such alternative is a community-based flood early warning
system (CBFEWS) Flood Warning System consists of two components: flood forecasting as a
technical issue and flood warning and dissemination as a communication.
COMMUNITY RESPONSE
Considerable attention has been given to providing understandable and actionable warnings
to target communities. To this end, warning messages have been streamlined with only
three different stages (READY, GET SET, and GO) so that the public can easily remember
what each signal means.
VICTIMS
VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF FLOOD
Almost everyone in the population is affected by a disaster. No one is untouched by it.
Those who suffer damage are called victims. The victims may die or live. Those who
manage to live are called survivors. These survivors can be classified as.
1. Primary survivor ± One who is exposed to the disaster first-hand and then survives. They
are called µsurvivor victims¶.
2. Secondary survivor ± One who grieves the loss of primary victims? Example, a mother
who lost her child, or a man who lost his friend.
3. Third level survivor ± The rescue and relief personnel. These people are also affected due
to the disaster as they are at the site of disaster and undergo almost the same mental
trauma as the other victims.
4. Fourth level survivor ± Reporters, Government personnel, traders, etc.
5. Fifth level survivor ± People who read about or see the event in media reports.
Alert-
The notice issued indicating that specific precautions should be taken because of the
probability or proximity of a dangerous event.
Emergency management
The organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all
aspects of emergencies, in particularly preparedness, response and rehabilitation.
Emergency management involves plans, structures and arrangements established to engage
the normal endeavors of government, voluntary and private agencies in a comprehensive
and coordinated way to respond to the whole spectrum of emergency needs. This is also
known as disaster management.
HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL MONITORING
The hydrological monitoring system consists of a network of rainfall and water level
monitoring stations,
Assessment of flood hazard and existing flood control structures;
Identification and verification of locations for rainfall and water level gauges using the
network density derived from a topographic map of the river basin;
Acquisition, fabrication, and installation of rainfall, water level gauges, and flood markers;
Identification and training of community volunteers as rain and water level observers; and
Discharge measurement and cross-sectioning of rivers
Structural measures refer to any physical construction to reduce or avoid possible impacts
of hazards, which include engineering measures and construction of hazard-resistant and
protective structures and infrastructure.(e.g. Dams,).
Non-structural measures refer to policies, awareness, knowledge development, public
commitment, and methods and operating practices, including participatory mechanisms and
the provision of information, which can reduce risk and related impacts.
Flood Mitigation Strategies:
There are two different ways to mitigate floods: -
1. Structural
2. Non- Structural
Structural measures are in the nature of physical measures and help in ³modifying the
floods´, while non- structural measures are in the nature of planning and help in ³modifying
the losses due to floods´. In the structural measures we keep the water away from people
and in the non structural measures to try to keep the people away from water. All of these
works can be individually divided into long term and short-term measures.
This tailoring of technical information into displays that are more readily understood is
valuable for explaining programmes to decision-makers, informed experts, and the public at
large. Highly visual information is particularly valuable for public meetings or open houses,
but must be tailored carefully for the audience.
A. Structural Measures
Construction of dams/diversions/storm channels/levees Construction of protective works
such as
flood storage reservoirs, diversion of water to side channel storage or other watersheds,
construction of storm channels to carry water around the area to be protected, and levees
along the floodway provide tools to reduce flood damages. Such works can be constructed
to various levels of protection, usually based on: 1) minimum standards for flood
protection; 2) the optimum level of costs and benefits based on an economic.
Analysis; or 3) to meet established levels of acceptable risk. Protective works should be
considered when major infrastructure has already been developed and costs to protect
existing investments are far less than those related to reconstruction, lost economic activity,
disaster assistance, or relocation of existing structures and activities. However, it must be
recognized that at some point in the future the design event will likely be exceeded and
catastrophic damages will result. Levees and storage dams are particularly dangerous when
design thresholds are exceeded in that unexpected failure can result in a rapid rise in water
level and make evacuation and emergency protection extremely difficult. Diversions or
storm channels are less prone to catastrophic failure and the level of protection
contemporarily be increased by emergency measures if the lead-time of the flood warning is
sufficient. Information must be credible and easily understood. The above techniques,
combined with the flood forecast, provide a very effective means of delineating areas at risk
and for communicating this to the decision-makers, emergency response teams, and the
public.
Flood control storage may be one component of a multi-purpose reservoir development.
Over time the operation of the reservoir could be altered to enhance other beneficial uses of
storage to the detriment of flood control. A commitment to "designated flood storage" and
to reservoir operation procedures to achieve that storage is needed. Inspection,
rehabilitation and maintenance Structural works require a periodic and systematic
inspection, rehabilitation and maintenance programme to ensure that the design capabilities
are maintained. For example, levees may be subject to weakening due to erosion during a
past flood event, by the actions of burrowing animals, or the construction of utility lines
through the levee. Of particular importance is an inspection programme and responsibility
assigned for rehabilitation and maintenance.
Structures such as dams should be subject to a dam safety programme, usually at the
national level, to ensure that the specialized expertise required is available for the
inspection of all structures. Dam safety programmes are carried out in many countries and
standards or guidelines are readily available.
B. Non-structural Measures
Non-structural measures are particularly applicable to flood-prone areas that are not yet
developed. As such, they are a complement to structural approaches in areas where
additional development may occur, and they also represent an independent approach where
some control over flood plain development can be exercised at low cost. Non-structural
approaches do not mean "no use", but rather" wise use".
Land-use planning
Land-use planning at the local or municipal level can be a useful tool in reducing future flood
damages. Consideration should be given to ensuring that there are conforming uses in
flood-prone areas as part of master
Guidelines for Reducing Flood Losses plan.
The land along a river is highly desirable for parks and recreational uses, as well as for
ecological reserves. Supportive infrastructure such as washrooms, picnic facilities and
changing rooms can be flood proofed. Private development of conforming uses such as golf
courses can also be considered. The important point here is to integrate the land-use
planning for flood prone lands into the broader plans for the urban and surrounding area.
Erosion of Soil: When forest areas are cleared, it results in exposing the soil to the sun,
making it very dry and eventually, infertile, due to volatile nutrients such as nitrogen being
lost. In addition, when there is rainfall, it washes away the rest of the nutrients, which flow
with the rainwater into waterways. Because of this, merely replanting trees may not help in
solving the problems caused by deforestation, for by the time the trees mature, the soil will
be totally devoid of essential nutrients. Ultimately, cultivation in this land will also become
impossible, resulting in the land becoming useless. Large tracts of land will be rendered
permanently impoverished due to soil erosion.
Disruption of the Water Cycle: Trees contribute in a large way in maintaining the water
cycle. They draw up water via their roots, which is then released into the atmosphere. A
large part of the water that circulates in the ecosystem of rainforests, for instance, remains
inside the plants. When these trees are cut down it results in the climate getting drier in
that area.
Loss of Biodiversity: The unique biodiversity of various geographical areas is being lost on a
scale that is quite unprecedented. Even though tropical rainforests make up just 6 percent
of the surface area of the Earth, about 80-90 percent of the entire species of the world exist
here. Due to massive deforestation, about 50 to 100 species of animals are being lost each
day. The outcome of which is the extinction of animals and plants on a massive scale.
Flooding and Drought: One of the vital functions of forests is to absorb and store great
amounts of water quickly when there are heavy rains. When forests are cut down, this
regulation of the flow of water is disrupted, which leads to alternating periods of flood and
then drought in the affected area.
Climate Change: It is well known that global warming is being caused largely due to
emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, what is
not known quite as well is that deforestation has a direction association with carbon dioxide
emissions into the atmosphere. Trees act as a major storage depot for carbon, since they
absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is then used to produce carbohydrates,
fats, and proteins that make up trees. When deforestation occurs, many of the trees are
burnt or they are allowed to rot, which results in releasing the carbon that is stored in them
as carbon dioxide. This, in turn, leads to greater concentrations of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere.
Change in all above stated condition resulted Flooding, swat and northern area was riched
in forest but due to lack of knowledge and information amongst local people about
importance of these natural forest , caused serious consequences for them and rest of the
country in shape of floods.
Forecast Definite statement or statistical estimate of the occurrence of a future event
This term is used with different meanings in different disciplines.
Geological hazard Natural earth processes or phenomena that may cause the loss of life or
injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation.
Geological hazard includes internal earth processes or tectonic origin, such as earthquakes,
geological fault activity, tsunamis, volcanic activity and emissions as well as external
processes such as mass movements: landslides, rockslides, rock falls or avalanches,
surfaces collapses, expansive soils and debris or mud flows.
Geological hazards can be single, sequential or combined in their origin and effects.
Geographic information systems (GIS) Analysis that combine relational databases with
spatial interpretation and outputs often in form of maps. A more elaborate definition is that
of computer programmes for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, analyzing and
displaying data about the earth that is spatially referenced.
Geographical information systems are increasingly being utilized for hazard and vulnerability
mapping and analysis, as well as for the application of disaster risk management measures.
Public awareness
The processes of informing the general population, increasing levels of consciousness about
risks and how people can act to reduce their exposure to hazards. This is particularly
important for public officials in fulfilling their responsibilities to save lives and property in
the event of a disaster.
Public awareness activities foster changes in behavior leading towards a culture of risk
reduction. This involves public information, dissemination, education, radio or television
broadcasts, use of printed media, as well as, the establishment of information centre and
networks and community and participation action
Watershed Management
The water storage effect of vegetation, soil, shallow groundwater, wetlands and drainage as
a direct impact on the flood level in downstream areas. Each of these storage retain certain
quantities of water for various periods of time and can influence the timing of tributary flows
and hence their contribution to a flood event. The storage effect can be likened to a sponge
and is dependent on the antecedent conditions and the magnitude of the flood. the impacts
of land-use changes on flood events can be both positive and negative, so predictions are
hard to make for a specific watershed. Generally the removal of forest and other natural
cover, and the conversion of land to agricultural uses, compacts the soil and reduces
infiltration rates, leading to higher flood peaks. Deforestation is believed to have been a
significant cause of the catastrophic flooding in the Indus River. Deforestation and other
land-use practices can also lead to greater incidences of landslides and mud flows. Natural
water storage is also generally reduced due to the gradual loss of organic material and soil
erosion, once an area is converted to agriculture. Additionally, natural vegetation may
transpire moisture to the atmosphere at a greater rate than replacement crops, thereby
affecting both the amount of storage available in the soil and the amount of local rainfall.
Drainage of wetlands and marshes contributes directly to changes in the timing of runoff,
the amount of natural storage in the basin, and the vulnerability of the channel to the
erosive forces of water.
Drainage
All planned development, whether in the floodplain or not, must consider the implications
for its drainage on flood risk. In particular, this applies to development of green field sites,
for which the significant increase in impermeable area can considerably increase runoff
volumes and rates from the site. A strategic approach to the drainage of new urban areas is
likely to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the drainage and flood risk management
proposals, and reduce the flood risks associated with new development.
Integrated Drainage Strategy
Opportunities for developing an Integrated Water or Drainage Management Strategy across
development site boundaries is recommended, and ideally a catchment-led approach should
be adopted.
Experience shows that integrated approaches often lead to a more efficient and reliable
surface water management system at a comparatively lower cost because it enables a wider
variety of potential flood mitigation options to be used, and a better overall design can be
achieved. Integrated management of surface water has potential benefits in addition to
flood risk, and can include improved water quality through the use of SuDS and a reduction
of water demand through grey water recycling / rain water harvesting. Once the preferred
development area(s) have been selected, consideration should be given at an early stage to
the best way to manage drainage to maximize benefits.
Advance preparation
Assuming that there is advance warning of a major storm event, a number of steps can be
taken to increase readiness. Such steps include: construction of temporary flood protection
works; placing emergency response teams on high alert; distribution of critical materials
such as stockpiled sandbags to targeted locations; and preparation of emergency shelters
and hospitals prepared for occupation.
The population at risk can be informed of what is expected of them in the actuality of an
extreme event. As the event becomes more certain, actions such as evacuation of people,
goods and machinery can begin. Even if the event is not as extreme as predicted, these
preparations help test emergency response plans and inform the public as to the nature of
natural hazards.
Media and public information sessions help set the stage as well. The media are key players
in the link between public officials and the public. It helps if they are familiar with the
terminology used in warnings and forecasts and know whom to contact for more detailed
information during an actual flood event.
Note
These guidelines are developed by me to help Government of Pakistan and other
organizations working for flood victims in Pakistan.