Impacts of Floods

AS Geography

Plenary

• In small groups write down what all the human causes of flooding are and all the physical causes are

The Answers

Human• Urbanisation• Deforestation• Poor River Management • Climate Change

Physical• Excessive levels of

precipitation over a prolonged period

• Intensive Precipitation over a short period

• Snowmelt• Climatic Hazards • Relief• Vegetation• Geology• Soil Type • Drainage Density

Learning Objectives

• Students will understand the difference between short, long term and intangible impacts of flooding

• What type of responses we have to cope with flooding

• Begin to appreciate the type of strategies presently used in river management

Activity

• On the large piece of paper and in groups begin to think about the different types of impacts a flood might have and try to separate them into the three groups

• Short term• Long term• Intangible• Once you have completed elect one member of the

group to take their sheet to another group to explain what you have put.

Short Term Impacts

• Death• Injury• Loss of infrastructure• Damage to property and business• Damage to crops• Disease

Long Term Impacts

• Rebuilding of roads and infrastructure• Houses needing demolitioning or rebuilding• Uninsured losses• Loss of trade and industry• Public perception of place• Costs of insurance

Intangible Impacts

• Emotional and psychological damage• Sentimental loss of property or items• Sleeplessness• Nervousness• Irritability and tiredness• Depression

High Risk Flood Areas in UK

Being Prepared

• How many different ways are there that you can think of; for being prepared for floods?

• In an MEDC (Most Economically Developed Country) – UK

• EA use flood map to find likely flood areas• Met office provide key data• Computer modelling help with predictions

Environment Agency Warning Levels

What Can We Do?

• Are you at Risk – Find out the likelihood of your nearest rivers from flooding

What Can We Do?

• Preparing for flood when warnings are issued• Make a flood action plan• Get flood protection to protect your home• If Necessary GET OUT!• Find out more : >>HERE<<

Management Strategies

• Structural Methods – Protection through Engineering

• River Basin Management – Seek to reduce the likelihood of flooding

• Modifying the burden of loss – Insurance schemes

• Bearing the cost of the flood – ‘Do Nothing Approach’

Management Types come in two basic forms

Hard Engineering

• Structural

Soft Engineering

• Working with the landscape not against it

Activity

• Discuss in your groups the different methods of structural engineering you can think of. See if you can think of any examples of these.

• E.g. - dams

types

• Flood walls, embankments and levees• Channel Improvements• Relief Channels• Flood Storage Reservoirs• Flood Interception Schemes• River basin management• Flood Abatement• Flood Proofing• Flood plain Zoning• Flood Prediction and Warning

Activity

• Pages 30 – 34 explain these methods write down a short explanation of each

• And then give the pro’s and con’s of each on the sheet provided.