Floods
Floods
Floods
for a very short period that result in floods. In other times, there may be light rain
for many days and weeks and can also result in floods. Another is, over flowing
rivers. Rivers can overflow their banks to cause flooding. The most common reason
is, when there is more water upstream than the usual, causing water to flow heavily
to adjacent low-lying areas thereby causing floods. Last, are strong winds in coastal
areas. For instance, when typhoon Haiyan devastated the island of Leyte, Strong
winds pushed massive amount of water up shore flooding almost half of the entire
city of Tacloban.
Flooding too, can also cause health hazards in the community including:
death and injury, contaminated drinking water, hazardous material spills, increased
populations of disease-carrying insects and rodents, moldy houses, and community
disruption and displacement. As rains become heavier, streams, rivers, and lakes
can overflow, increasing the risk of water-borne pathogens flowing into drinking
water sources that can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting,
headache, and fever.
The immediate impacts are damage to property, destruction of crops, loss of
livestock, and deterioration of health conditions owing to waterborne diseases as
mentioned earlier. As communication links and infrastructure such as power plants,
roads and bridges are damaged and disrupted, some economic activities may come
to a standstill, people are forced to leave their homes and normal life is disrupted.
Similarly, disruption to industry can lead to loss of livelihoods. Damage to
infrastructure also causes long-term impacts, such as disruptions to supplies of
clean water, wastewater treatment, electricity, transport, communication, education
and health care. Loss of livelihoods, reduction in purchasing power and loss of land
value in the floodplains can leave communities economically vulnerable.
With respect of, it should be that initiatives to combat these be available in
every societies in order that hazards caused by the subject be lessen if not
prevented. Humans cannot stop the rains from falling or stop flowing surface water
from bursting its banks because these are natural events, but we can do something
to prevent it from having great impact. Like improving drainage systems, coastal
defense walls etc. but the most important however, is discipline. In what sense? We
should try to control the way we exploit natures resources and try to be more
conservative. Take note, that a simple act of kindness and consideration can make a
difference. With that I rest my case.
Thank you!