Investigation on Different Methods of Solving Flooding Issues in Urban Areas and Rural Areas

What happens if you can't cope with flooding?
Water damage caused by flooding leads to a definite concopia of health and safety risks if water is not immediately cleaned, including the following. Structural damage, Electrical damage, and danger, Sharp glasses, and metal, Hygiene hazards and diseases from water supply, Contaminated drinking water, Disposed Drainage, and Sewage System, cut-off communications, Destruction of roads and bridges, A landslide, Damaged crops.

Loss of Life

The most devastating impact of flood damage on you is either the loss of life in your business. Sudden floods claim the lives of people, pets, livestock, and wild animals alike and are the biggest weather-related killers in the United States.

Emotional Difficulties.

Flood victims may have difficulty coping with their situation as they experience anxiety, depression, fear, anger, frustration, sadness, and sadness. These symptoms can interfere with relationships, prevent sleep, and cause loss of appetite. This is why mental health experts are around FEMA and the Red Cross when responding to floods-related disasters.

Property Damage

90% of all natural disaster-related damage is caused by water damage caused by floods (Nidirect, 2021). Home, company, car, belongings, equipment... Nothing is immune. Just a few inches of water can cause great damage to the contents of a house or company, not to mention buildings and land.

Economic losses.

Not all insurance companies and insurance cover water damage caused by floods, which can put a heavy financial burden on flood victims. In 2011, all flood costs in the United States alone exceeded $8.5 billion (Nidirect, 2021). Check your current coverage level today to make sure you have the right flood insurance for your home or business. It can take years for the affected community to be rebuilt and life to return to normal.

URBAN
Flooding in urban can be caused by different types of flood:

Flash Flood:

Flash flood is basically a sudden local flood due to heavy rain, and flash flood usually occurs within 3 to 6 hours. Flash floods can happen everywhere, but they most likely occur in urban areas like cities and developed areas rather than rural areas because most of the urban areas are paved and covered with concrete. The lands or areas which are paved do not allow the water to get absorbed into the underground. Therefore, floods happen because water, which did not get absorbed into the ground, runs downhill. On November 25, 1967, a devastating flood ruined the city of Lisbon in Portugal. As heavy rain poured down at a rate of 1.2 inches per hour, low elevated regions were overflowing with water. The flooding destroyed houses, cars, and other buildings, taking away 464 lives. It is known to be one of the worst flash floods in history across the globe.

In most cases, there is no or very little time to prepare for a flash flood, so we have to prevent the flash flood before it happens. Since flash flooding happens due to a lack of areas where the places can absorb water, we can have green roofs. Green roofs absorb rainwater and help to minimize the risk of flooding. Today, there are several famous green roofs around the world. To name a few, there are “Museé du Quai Branlys Vertical Garden” in Paris, and “The California Academy of Sciences Living Roof” in California.

Photo of Museé du Quai Branlys Vertical Garden in Paris, France, CC BY

Example of Green Roofs, CC BY

Not only are famous buildings, but this picture shows how green roofs are getting popular across Europe; people build green roofs for the community so that they can prevent or reduce stormwater runoff (IEEE Xplore, n.d.).

Coastal flood:

Coastal flood is when the coast is flooded by the sea, climate change, and storms. The storm wind pushes the water up and makes high waves, which creates floods. People living in coastal areas have high risks to face coastal flooding, which can lead to injuries, drowning, etc.
To prevent coastal flooding, we should think about climate change and sea levels. Building a seawall can be one of the ways to prevent coastal flooding. Sea wall is a structure made of concrete and masonry, and it is built parallel to the shore at the transition between the beach and the dune, so it can prevent coastal erosion and huge waves.

Example of Seawall, CC BY

People think that we could just build a huge sea wall or keep the barriers at bay, but it is not that simple since the barrier can fail, which can cause a problem of harming animals. Engineers and scientists suggest ways to prevent coastal flooding by sopping up water, limiting erosion, and wave energy.

River flood:

River flood is also called Fluvial flood. This flooding occurs when the water level in a river rises and it overflows into the land, cities, and shores. River flooding usually happens within minutes after having a heavy rainfall, which can cause serious damage. The Mississippi River flood of 1927, also known as the Great flood of 1927, is marked as one of the worst natural disasters in United States history. The flood caused approximately 750,000 people without shelter, food, water, clothing, and work.

Example of Portage Diversion, CC BY

One of the best ways to prevent river flooding is to diversify the portage. The portage diversion consists of two separate gates, which will divert the flow of water in the river.

RURAL

There are many methods that can prevent flooding.

Absorption of the Lands

Increasing land covered by plantings so that land can absorb the water. And planting or preserving trees so that the roots of the tree can hold the soil. Because according to Sulaeman (2020), deforestation and improper agricultural practices cause floods. And preserving Wetlands so that the wetlands absorb water (Narayan, 2017).

Example of Dam, CC BY

It is built along with the flow of the river to control the discharge volume. Water is released in a suppressed and controlled manner by the dam. Water is usually stored in a reservoir behind a dam. This water can be used for hydroelectric or recreational purposes. It costs a lot to build. If the river valley overflows and becomes a reservoir, settlements and agricultural lands may be lost.

Floodwall

Example of Floodwall, CC BY

It can be used to increase the height of the riverbank to the point where the riverbank does not burst. Also, It can be a permanent feature or it can be integrated into the area design and made invisible. And It may also be a temporary structure in which a hydrological or removable 'stop log' is built to protect the expanded river.