article on floods - causes and preventation
Answers
Floods – Causes and Prevention
By Rishit
There are many natural disasters that claim hundreds of loses. But the severest of them are floods. Every year, floods are responsible for the destruction of property and lives. This time its unfortunate target was Jammu and Kashmir. Floods were caused by heavy rains and overflowing of water from rivers after the breakage of dam barriers. Villages were swept away by the flood waters leaving many homeless.
It is to be noted that the same villages are hit by the floods but even then no measures are taken. Although, floods create havoc every year, yet no precautionary methods are taken by the government. We just stand by and watch people being washed away by the cruel water. It is ironic that once the water does its damage. People come forward with their relief and help. It is high time that preventive measures be put in place.
To prevent massive damage. Proper barriers must be built on the rivers and canals should be made so that the rainwater gets carried away instead of wreaking havoc. Wells should be dug so that the excess rainwater seeps into the ground and replenishes the groundwater and at the same time prevents the floods
Answer:
A flood is a body of water that covers land which is normally dry. Floods are common natural disasters that can affect millions of people around the world. They destroy houses and buildings, and carry soil away from valuable farming land. Floods can also contaminate drinking water and lead to diseases. They are often caused by rivers, but overflowing lakes and seas can also cause flooding.
Flooding has always been a part human history. Many ancient civilizations developed along waterways and rivers because people needed water for their fields.
Floods are not always destructive natural events. Before the Assuan High Dam was built yearly floods in Egypt brought along nutrients and made the land around the Nile very fertile. Every year floods during the monsoon season in Bangladesh deposit fertile soil but also kill thousands of people and leave millions homeless.
Flooding Near Kea West Florida
Flooding near Key West, Florida - Marc Averette
How do floods occur?
At least once a year the plains around large rivers are flooded. This is due to the amount of water that rivers bring with them, because of heavy rainfall or melting snow in the mountainous regions. Thunderstorms can cause flash floods, in which small rivers can swell quickly and carry up to ten times the normal amount of water.
Rivers that flow slowly carry water, sand and silt. They build up their own beds, making them higher than the land around them. The Huang He, or Yellow River, in China and the Mississippi in North America are examples for such rivers. Flooding here builds up slowly but causes more damage because more land is affected.
Coastal regions can also be affected by flooding. After earthquakes on the ocean floor tsunamis can bring up to 15-metre high waves and flood the coast many miles inland. In 2004, a devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed over 250,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other countries.
Tropical storms, cyclones and hurricanes also lead to flooding. Hurricane Katrina caused a massive flooding of the whole Mississippi Delta in 2004. Most of New Orleans had to be evacuated because of widespread flooding.
Low-lying countries are in permanent danger of being flooded. A large section of The Netherlands, for example, lie below sea level. In the past, ocean water from the North Sea flooded much of the country. Today a series of dikes and dams protect the land behind the coast.
Floods are also caused by humans. Trees and plants normally help absorb too much water. When forests are cut or burned down, water from rainfall flows down barren land and produces mudslides. Too much water pressure on dams can lead to cracks in the concrete or even cause a dam to break completely.
Flooded village in Sumatra after 2004 tsunami
Flooded village in Sumatra after 2004 tsunami
Flood protection
Today flood protection has a high priority in countries that are in danger. Dams are built along rivers to regulate the flow of water. They are often connected with hydroelectric power plants. In some areas rivers are dredged and their beds are laid deeper. In alpine regions reservoirs are built to hold back water and control the flow of small rivers.
London is protected from flooding by the Thames Barrier, a construction that moves up and stops water from getting in to London when it reaches a certain height.
In many areas, authorities provide quick and unbureaucratic help for people who have suffered from flooding. Special boats pick up people who are trapped on roofs or on the upper floors of buildings. Shelters are set up for people who are left homeless. Rebuilding after massive floods often takes months and sometimes even years
Explanation:
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