It is the rainy season and lives may be lost due to sporadic flooding or floods.
William Ntladi, district manager media liaison for Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) explained a flood is the overflow of large amount of water beyond its normal confines, especially over what is normally dry land.
“A flood may occur from water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, dams or even oceans, in which the water overflows or breaks banks, resulting in some of the water escaping its usual boundaries.
“Flooding may also occur due to an accumulation of rainwater on saturated ground,” he said.
Ntladi added that whenever flooding takes place, there is the possibility of loss of life, hardship for people, and extensive damage to property.
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“Some floods occur abruptly and recede quickly whereas others take several days or even months to form and to recede because of various topographic factors,” he said.
Cause factors of flooding:
• High rainfall intensity over a prolonged period
When infrastructure drainage systems to remove rainwater appropriately into reservoirs are overwhelmed and the water doesn’t drain as quickly as it needs to, water will back up and rise into dwellings and other structures.
• Overflowing rivers
It is not necessary to have heavy downpours to experience flooding near a river. Rivers with dams not managed effectively can contribute to flooding.
• Broken dams
Aging dam walls and water gates can fail to contain the rising water levels in the dam. Broken walls can unleash torrents of water onto unsuspecting households.
• Storm surges and tsunamis
Storm surges related to hurricanes and other storms can lead to significant flooding, as can tsunamis which are caused by underwater earthquakes.
• Large paved areas
In large urban areas where large areas are paved and roads are tarred, the surface becomes impermeable resulting in water being unable to sink into the ground. Subsequently flooding occurs even with a small amount of rain which could have been handled easily by unpaved areas.
• Clogged drainage systems
Uncontrolled littering results in drainage systems clogging and prevents rainwater from draining quickly enough through the system.
• Developments in a natural waterway
Water naturally flows from a high-level area to low-lying areas. Poor developments in the low-lying areas will result in water damming and flooding the area and into the structures.
Types of floods:
• Flash floods
Cause greater loss of life and they occur when runoffs from excessive rainfall cause a rapid rise in the water heights of streams or normally dry channels.
• River floods
Cause greater loss of property.
Floods cause wide-scale devastation and affects everyone negatively. It doesn’t differentiate between the rich and the poor, the young and the old.
It can damage bridges and wash away automobiles, crops and livestock.
Pollution could also cause floods as the flow of sewerage and other debris into the rivers could cause blockages.
Safety tips on flooding:
Planning and preparation are of paramount importance before experiencing flooding because you can save lives.
• Have a family evacuation plan. Tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters require people to have a plan on how to safely evacuate their homes, why not have it for floods?
• Have the essentials on hand. Keep at least three days of water, non-perishable food and any important medication on hand always, so it will be there when needed.
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• Prepare your home and family. If you know a pending storm is likely to cause major flooding, have bags packed and ready in case you need to leave quickly.
• When evacuating, if possible, disconnect utilities and appliances beforehand to minimise the risk of fire and electrical hazards. Close and lock all the windows and doors.
• Stay away from floodwater. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, use an alternative route.
• When the floodwater covers the surface of a bridge, do not cross it. The bridge might have been washed away or the water stream might be strong enough to wash your vehicle or yourself away. Even if you drive a heavy truck do not take a chance.
• Be especially cautious at night when it’s harder to see flood dangers.
• Keep children and pets out of the water. The water might be polluted and full of debris which might be dangerous to human life and animals.
• Go to higher ground and avoid areas that are susceptible to flooding.
• Do not attempt to walk or drive through flowing streams or flooded roadways.
• Listen to the directions of local officials and stay updated by following local weather and news reports.
• If you come in contact with floodwater, wash your hands with soap and disinfected water.
• After the floods, check for structural damage before re-entering your home to avoid being trapped in a building collapse.
• If your home was affected by flood water, keep the power off until a qualified electrician has inspected your system for safety.
• Boil water for drinking and food preparation until authorities tell you that your water supply is safe.
• Prevent mould by removing wet contents immediately.
• Wear gloves and boots to clean and disinfect your premises.
Also read: Rainy day driving safety
For any life-threatening emergency use the following numbers:
• National toll-free number: 10177
• Emergency cellphone number: 112
• Ekurhuleni life-threatening emergency line: 011 458 0911
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