What is a flood?
Of all natural hazards capable of producing a disaster, a flood is the most common in causing loss of life, human suffering inconvenience, widespread damage to buildings, structures, crop, infrastructure, and other national assets.
Severe weather conditions which lead to intense rainfall such as tropical depressions and hurricanes often lead to flooding.
Types of floods
Causes of floods
The following are the main causes of flooding in Jamaica:
- Heavy rainfall from tropical weather disturbances
- Deforestation
- Improper agricultural practices
- Inadequate design of drainage channels disturbances
- Inadequate maintenance of drainage facilities, blockage by debris brought by floodwaters
- Construction of settlements in flood plains
Flooding is also a natural feature of drainage systems and of rivers and streams.
It occurs when drainage channels are filled and the rivers and streams can no longer accommodate the excess water generated by severe weather conditions.
The drain channels then overtop their natural or artificial banks and water enters the surrounding lands to cause flooding.
Additionally, human activities, which damage the environment, for example – sand mining, deforestation, and poor garbage disposal, increase the risk of flooding.
Effects of floods
Floods can:
- Disrupt one’s personal, economic and social activities
- Set back the nation’s security and development by damaging or destroying roads, buildings and other
- Set back the nation’s security and development by damaging or destroying roads, buildings and other infrastructure.
- Cause death by drowning
- Lead to insufficient food supply, which can lead to famine
- Destroy crops and livestock
Areas most likely to be worst affected by flooding are:
- Low-lying coastal areas
- Areas near gully banks
- Flood plains or major rivers
- Lower sections of closed limestone valleys
- Areas vulnerable to landslides
- Low-lying coastal towns and villages
Persons who live close to these areas are urged to be on the alert in case of a disaster as they are most vulnerable to flooding.
Source: ODPEM