Group 1: [FLOOD]

Flood
-

is a longer term event and may last a week or more. This results from days of
heavy rain and/or melting snows, when rivers rise and go over their banks.

Cause:
A flood is caused by a combination of heavy rainfall causing river / oceans to
over flow their banks, and can happen at any time of the year.
Effects:
Economic
During floods (especially flash floods), roads, bridges, farms, houses and
automobiles are destroyed. People become homeless. Additionally, the government
deploys firemen, police and other emergency apparatuses to help the affected. All
these come at a heavy cost to people and the government. It usually takes years for
affected communities to be re-built and business to come back to normalcy.

Environment
The environment also suffers when floods happen. Chemicals and other
hazardous substances end up in the water and eventually contaminate the water
bodies that floods end up in.

People and animals

Many people and animals have died in flash floods. Many more are injured and
others made homeless. Water supply and electricity are disrupted and people
struggle and suffer as a result.

TERMS TO KNOW

A Flash Flood or Flood Watch is declared when flash flooding or flooding is

possible within the designated watch area be alert.

A Flash Flood or Flood Warning is declared when flash flooding or flooding has
been reported or is imminent take necessary precautions at once.

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TYPES OF FLOOD

Flash Floods
Coastal Floods
Urban Floods
Ice Jam
River Floods (Fluvial Flooding)
Ponding Floods (Pluvial Flooding)

FLASH FLOOD
-

is a life-threatening flood that begins within 6 hours and often within 3 hours of
the rain event. It occurs during heavy rain events and happens very quickly.
Which result in fatalities, injuries, and/or significant damage to property. Flash
Flood rarely last more than 12 hours.

CAUSES:
Flash floods can occur under several types of conditions. Flash flooding occurs
when it rains rapidly on saturated soil or dry soil that has poor absorption ability. The
runoff collects in gullies and streams and, as they join to form larger volumes, often
forms a fast flowing front of water and debris.

COASTAL FLOOD
-

occurs in areas that lie on the coast of a sea, ocean, or other large body of open
water. It is typically the result of extreme tidal conditions caused by severe
weather.

CAUSES:
A coastal flood is caused by storm surges created by storms like hurricanes and
tropical cyclones, rising sea levels due to climate change and by tsunamis.

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URBAN FLOOD
-

is a direct, quick and localized consequence of rainfall. It often happens with little
warning and in areas not obviously prone to flooding, making it hard to manage
and predict. It takes place in rural areas.

CAUSES:
caused by intense and/or prolonged rainfall which overwhelms the capacity of the
drainage system is one of the principal hazards in modern towns and cities. This type
of flooding often leads to major economic losses and devastating social and
environmental impacts.

ICE JAM
is a floating ice that adds up at a man-made or natural area and stops the flow of
water. This causes the area to flood.
CAUSES:
Ice jams occur when warm temperatures and heavy rain cause snow to melt
rapidly. Snow melt combined with heavy rains can cause frozen rivers to swell (wave or
surge), which breaks the ice layer on top of the river. The ice layer often breaks into
large chunks, which float downstream and often pile up near narrow passages other
obstructions, such as bridges and dams.

RIVER FLOOD
or the Fluvial Flooding is the rise of a river to an elevation such that the river
overflows its natural banks causing or threatening damage.
CAUSES:
River Flood caused by excessive rainfall over an extended period of time causes a river
to exceed its capacity. It can also be caused by heavy snow melt and ice jams. The damage
from a river flood can be widespread as the overflow affects smaller rivers downstream, often
causing dams and dikes to break and swamp nearby areas.

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PONDING FLOOD
or the Pluvial Flooding is a type of flooding that can happen in relatively flat
areas. This occurs when rain water falling in an area is normally stored in the ground, in
canals or lakes, or is drained away, or pumped out.
CAUSES:
Ponding Flood caused when heavy rainfall creates a flood event independent of
an overflowing water body. One of the most common misconceptions about flood risk is
that one must be located near a body of water to be at risk. Pluvial flooding debunks
that myth, as it can happen in any urban area even higher elevation areas that lie
above coastal and river floodplains.

DOs and DONTs in Flood Situation

DOs

Raise furniture, electrical appliances on beds and tables

Put sandbags in the toilet bowl and cover all drain holes to prevent sewage
flow

Use bleaching powder and lime to disinfect the surroundings

Eat freshly cooked or dry food. Always keep your food covered

Drink boiled water or use chlorine tablets to purify water before drinking as
advised by Health Department

After the flood recedes, watch out for broken electric poles, damaged
bridges, broken glass, sharp objects and debris

Use mosquito nets/ repellants to prevent malaria

Keep your mobile phones charged

Listen to radio or watch television for the latest weather bulletin and flood
warnings

Keep strong ropes, a lantern, battery operated torches, extra batteries

ready

Keep the First Aid Kit Ready with extra medication for snake bite and
diarrhea
4

Group 1: [FLOOD]

Keep umbrellas and bamboo sticks with you for protection from snakes

Stay in touch with local officials. Follow instructions when asked to

evacuate

If you are being evacuated: pack some clothing, essential medication,

valuables, important documents in water proof bags to be taken to the safe
shelter; and turn off power and gas connection before leaving the house

Keep cattle untied to ensure their safety

Plant more trees

DONTs

Dont enter flood waters. If you need to enter, then wear suitable footwear

Dont walk through moving water. If you have to walk in water, walk where
the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in
front of you

Dont get near the electric poles and fallen power-lines to avoid
electrocution

Dont get near the sewage line, gutters, drains, culverts etc.

Dont let children remain on empty stomach

Dont leave the safe shelter until the local officials declare normalcy

Dont allow children to play in or near flood waters

Dont use any damaged electric goods, get it checked by an electrician

before using it

Dont use the toilet or tap water if the water lines or sewage pipes are
damaged

Dont eat food which has been in flood waters

Dont drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon
the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the
vehicle can be quickly swept away.

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FLOOD SAFETY TIPS

Listen to the radio or

television for
information updates

Prepare a basic survival

kit with batteries,
medicine, important
documents, basic
clothes, cash, and a
bottle of water

Use flashlights, rather

than flammable sources
of light

Move special
belongings to higher
floor or a secured spot
in house if possible

Prepare
emergency foodPrepare
emergency food
and water
and water

Prepare dry
clothes and keep
extra in reserve

Do not touch
electrical equipment
if you have been
outside in the rain.

Avoid
electrical
outputs in the
house

Group 1: [FLOOD]

Keep a form of signal or a

whistle in case you need to
catch the attention of
authorities
RAINFALL WARNING SYSTEM

Source:
NEWS
CHANNELAND
(ANC)
and Karl FLOOD
Cryer AND OTHER
ALERT
FOR ABS-CBN
INTENSITY
OF RAINFALL
POSSIBLE
HAZARDS

OBSERVED IN 1 HOUR AND MAY CONTINUE IN THE NEXT 2 HOURS

7 OBSERVED IN 1 HOUR AND MAY CONTINUE IN THE NEXT 2 HOURS

Group 1: [FLOOD]

Source: PAGASA.DOST.GOV.PH

OBSERVED IN 1 HOUR AND MAY CONTINUE IN THE NEXT 2 HOURS

Source: PAGASA.DOST.GOV.PH