Paragraphs on Floods, Cyclones

Disaster is a sudden change in the environmental condition causing excessive damage to human as well
as plants, animals and surrounding. It is an immediate event with very less prior knowledge. Disaster is a
damaging event of nature. The gravity of the loss or the intensity of the event is measured by the
amount of loss by way of living beings and national property. Flood, Cyclone, Earth quakes are some of
the disaster events. Tsunami is also one of the disaster events.
There are different types of disaster. Some are natural and some are manmade. Nuclear holocausts, Fire
accidents are manmade disasters but floods, cyclones, drought, earthquakes are natural disaster as they
are due to changes in the natural conditions.
1. Floods:
Floods are due to passage of water to habitation. Water stays for longer time covering the land area
having human beings, plants and animals. Flood is a direct result of heavy rainfall in a continuous way
for longer days. Indian states suffer due to flood every year.
Ganga, Brahmaputra is two major rivers which a use floods every year. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam are
the states which suffer much due to floods of these rivers. In Orissa, it is Mahanadi and Baitarani which
cause floods in the adjoining areas of Cuttack, Puri, Balasore etc.
Floods destroy agriculture of various crops. It destroys land mass by way of washing away its nutrients
on the soil top. Floods also affect forests and wildlife. Floods cause soil erosion. During flood people do
not get drinking water and all types of water-borne diseases spread in the population.
Management:
Floods can be prevented and controlled by the following ways:
1. Construction of suitable dams to store sudden flow of water due to heavy rain.
2. Inflow of water from the upper catchment to the river should be stopped by building artificial
reservoir.
3. Proper network of inter connected river will greatly manage flood water by diverting excess water to
the deficit areas
4. Strategic plantation of trees can save flow of water to human habitat.
5. Proper scientific knowledge about heavy rainfall within short duration can help people to stay in safe
areas.

2. Cyclones:

Cyclones are atmospheric storm. It is caused due to rise in temperature in the sea surface for a longer
time. It is built in the sea water and moves to the land area in a swirling fashion taking lots of moisture
in the air. Cyclone also strikes suddenly out of low pressure formed in the sea water; Cyclones are very
regular event in India. Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu are few states which are frequently affected
by cyclone. The recent cyclone to hit Orissa coast was in 1999. Cyclones Rita hit Southern USA in the
year 2005 causing extensive damages to man and environment.

Cyclones cause extensive damage to crops, animal and human lives. It uproots trees and destroys
houses and buildings. Electric and Telephone towers are uprooted causing electrical and network failure.
Communication is cut off due to cyclones.

Cyclones are tracked by satellite pictures and accordingly preventions are made to control damages.
People are informed before hand to shift themselves along with their valuable to safe homes. Cyclone
homes are built at different affected areas to accommodate people. Tents, funds etc. are stored to help
people during this home. Cyclone is a natural disaster.

There is very less option to prevent the happening of cyclones. The only way is to check the intensity of
damage to human lives and property. Trees plantation along the coastal areas help in checking the
speed of air. Mangrove plantations have proved to be the best to check damages during Cyclones. Good
scientific information can help to know about the direction and speed of cyclone.