Floods: Causes, Types, Impacts, and Management Strategies

Floods are among the most frequent and devastating natural disasters, affecting millions of people worldwide every year. This presentation explains the causes of floods including heavy rainfall, river overflow, dam breaks, coastal storms, and snowmelt. It highlights different types of floods such as flash floods, river floods, coastal floods, and urban floods with real-life historical examples including the 1931 China Flood, the 1953 North Sea Flood, the 2010 Pakistan Floods, and the 1993 Mississippi River Flood.
The slides also cover modern forecasting, warning, and monitoring systems, showing how technology helps predict and reduce flood risks. Additionally, it explores the impacts of floods on the natural environment (habitat damage, biodiversity loss, erosion, pollution) and the built environment (structural damage, economic loss, health risks, and social disruption).
This resource is valuable for students, researchers, and professionals in Geography, Environmental Science, Disaster Management, and Urban Planning. It provides both theoretical knowledge and practical insights into how floods shape our environment and society.

1. Flood Arooj Fatima M.Phil Geography University of Gujrat

2. Contents Flood Causes of flood Types of flood Historical Examples and geographical distribution Forecasting Warning & Monitoring Systems Impact on Built & Natural Environment

3. Flood Floods are common feature in the country that occur every year in in many parts. Sometimes a water resource (river, lake or pond) get flushed with too much water. Unusually heavy rain sometimes causes flood. When there is too much water, it may overflow beyond its limits. This water then spread over land, flooding it .

4. CAUSES Extreme flooding can caused by a tsunami or a large storm that causes a storm surge. Rain River overflow Strong Wind in Coastal Areas Dam breaking Ice and snow melting

5. Types of flood Flash Flood River Flood Coastal Flood Urban Flood

6. Types of flood Flash Flood: Happen in short time, have great volume of water, and are local flood. Results in failure of dams. Usually happens in deserts areas and mountain regions. River Flood : Caused by melting of snow and precipitation over large areas. Flood in rivers take hours to days .

7. Types of flood Coastal Flood: Caused by tides, storms, tropical cyclones and tsunami. Urban Flood: When the land is turned from fields or wood into roads and parking lots. Since this happens it cannot absorb the rainfall. During urban flood, all the streets become river and basements become full of water, they are depth traps.

8. Historical examples & geographical distribution Historical floods have occurred worldwide, impacting various geographical regions throughout history. Here are some notable examples of historical floods along with their geographical distributions: The great China flood of 1931. The 1953 North Sea Flood (Netherlands, UK, Belgium). The 2010 Pakistan Floods (Pakistan). The 1993 Mississippi River Flood (United States).

9. The Great Flood of 1931 (China) The Yangtze River in China experienced one of the deadliest floods in recorded history in 1931. Heavy rainfall and the overflowing of several rivers led to catastrophic flooding across central China, affecting millions of people and causing widespread devastation. The flood covered an estimated area of around 70,000 square kilometers and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, possibly up to several million people.

10. The 1953 North Sea Flood A powerful storm combined with high spring tides led to a devastating storm surge along the coastlines of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Belgium in 1953. The flood breached sea defenses, inundating low-lying coastal areas and resulting in the deaths of over 2,000 people in the Netherlands alone. This event prompted significant improvements in coastal defenses and flood management strategies in affected countries .

11. The 2010 Pakistan Floods (Pakistan ) Heavy monsoon rains in 2010 triggered widespread flooding across Pakistan, affecting millions of people and causing extensive damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods. The floods submerged vast areas of farmland, displacing millions of people and leading to food shortages and disease outbreaks. The geographical distribution of the floods encompassed large parts of Pakistan, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh.

12. The 1993 Mississippi River Flood In 1993, record-breaking rainfall led to extensive flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries in the central United States. The flood affected multiple states, including Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota, inundating farmland, towns, and cities along the river basin. The flood caused billions of dollars in damage and prompted significant changes in floodplain management and levee systems along the Mississippi River .

13. forecasting Hydrologic Model: Identifies whether a river is expected to flood by processing publicly available data sources, such as precipitation and other weather and basin data, and outputs a forecast for the water level in the river in the following days.

14. FORECASTING METHODS

15. warning The flood warning system utilizes computer technology, database technology, communication technology, and sensor technology. Common warning signs include intense rainfall, dam or levee failure as well as other events such as slow moving tropical storms and early snow melt can all contribute to flooding, whether you live in a flood zone or not.

16. Monitoring system A network of sensors, instruments, and technologies designed to continuously monitor various parameters related to flood conditions. Flood monitoring systems offer real-time data and insights into various factors like water levels, velocity, and rainfall, allowing for timely warnings and immediate action.

17. Impacts of flood on natural environment Habitat Damage: Floods can destroy habitats for plants and animals, altering ecosystems. Biodiversity Loss : Floods can lead to the displacement or loss of species, reducing biodiversity. Water Pollution : Floodwaters carry pollutants, contaminating rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Erosion: Floods erode soil, leading to land loss and sedimentation in water bodies. Habitat Fragmentation : Floods create barriers that separate habitats, impacting wildlife movement.

18. Impacts on built environment Structural Damage : Floods damage buildings, roads, bridges, and utilities, leading to collapses and instability. Utility Disruption: Floods disrupt electricity, water supply, sewage systems, and telecommunications. Economic Loss: Floods cause financial losses to businesses and communities due to property damage and interruptions in services. Health Risks: Floods pose health risks due to contamination, mold growth, and waterborne diseases. Social Disruption: Floods displace residents, disrupt transportation, and strain emergency services .