Flood Risk Management - Literature review Example

Running Header: Environment Management Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Name & Code: Date of Submission: Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Urban Flood Management 4 Factors causing Floods 4 Immediate impact and risks caused by flooding 6 Agencies involved and recovery processes 7 Environmental management systems 8 Lessons learnt and recommendations to prevent future flooding 9 Conclusion 10 References 12 Environment Management Introduction According to World Meteorological Organization (2008), a flood is excess water or mud on the land and situation where there is high flow or overflow of water in any established water flow. Urban flooding is the lack of proper drainage mainly in the urban areas resulting to improper capacity of canals draining away the floods. Environmental management involves management of modern human societies and the environmental impacts. Environmental management offers research as well as opinions on conservation and use of natural resources, habitat protection as well as controlling hazards. They are various environmental hazards may occur or take place in various regions which may include floods. Proper environment risk assessment includes various ways of reducing and preventing the effects of environmental hazards like the floods in the society. There are various steps that are used in reducing the environmental hazards occurrence as well as reducing their effects in the environment on human beings. The major steps involved in preventing and reducing environmental hazards include prevention, detection, containment, and mitigation. Flood risk management is a consistent combination of long term aims, goals, measures and process patterns which are aligned with societal context in ensuring appropriate measures are taken into account. Flood risk management involves formulating and implementing various strategies within society which assist in risk reduction as well as increasing preparedness through a comprehensive flood risk management. Urban Flood Management Factors causing Floods Rory, S, & Hugh (2001, p. 122) maintains that they are various factors or causes which make the floods to occur in the urban areas. Some of the major factors which contribute to flooding in the urban areas include natural and human factors or causes. Natural causes include hydrological and meteorological causes like flash floods. Human causes or factors include population pressure, unplanned urbanization, poor water and sewerage management, poor control measures as well as lack of proper attention to hydrological systems. Human factors are the major contributors of the flooding in the urban areas. Some of the human factors results to increased coverage of land surfaces in the urban areas including streets, roofs and other impervious surfaces. Increased peak flow, decreased groundwater flow, and overland flow volume are some conditions which result to increase in flooding of the urban areas. Large impervious areas in urban areas usually results to poor infiltration of flood water into the ground hence producing large run-off which cannot be well accommodated by urban areas network. Poor urban management plans of the urban areas also results to poor drainage and severe flooding in the urban areas. Poor urban drainage planning usually results to severe flooding in urban areas. Poor urban drainage planning is a major factor which leads to development of floods in the urban areas. Poor flood management and development is another major cause of severe floods occurrence in the urban areas. There is need to come up with various preventative and management strategies in ensuring there is effective management of floods occurrence in any urban settings. There is need to have effective management policies in ensuring floods management is effectively carried out in ensuring reduced flood effects. Liquid and solid waste concentration especially without formal disposal systems usually results to obstruction of water flow resulting to occurrence of floods in urban areas. Poor drainage control plan in the urban areas like environmental, structural as well as weak economic evaluations usually contributes to frequent and severe flooding in the urban areas. Weak flood management policies usually results to severe flood occurrences resulting to flash floods that in most occasions results to destruction of properties and displacement of properties in the urban areas. Obstruction of flood plains as well reduces the chances of floods occurring especially when drainage systems are blocked or have restricted flood movement. Poor or inefficiency maintenance of urban infrastructure usually results to occurrence of floods in several urban areas. Urban micro-climate usually results to occurrence of precipitation events and eventually resulting to severe floods. Urban areas increased temperatures usually results to development of micro-climatic regions resulting to development of urban heat island which eventually leads to formation of urban storms and eventually flooding. Most urban areas are located in areas that are plain or flat and usually results to flood plains which eventually results to floods occurrence in various urban areas. Other causes of floods in the urban areas include hydrological factors like soil moisture levels and rate of natural surface infiltration. Others include presence of impervious cover, high tide impending drainage and shape as well roughness of channel cross-section. Absence or presence of over bank flow and channel network and groundwater level before storming also contributes greatly to occurrence of urban flooding. Other factors which contribute to urban flooding include meteorological factors like rainfall, temperature, snowfall or snowmelt, small scale and cyclonic storms especially when they occur in urban areas. Immediate impact and risks caused by flooding Frank (2003, p. 79) maintains that Floods occurrence usually results to increased risks occurrence and other immediate impacts in the society and the population. Some of the impacts and effects include damage to public properties including buildings and other house-hold assets. Destruction and interruption of road and railway transportation systems of urban areas are some of the effects from urban flooding. Urban floods impacts can be physical, environmental, and economic. The impacts include direct losses mainly from flood waters, to infrastructure and buildings. Other indirect losses include transport disruption, loss of business and loss of family income. Urban floods are usually associated with not only loss of properties but loss of lives as well. Other flood losses impacts include human related losses like loss of life, physical injury as well as loss of archaeological site. This results to increased stress, physical and psychological trauma among the affected population. Others include homelessness and loss of livelihoods and other personal properties as well as interruption of communication systems. Some of the risks associated with urban flooding are increased water-borne related diseases and ill health. Other includes increased and hastened mortality with psychological and physical trauma effects on the affected populations. According to Holger (2004, p. 70) other immediate risks include disruption of industrial production, disruption of communication channels including road, rail and telecommunication. Other impacts include disruption of utility supplies like electricity as well as education and health care services disruption in the urban areas. Flooding results to increased disruption of traffic resulting to traffic congestion and related costs. There is also increased disruption of employees to work places as well as contamination of water supplies. This results to increased immediate food shortages with high occurrence of related risks. There are economic related risks that are related with the flood occurrence and losses which includes disruption of small business while others becoming bankrupt, loss of exports and reduced gross domestic product. Floods usually results to fire damage in the buildings and other related risks or hazards. Floods usually results to interruption of electricity supply which damages machines and computers. Fire and electricity damage may result to health related risks which may eventually lead to extensive damages, injuries and deaths. Urban floods result to weakening of structures making them more prone and eventually increased risks to the people occupying those buildings or structures. Such impacts results to extensive damages and losses to the population and to the businesses in terms of financial or economic losses. In Sheffield, there was extensive damage and interruption of business operations as well as infrastructure. Roads were extensively damaged completely with blockage of railway lines and other communication facilities. Power and water supplies were as well disrupted during the floods in the region. Agencies involved and recovery processes Various agencies are involved in the operations as well as recovery processes. Environmental agency is one such agency that has been involved in ensuring the effects of flooding does not affect and does not have adverse effects on the people and the environment. Such agencies have helped greatly in improving the delivery of assistance to the required population. Other agencies which have been involved in overseeing the recovery process of summer floods include Environment Food and Rural Affairs Department, Community and local Government department, association of local government and the treasury. These agencies worked together in ensuring quick recovery processes after the floods in various regions. This is through ensuring there is quick recovery among the affected people including residential and business properties. Environment Agency is the leading government body which leads in ensuring there is effective management of risks. Other agencies that were involved included Agricultural Development Advisory Service (ADAS) which reviews the effects of floods in agriculture operations. This assisted in ensuring there are effective recovery strategies towards recovering from the floods incidences and assisting the affected communities. A committee on environment, food and rural affairs was set up to ensure effective measures are taken into consideration towards ensuring reduced effects of flooding. Local authorities in Sheffield had a responsibility of ensuring flood effects were reduced and looked after among the affected population. Regional Flood defense committee was as well established in ensuring there are reduced effects of floods in the urban areas. Sheffield city Council ha a great role of ensuring there is effective management as well as controlling flood plains. Sheffield also prepared a strategic assessments in ensuring there is effective management of risks involved when there is occurrence of floods in that region. In the process of post recovery, there were databases that were set up in ensuring flood-affected households and other individuals affected are given enough assistance. This includes providing temporary accommodation to affected people. Other post recovery strategies include facilitating communication in the areas where communication channels were affected. Environmental management systems Com Chief Fire and Rescue Advisers Unit (2008, p. 170) argues that environmental management systems (EMS) in Sheffield ensured there were comprehensive, systematic, documented and planned environmental programs that were put in place to manage effectively the environmental issues and in particular flooding issues. This ensured there was effective planning as well as development and implementation of environmental protection polices with efficient organizational structure. Sheffield environment management system ensures there is improved environmental performance and well management of organization environment affairs. Environmental management system in Sheffield key elements identifies significant environmental impacts and the effects they have on the environment. Sheffield ensures there is an established management framework whereby the environment impacts are identified and reduced. Environmental management system in Sheffield follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle which assist in environmental policy development, planning the environmental policy and implementing it. This also assists in checking the system as well as acting on it. In Sheffield, the environmental management system did not in a greater extent achieve the expected desire or results due to the floods and rainfall damage extent. Such amount of rainfall exceeded the management strategies which have been put in place. Although there were various management strategies as well as environmental systems, there were not effective and this lead to damage and severe flooding of the various regions. Lessons learnt and recommendations to prevent future flooding According to Andras & Zevenbergen (2004, p. 56), It is crucial to put in place various strategic measures towards ensuring effective recommendations are put in place in reducing the effects of the floods and well as reducing their effects on the environment. Practical and timely information through various channels of communication to various communities in ensuring they are no effects on the people should be taken into consideration. Frequent and proactive communication with those people affected is crucial in ensuring there is practical support which is provided to them in ensuring they recover from the flood effects. This has been provides in various areas affected by the floods like Sheffield and hull mainly through a well-advertised local flood-line or telephone contacts. Efficient communication channels ensure they are effective delivery of required assistance. It is crucial for various agencies to collaborate and work together in ensuring good achievement of flood management strategies. There is also the need for various authorities to put in place effective flood preparedness plans in their counties towards ensuring reduced effects on the population. Rescue services should always be put in place to reduce the effects of flooding. Effective measures and facilities should be put in place to assist in detecting the occurrence of such flood disasters or calamities. Efficient flood warning systems are essential in ensuring reduced effects of floods to the population. Accurate weather predictions are required in ensuring effective predictions and flooding are known and detected early before the havocs. Good building plans require to be put in place in ensuring they are reduced incidences mainly from poor building plans. Conclusion Flood management requires to be carried out effectively in ensuring reduced flood related hazards. Enough resources should be devoted by concerned agencies in ensuring Effective River and coastal flood risk management is achievable. Environmental management involves management of modern human societies and the environmental impacts. The major steps involved in preventing and reducing environmental hazards include prevention, detection, containment, and mitigation. Some of the major factors which contribute to flooding in the urban areas include natural and human factors. Natural causes include hydrological and meteorological causes like flash floods. Human factors are population pressure, unplanned urbanization, poor water and sewerage management, poor control measures and lack of proper attention to hydrological systems. Other causes of flooding in urban areas include environmental, structural as well as weak economic evaluations. Environmental management is vital in ensuring there are reduced risks occurrences in various regions. This includes reduced floods, fire and other related incidences and accidents. Various effective flood preparedness policies and strategies require to be carried out in making sure there are reduced flood incidences in various urban areas. Environmental management systems (EMS) in Sheffield ensured that comprehensive, systematic, documented and planned environmental programs that were put in place to manage effectively flooding problems. References Andras, S, & Zevenbergen, M 2004, Urban Flood Management, Taylor & Francis, London. Com Chief Fire and Rescue Advisers Unit 2008, Environmental protection: Fire and Rescue Manual, Volume 2, Fire Service Operations, The Stationery Office, London. Frank, F, 2003, Practical Guide to Environmental Management, Environmental Law Institute, New York. Holger, P 2004, ‘Environment Management’, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 67-87. Rory, S, & Hugh, W 2001, Effective environmental management: principles and case studies, Allen & Unwin press, Sydney. World Meteorological Organization 2008, Urban Flood Risk Management, viewed 30 June 2010, http://www.apfm.info/pdf/ifm_tools/Tools_Urban_Flood_Risk_Management.pdf Read More