Flooding in Illinois - Essay Example

Flooding in Illinois al Affiliation) Flooding in Illinois Report about area of study and floods Flooding is a massive amount of still or moving water covering a certain region. Water moves round and round from the clouds to the soil to and to water bodies and then go back to the clouds, a technical meaning of a flood is an imbalance in the “hydrological system” with more water flowing through the system than the system can draw of. Why the hazard is interesting This hazard is interesting because, measures of mitigating have been established. However, when it rains, the area will reduce exponentially. In addition, it is an emerging issue that affects most people and therefore lasting measures to reduce its impacts need to be initiated. Finally, by choosing to discuss this hazard, the solutions that come from it will educate public and they will therefore have knowledge in handling such an incident when it occurs. History of flooding in Illinois In the last five years, seven disasters were experienced in Illinois. For instance, last summer, more than $300 million was put into operation to aid in management of the aftermath of the flood. Also in June 2008, Midwest floods initiated widespread flood destruction across Illinois owing to insistent heavy rains that caused rivers to spill over their banks. Insured losses to Illinois inhabitants totaled $5.3 million. The Great Midwest Floods of 1993, was one of the biggest floods in U.S. history. The outcome was approximately $273 million uninsured flood destruction and an estimated $15 billion in total damages. The approximate amount of damage cause tolled to around $2.6billion and $60.7 million of them insured losses (Barry, 2007). Probability that it will impact the people and area (include maps to explain) The probabilistic point of view for flood potential issued by the NWS on March 6, 2014 gives a probabilistic valuation of flood potential using the vocabulary presented below. These viewpoints indicate that the likelihood in percent that slight, modest, or major flooding will take place. Additionally, they provide statistics regarding the possibility a given river stage will be equaled or exceeded during the present forecast period. Potential consequences of the hazard Property destruction and financial losses are one side of the story. Alternative perspective focuses on the consequence the flooding has had on the surroundings and the modifications it made to the physical land. Flood waters leads to erosion thus changing the shape of the land. This is caused by the chemicals and organic material deposit carried within the floodwaters. Also flood interfere with shipments of essential commodities like foodstuff, chemicals and other products. When canal are flooded and becomes impassable, ship and other marine means of transport becomes impeded. The underground tunnels was used to cross the river, when Mississippi was washed away. What will happen to the community if the hazard hit the community use past examples When floods occurred, the basins of River Mississippi and River Missouri, were damaged and water spilled over to where people lived. Buildings and infrastructure where people live are damaged and as a result, they have to relocate to safer places. In some places, the expected magnitude of the flood compels to seek higher level of shelter and move out of the floodplain. Existing and ongoing plan should the hazard take place Some of the current plans that are underway are the construction of detention basins. Their purpose is to reduce the pounding effect of storm and they are to be built between Catalina and adjacent Golf view areas. The two detention basins suggested by the engineers should help to make the streets in Catalina passable during heavy rains. Structure and other reactions to the hazard Some of the structure measure that is being taken is relocation. This involves moving structures physically to grounds with an elevation above the 100-year level of flood. Moving a structure entail the structure to be moved is in sound condition to be lifted up and taken to higher ground. Since the substitute removes an impediment to flood flow in the floodplain throughout the flooding event, the effect has either insignificant impact or a positive effect, subject to the footprint of the structure removed. This in turn may allow the river greater latitude during floods and may reduce flood hazard up and down the river. Secondly, establishing pad foundation. In order to achieve this, a pad is aligned with a built up structure. The outcome of the flood control measure is dependent on the size of the pad comparative to the original groundwork of the structure. If the pad is comparable in size to the original base of the structure, the pad will not alter the effects on flood control. If the pad is bigger than the original structure base, the pad may control flood flow. Moreover, other structures can be set up by mounting doors or windows that prevent water from entering in the structure that lies below the 100-year flood. The resultant effects produced depends on the size of the material that sandwich the doors and that are relative to the original foundation of the structure. If the structure is just wrapped in a waterproof film material and results in a section similar in size to the original foundation of the structure, this substitution will not alter the impacts on flood control. Finally, the other measure being taken involves building a levee or floodwall around the foundation of the structure. The fortification can be either momentary or enduring and normally extend up to the 100-year flood elevation. These are normally vertical walls built of synthetic or non-natural material. These walls helps in preventing water spillage by raising the height in which water has to rise in order to spill as well as strengthening the structures or set of structures. Good and bad points of the plans Relocation of structures would profit processes of the river. The unsystematic instability of a river channel can only be sustained by a stable structure or collections of systems, which must be linked with the floodplain-an area that takes the floodwaters of the river. By eliminating artificial structures from the floodplain, uninhibited use of these areas would be re-established and the natural movement of the river would be more probable to occur in the channel migration zone. The removal of structures from the floodplain would permit natural river processes to happen without causing destruction, or risk of destruction to human made structures. However, by removing structures from the floodplain will lead to a lot of indirect impact on fish environment. The protection methods used to prevent destruction to human-made structures in the floodplain regularly limit the natural migration of the river, lessen the capability of the river to handle flood flows, and disorder the natural sediment transport progressions that occur in a river system. Using levees and structure that make the bank tougher and stronger in order to protect property usually lead to acceleration of water within channels. This however becomes and hindrance to fish and other marine species (Bhowmik, 1994). Rearrangement of structures out of the floodplain, and the elimination of protections that have been hardened would permit the natural development and use of the plain. Elevating structures beyond the floodplain would have varied impacts on river processes contingent to the structural method used. A raised pad foundation would not offer direct perfection to river processes since the structure would still interrupt the natural use of the floodplain. The elimination of levees that may occur with the elevation of structures would give some enhancement to all the process that make the river function. Structures, designed to resist water, inside the floodplain will have no straight effects on the regularity or duration of flooding. Therefore, this measure will decrease the risk of possible damage to property. There would be no effects on fish habitat from waterproofing existing structures within the floodplain. The walls also may increase the potential damage to the very structures they are protecting if the barrier should fail (Chambers, 2000). In case the barriers that had been put to prevent water spillage fails, flood water spill to the surrounding area with a much greater extent than would have occurred without the water height provided by the barrier holding back the water. What community can do to reduce flooding hazards Does not garbage dump or throw anything into trenches or streams: Even grass trimmings and branches can mount up and plug channels. A plugged waterway cannot carry water, and if rain comes, the surplus water should be allowed to drain away. Any waste product that is cast away carelessly, contribute to flooding. Garbage and plants cast off in our streams reduces water quality in the stream and lakes. Remove wreckage, such as waste, loose twigs, and flora growing in the stream channel: If one owns possessions next to a trench or watercourse, preserve flow capacity. Eliminate vegetation growing on foot of the stream. Plants growing on the stream banks should be left. Their roots, firmly hold soil together thereby reducing the soil erosion rate. Additionally, people are advised not to throw pollutants in rivers. Not only is this a violation of rules that governs the environmental, it is also a way contaminating the surrounding. Obtain a building license, if mandatory: To lessen damage to buildings in flood events, the county needs all new building in flood plains to be fastened against shaking by floodwaters, buildings that can withstand water pressure, built from materials with strong breaking stress, cannot allow floods to go through them or upraised so the surrounded space is a least of one foot above the level of the 100-year flood, and they should conform with all measures put in place to withstand flood waters. As a community member, one should also check with the local authorities, before construction or changing the property. These actions could cause drainage hitches on other properties. Nevertheless, changing the way in which a river flows would change where it comes ends to and may result in the river draining its water to properties. One should also not build in places where they will cause flooding problems on adjacent properties (Miller, 2000). Finally, it is important to identify the natural and valuable functions of flood plains to help decrease flooding. By understanding and defending, the natural roles of flood plains one can aid lessen flood destruction and protect resources. The erosive energy of floods is reduced when the river spreads out in a larger surface area. This reduces erosion of the stream bank and channel. Moreover, there is less deposition of residues higher in the watershed and better-quality ground-water refresh. Community should engage in activities that lead to better development of flood plains that will increase that quality of water in the streams or lakes. Finally, community should work to lessen the risk of damage to their home: If one’s dwelling place has been flooded previously, there are hands-on and worthwhile methods for reducing or removing the danger of a house being flooded again. Approaches include uplifting the house, moving to higher ground, building floodwalls or berms and flood proofing Why do you think that this is an improvement It is an improvement because community becomes aware of how they should react in case of such a phenomenon. In addition, community becomes self-dependent, that is the will not rely on federal aid since it sometimes take long for government to respond to such cases. By being independent, community is able to take care of itself before any external aid comes. This is a major improvement. The impact of this report on me Through this report, one learns that much need to be done in order to fully reduce the magnitude of destruction brought by floods. Some of the measures mentioned in this report, have weaknesses, which needs refurbishing for them to be dependable. Also and finally, community plays a major role in helping to maintain an environment that will not favor flooding but that which will allow rain or river water drain easily. References Barry, J. M. (2007). Rising tide: the great Mississippi flood of 1927 and how it changed America. New York: Simon & Schuster. Bhowmik, N. G. (1994). The 1993 flood on the Mississippi River in Illinois. Champaign, Ill.: Illinois State Water Survey. Chambers, C. (2000). Floods control measures. Oxford: Heinemann Library. Ken, G. (2004). River stages in Illinois: flood and damage data.. Springfield?: Illinois Dept. of Transportation, Division of Water Resources. Miller, E. W. (2000). Natural disasters: floods : a reference handbook. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. Read More