Flooding

Trinidad, 2014.
What is a Hazard?

A hazard is a threat (whether natural or

human) that has the potential to cause loss of
life, injury, property damage, socio-economic
disruption or environmental degradation.
What is a Flood?

A flood is an accumulation or an overflow of

an expanse of water that covers or inundates
land that is usually dry.
Classification of Flooding
Flooding is classified as a climatic hazard,
which is that this hazard deals mainly with
climate and climate change. Climatic hazards are
as a result of climate and can cause disaster as it
can destroy human settlements and the
environment.
Association of Flooding
Flooding in association with:
The atmosphere- evaporation from large bodies of water like the
sea rise into the atmosphere where it cools and condenses forms rain.
here, if continuous precipitation has occurred this can lead to
flooding.
The lithosphere- in the lithosphere or the outer part of the earth
rain falls to the earth by precipitation and can affect this part of the
earth by erosion and high sedimentation in the river channel can
cause the river to overflow its banks which results in flooding.
The biosphere- excessive rainfall and flooding can destroy and
eradicate plant and animals as well as their homes and food.
Flooding in Trinidad,2014.
Some Areas affected by flooding:
Most of the south
Central Trinidad
Caroni
Manzanilla
Claxton bay
Talparo
Debe
Penal
Most of sangre grande
Santa flora
Diego martin
Siparia
 The short term effects of flooding.
Social Effects Economic Effects Physical Effects
Scarcity in the basic necessities(eg. Money is required to repair all of Deposition of sediments in the
Clean water, clothes, proper shelter the damages cause and in re- flood plain.
and clean food) enforcing preventative measures Loss of lives.

Loss of personal belongings(eg.

Books and toys)
Loss of lives.
Loss of property
 The long term effects of Flooding
Deposition of silt on the top of levies increases their size and worsens
subsequent floods. Economic hardship due to a temporary decline in tourism,
rebuilding costs, or food shortages (loss of trade and industry) leading to price
increases is a common after-effect of severe flooding. The impact on those
affected may cause psychological damage to those affected, in particular
where deaths, serious injuries and loss of property occur. Urban flooding can
lead to chronically wet houses, which are linked to an increase in respiratory
problems and other illnesses. Urban flooding also has significant economic
implications for affected neighbourhoods.
Individual responses to Flooding
In November 2014 (Between the 9th and 16th where torrential rainfall occurred)

In the Manzanilla and Mayaro areas

Numerous homes and crops in the Mayaro and Manzanilla districts were
obliterated by flooding. The Manzanilla/Mayaro road collapsed due to erosion
caused by constant rainfall, high tide conditions and the overflow of the Nariva
Swamp; trapping residents in their villages.

Responses to the flooding after the rainfall had subsided, but the floodwater
was still present:
Residents began placing boulders on the shore and decanting heaps of concrete
into tyres to make temporary retention walls in hope of suppressing the soil.
Residents used sandbags which acted as the only barricade between the sea
and their homes.
 Individual responses to Flooding
After the flooding had ceased:

Some residents began replanting coconut trees at the front of their properties to stabilize and hold the soil in place;
to help prevent soil erosion and flooding in the future.

Groups and volunteers allocated disposable cups and plates, as well as garbage bags, toilet paper and packs of
biscuits to those households affected by the floodwaters.

Grand Riviere, Matura and Oropouche areas

Torrential rainfall caused the rivers at Grand Riviere, Matura and Oropouche to overflow their banks, flooding
roads and houses, trapping residents in their homes and marooning citizens who were unable to reach their
destinations.

Responses to the flooding after the rainfall had subsided, but the floodwater was still present:

Villagers at Sangre Grande hopped rides on vans and truck to escape the floodwaters in order to get home.

Residents moved their belongings to higher ground to prevent any additional damage by the flood waters.

Farmers made arrangements to have their animals secured.

 Individual response to Flooding

After the flooding had ceased:

Police officers in the Sangre Grande region made regular
patrols in the areas affected by the flood to ensure citizen
safety.
Neighbours assisted each other, rummaging through the
houses affected by the floodwaters to salvage all that was
utilizable.
Residents enrolled a cleanup campaign to clean their homes
and yards.
 National response to Flooding
Have a source of an initial notification/warning. Eg) through an uninterrupted
TV to radio announcement.
-Have district emergency relief centers that provide all essentials (food,
shelter) to citizens.
-Have constant circulations of medical services and other types of assistance
through the community as telecommunications may be unavailable.
-Have proper search and rescue teams on hand to provide relief to persons
that may have gone missing.
-Ensure proper debris removal from river, drains, etc. that may cause further
hindrance to relief operations.
-Widen rivers to ensure that they can contain more water.
-Build Levees and plant more trees near the coastline to prevent water from
coming inland.
Regional response to Flooding
In the Caribbean, scientists throughout the region would study and
observe if there are any signs of other hazards which can lead to a
flood.