Caribbean Studies

GROUP FOUR

GROUP MEMBERS

• Zaeir Benjamin• Nekelle De Coteau• Reanna Guy• Tamika Mitchell• Adrian Potts• Arista Quaccoo

Contents• Hazard• Definition of a Flood• Causes of a Flood• Impacts of a Flood• Case studies of floods in the Caribbean• Mitigation strategies by Caribbean

Government

A hazard is a sudden event that causes threats to life, property, health and the environment

What is a Hazard?

According to www.stopdisastersgame.org a flood is the unusual presence of water on land to a depth which affects normal activities.

What is a Flood?

There are two causes of floods:

Natural causes

Man-made causes

Causes of a flood

Overflowing of rivers

Heavy and prolonged rainfall

An unsual inflow of seawater onto land by hurricanes, high tides, seismic events, tsunamis.

Natural causes of a flood

Dumping of solid waste in solid waste in waterways causing blockage

Deforestation

Construction of temporary dams

Failure of hydraulic and other control structures

Man-made causes of a flood

There are three types of impacts of floods

Physical

Social

Economic

Impacts of floods

Destruction of homes and other property

Destruction of crops

Loss of livestock

Physical Impacts of Floods

Causes water-bourne diseases

Loss of livelihood

Mass migration

Causes psycological effects

Social Impacts of Floods

Education is affected

Major contributions to rebuild the economy

Many illnesses causing labour shortage

Affects many economical activities:mining, agriculture, etc.

Economic Impacts of Floods

Sep 12, 2013: MASSIVE flash-flooding took Chaguanas, Curepe, St Augustine, Tunapuna and environs by surprise yesterday, following about two hours of heavy thunderstorms from mid-morning.

Haiti: Floods - Jun 2013: Heavy rains on 14, 15 and 28 Jun 2013 caused flooding in Haiti's Artibonite, Nord-ouest and Centre departments. Six people were killed and over 6,600 families affected. Extensive damage was reported in the agriculture and livestock sectors. It is feared that strategic emergency stocks may be used up early in the rainy season, and it is unlikely that they would be quickly replenished. This could potentially result in large shortages of critical aid supplies, preventing the government and its humanitarian partners from responding effectively to future shocks.

Case studies of Floods in the Caribbean

Mitigation

What is mitigation?• Mitigation refers to any structural or

non-structural measures undertaken to limit adverse hazard.

The heads of the Caricom established the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)

There are several types of Flood mitigation • Control over the river• Control over the land• Other measures

Mitigation Strategies used by Caribbean Government

Construction of dams, retention basins or reservoirs on mainstreams or tributaries to excessive water

Levees or floodwalls can be constructed to confine flood waters to a floodways, therby reducing flood damage

Channel improvements

Control over the river

Zoning

Subdivision Regulations

Building Codes

Control over land(land use Policies were developed)

Flood forecasting

Temporary Evacuation

Permanent Evacuation

Flood Insurance

Additional Mitigation Measures

www.weready.org www.stopdisastersgame.org www.un.org www.trinidadexpress.com

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