Urban Flooding

Urban Flooding: When City Streets Become Rivers

You’ve seen the headlines and the startling videos: cars floating down what was once a busy street, subway stations turning into waterfalls, and people wading through knee-deep water. This isn't a scene from a disaster movie; it’s the reality of **urban flooding**, a growing threat to cities worldwide.

As our cities grow and our climate changes, these events are becoming more frequent and severe. But what exactly causes urban flooding, and what can we do about it? Let's dive in.

Why Are Cities So Vulnerable to Flooding?

The very design of modern cities makes them prone to flooding. It’s a classic case of nature versus concrete, and here’s why concrete often loses:

1.  The Impermeable Surface Problem: 

Natural landscapes absorb rainwater. Soil, grass, and trees act like a sponge, soaking up rainfall. Cities, however, are covered in **concrete, asphalt, and brick**. These impermeable surfaces prevent water from seeping into the ground, forcing it to rush across the surface, seeking the lowest point.

2.  Overwhelmed Drainage Systems:

 Cities have intricate networks of storm drains and sewers designed to channel water away. But during heavy, sudden downpours—increasingly common due to climate change—these systems are often **overwhelmed**. They simply can't move water fast enough, causing it to back up and spill out into streets and basements.

3.  Loss of Natural Defenses:

Many cities are built on floodplains or have paved over natural waterways and wetlands. These areas (wetlands, especially) are nature's flood mitigation system, acting as buffers that absorb and slowly release excess water. When we build on them, we remove our first line of defense.

The Ripple Effects: More Than Just Water.

The immediate damage from urban flooding is obvious: ruined cars, waterlogged homes, and damaged infrastructure. But the impacts run much deeper:

Economic Costs:

The damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure costs billions to repair. Business interruptions and lost productivity add to the financial toll.

Public Health Risks:

 Floodwater is rarely clean. It mixes with sewage, chemicals, and debris, creating a toxic cocktail that can contaminate drinking water and spread disease.

Social Disruption:

 Floods can displace residents, sometimes for long periods, disrupting communities and straining social services. Low-income neighborhoods are often hit hardest, exacerbating inequality.

Environmental Damage:

Polluted floodwater eventually flows into rivers, lakes, and bays, harming aquatic ecosystems.

Building a More Resilient City: 

From Concrete Sponges to Smart Tech,We can't just pave our way out of this problem. The solution requires a shift in how we design and manage our urban environments. Here are some key strategies:

1. Embrace Green Infrastructure

This is the concept of making our cities act more like the natural landscapes they replaced. Also known as **Sponge City** initiatives, these solutions include:

Permeable Pavements:

Surfaces that allow water to seep through into the ground below.

Green Roofs & Rain Gardens:

 Vegetated spaces on roofs and at ground level that absorb rainwater and reduce runoff.

Protecting & Restoring Wetlands: 

Preserving these natural sponges is one of the most effective tools we have.

Update Gray Infrastructure

We still need pipes and drains, but we need to make them smarter and bigger.

Invest in Modern Systems:

 Upgrading aging drainage systems to handle larger volumes of water.

Build Underground Tunnels & Tanks:

 Cities like Tokyo and Chicago have built massive underground cisterns to store excess storm water during heavy rains and pump it out later.

Plan and Prepare

Better Zoning & Maps:

Avoid building critical infrastructure or new housing in known high-risk flood zones. Use updated flood maps that account for climate change.

Early Warning Systems:

Invest in advanced weather forecasting and public alert systems to give people time to prepare and move to safety.

What Can You Do?

While large-scale solutions are vital, individual actions matter too:

Dispose of waste properly.

Never dump anything down storm drains, as litter and oils can cause blockages.

Consider your own property.

Use permeable materials for your driveway or patio, install a rain barrel, or create a small rain garden.

Be prepared.

Know your flood risk, have an emergency plan, and consider flood insurance—even if you don't live near a river.

Urban flooding is a complex challenge, but it's not insurmountable. By working together—from city planners and engineers to community groups and individual residents—we can build more resilient cities that are prepared to weather the storm.

***

**Let me know in the comments: Have you experienced urban flooding in your city? What solutions would you like to see implemented?**

Hurricane Oscar

Tropical storm warning lifted in Turks & Caicos after Hurricane Oscar.

Residents of Turks and Caicos Islands have been given an all clear to leave their homes following the passage of Hurricane Oscar last night. This comes after a tropical storm warning was discontinued at 8am.

 Despite the all-clear being given, the Turks and Caicos Islands National Weather Service advised islanders that “periods of locally heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are still possible across the Turks and Caicos Islands through Tuesday. Heavy rains can produce localised flooding of roads, properties, and communities.”

 The Weather Service said the centre of Oscar, which is now affecting the Great Inagua island, is expected to move west towards the northeastern coast of Cuba later today where it will make landfall.

 Meanwhile, airports around the Turks and Caicos Islands have reopened after their temporary closure.

 The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) advised travellers to continue to monitor weather conditions and contact their airlines for flight scheduling and updates.

source: www.caribbean.loopnews.com

 Tornadoes Touched Down Central OHIO USA.

At least five tornadoes, including two EF-2 tornadoes, touched down in central Ohio on Wednesday, February 28. Extensive damage was reported as homes and vehicles were destroyed, trees and power lines were knocked down, and thousands of people were without power. RESTRICTIONS AND USAGE TERMS: Please credit “@bmoorer4 via Spectee”. NOTE: Looped video Video Location: Hilliard Near Roberts Rd, Hilliard, Franklin County, Ohio, US Video Recording Date/Time: February 28, 2024 at about 08:40h

Multiple tornadoes struck CentralOhio on Feb. 28, 2024. Survey video from the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows damage in Clark and Madison Counties.

Video courtesy WSYX ABC 6.

source:www.msn.com, 

 

10 of the Deadliest Natural Disasters in 2023.

Earthquakes took tens of thousands of lives in 2023.

A Year of Disaster

As the sun sets on the hottest year on record, climate change and its disastrous effects figure prominently in discussions among global leaders. In December, the U.N. Climate Change Conference, known as COP28, saw the official launch of a “loss and damage” fund to provide financial assistance to developing countries facing severe impacts of climate change.

Indeed, 2023 was host to a variety of disasters, some of them the worst their respective countries have seen in years – if not decades. Though the year saw many of such catastrophes, earthquakes dominated the top 10, in some cases taking thousands of lives at once

Here are 10 of the deadliest natural disasters of 2023:

Wildfire Kills at Least 100 in Hawaii

Drought and wind gusts coalesced on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Aug. 8 to create the conditions for a series of fires that raged for three days before being mostly contained. The blaze eventually took the lives of at least 100 people, staking its claim as one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history. Early estimates by the University of Hawaii's Pacific Disaster Center and the Federal Emergency Management Agency placed the cost of rebuilding at $5.52billion.

Heavy Rain and Flooding Kill at Least 129 in Rwanda.

During the night of May 2, heavy rain pummeled northern and western Rwanda, destroying 5,000 homes and killing at least 129.

Cyclone Mocha Kills at Least 145 in Myanmar.

Flash floods and winds of up to 130 mph from Cyclone Mocha ripped through Myanmar on May 14, causing the deaths of at least 145 people, many of whom belonged to the heavily persecuted Rohingya minority group, according to the Associated Press. The storm was one of the worst experienced by the Southeast Asian nation in years.

Earthquake Claims at Least 157 Lives in Nepal.

On Nov. 3, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck western Nepal and killed at least 157 people. Sitting at the meeting point of the Indian and Asian tectonic plates, the mountainous nation is no stranger to seismic activity. One of its most destructive earthquakes took almost 9,000 lives in 2015.

Floods in the DRC Take More Than 438 Lives.

Early May saw torrential rain fall on the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, causing flash flooding and mudslides. The flood water killed at least 438 people and left thousands more missing or homeless. Heavy rain and extreme flooding have become increasingly common in Africa in recent years due to climate change, according to the U.N.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy Kills at least 679 in Malawi.

For six days in early March, heavy rains from Tropical Cyclone Freddy fell upon Malawi and took the lives of at least 679 people, though Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera said the actual toll likely exceeds 1,000. While Malawi bore the brunt of the destruction, other countries in southern Africa were not spared. At least 17 people died in Madagascar, and at least 183 died in Mozambique, where 184,000 people were displaced.

Earthquake in Afghanistan Kills At Least 1,480.

A 6.3-magnitude quake shook western Afghanistan on Oct. 7, killing at least 1,480 people and injuring thousands more. The disaster compounded already precarious conditions of food insecurity and further imperiled women in the country, who – along with children – accounted for more than 90% of the fatalities, per the United Nations. Due to its position at the intersection of multiple tectonic plates, Afghanistan is the site of frequent seismic activity. A 5.9-magnitude event wrought similar devastation in the eastern end of the nation last year.

Earthquake Kills 2,946 in Morocco.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck 45 miles southwest of Marrakech, Morocco, on Sept. 8, taking 2,946 lives and injuring 5,674, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. An official at the country’s National Institute of Geophysics described the quake as the strongest ever recorded in the region.

Storm Daniel Kills at Least 4,352 in Libya.

On Sept. 10, Storm Daniel smashed into the Mediterranean coastal city of Derna in Libya, bringing with it torrential rain and considerable flooding and bursting two of the city’s dams. As of Oct. 31, the official toll sits at 4,352 lives lost, with an estimated 8,000 still missing and feared dead. In the wake of the disaster, Libya’s chief prosecutor has levied charges against local officials for negligence and mismanagement that he says worsened the catastrophe.

Earthquake Takes Upwards of 55,000 Lives in Turkey and Syria.

On Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkey near the Syria border, followed by a 7.5-magnitude aftershock mere hours later and multiple other temblors. As a result, the humanitarian situation in Syria, already afflicted by a host of crises, deteriorated further.

The disaster took the lives of more than 55,000 people, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Most of the dead were Turkish. Turkey’s last 7.8-magnitude quake in 1939 caused more than 32,000 deaths, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

These are 10 of 2023’s deadliest natural disasters:

1. Earthquake Takes More Than 55,000 Lives in Turkey and Syria .
2. February 2023 Storm Daniel Kills at Least 4,352 People in Libya September 2023.
3.  Earthquake Kills 2,946 in Morocco  September 2023.
4. Earthquake in Afghanistan Kills at Least 1,480 October 2023.
5. Tropical Cyclone Freddy Kills at Least 679 in Malawi March 2023
6.  Flooding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kills at Least 438 May 2023 
7. Earthquake Claims at Least 157 Lives in Nepal November 2023 
8. Cyclone Mocha Kills at Least 145 in Myanmar  May 2023 
9. Heavy Rain and Flooding Kill at Least 129 in Rwanda May 2023
10.  Wildfire Kills at Least 100 in Hawaii  May 2023.

Source: www.usnews.com

Hurricane Matthew

Florida prays for Haiti, prepares for Hurricane Matthew

Preparations and prayers are underway as Hurricane Matthew set its sights on a number of islands in the Caribbean, with Haiti being among the most vulnerable.

Mission of Hope Haiti, the formerly Fort Myers-based ministry, was already getting food and water lined up and delivered to the island over the weekend, while the storm was the topic of conversation at many of Haitian-Creole and Caribbean churches in Fort Myers on Sunday.

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Matthew, a category 4 hurricane, was about 320 miles south-southwest of Port Au Prince, Haiti, moving west at about 5 mph.

Matthew is expected to produce 15 to 25 inches of rain over southern Haiti, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 40 inches. Matthew is expected to produce 10 to 20 inches of rain over eastern Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and eastern Cuba, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches. This rainfall will produce life-threatening flash floods and mud slides, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The Mission of Hope Haiti, a Christian organization dedicated to helping Haiti, had more than 200,000 emergency meals put together and distributed to parts of the island that are considered possible hot spots for need after a storm hits.

The organization, now headquartered in Austin, Texas, is gearing up to assist the island nation after Matthew passes.

"We've been mobilizing since Saturday," said Janeil Owen, director of the group's HaitiOne Ministry. "We need to get to some specific zones that are troubling along the southern peninsula."

Owen, who lived in Haiti for 15 years, said that preparing for the storm ahead of time would help the organization meet the needs of a lot of Haitians who will likely be affected by Matthew.

"Waiting to see what happens can be devastating," he said.

Owen said the organization has connecting ministries all over Haiti, which will allow them to find out just where supplies and relief is needed.

"I'm able to start connecting with a lot of our partners and talk about what they are doing and what should be done in advance of the storm," he said. "We want to have supplies in place in advance."

Owen said there are areas in Haiti that will get cut off and cannot be easily access if a major storm like Matthew hits.

The 200,000 emergency meals already sent are comprised of rice, soy, vegetables and a mineral powder that will take care of up to 70 percent of a person's required daily nutritional needs, Owen said, adding that water supplies are also being prepared in case they are needed.

"We're ready to go," he said. "It's crazy wicked in terms of what we might experience."

Owen said he was planning on heading to the island in a few days to help coordinate relief.

Mission of Hope Haiti's president, Brad Johnson, said the organization would distribute information on how to support disaster relief efforts if the storm reaches Haiti.

In Lee County, Robert Pompliano, mission director for the church, said the congregation has a church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and is studying the situation and praying for its members.

"We're poised," he said. "We'll wait and see."

The church has an airplane that goes to Haiti periodically, Pompliano added. "We have access to bring them stuff."

The church was in the midst of a move from a temporary location to the old Riverside Baptist Church on Palm Beach Boulevard.

Pastor Rony Prophete, of Heavenly Canaan Baptist Church, said his Haitian and Creole congregation have helped before when there's been a problem in Haiti. The church meets in the fellowship hall of the Christian Faith Fellowship Church in Fort Myers.

"We're prepared," he said. "We hope God can do something."

And Will Ponce, associate pastor at Templo Cristiano El Buen Samaritano in Fort Myers, said members of the church had discussed the hurricane's impact at Sunday school and said a special prayer for those in Haiti.

"We will join in the relief efforts in the community," he said. "A lot of members of the church are from that area or have family there."

As Matthew inched closer Sunday, Lehigh Acres resident Rachelle Ford said her family in Port-au-Prince has not had the opportunity to prepare for such a storm.

"There's not much you can do, especially when you barely have money for the necessities," she said.

"You just kind of pray. You just pray for the best."

Ford said she has communicated with her aunts and cousins about the storm's pathway.

"They say all we are doing is just holding on tight and praying to God, we are just praying the storm goes easy on us," Ford, 33, said.

Ford, who owns Fort Myers-based Ford Entertainment Magazine, said she is worried about the storm.

"Haiti is very mountainous," Ford said. "It either builds momentum from the mountains or it dies off by the mountains."

She said she is hoping for the best.





source: usatoday

Sand fire rages in Santa Clarita Valley

'The most frightening thing': 10,000 homes evacuated as Sand fire rages in Santa Clarita Valley

Wind-whipped flames raged overnight in the steep, rugged mountains of the Santa Clarita Valley, charring more than 33,000 acres and threatening thousands of homes.

2 more homes confirmed destroyed by Cold Springs fire, brings total to 5

2 more homes confirmed destroyed by Cold Springs fire, brings total to 5

The blaze is estimated at 606 acres and zero percent containment

NEDERLAND — Two more homes were confirmed destroyed by the Cold Springs fire on Monday, bringing the total number of houses consumed by the blaze to five.

Officials released the news after a damage assessment team toured the burn area. Another 65 homes are within the fire’s perimeter, according to emergency managers, however no other houses are currently within the blaze’s immediate path.

The county identified the newly recognized homes destroyed in the blaze as being at 2315 Ridge Rd. and 2454 Ridge Rd. They are just north of Boulder Canyon, east of the Barker Reservoir.

More firefighters arrived on Monday to join the fight against the fire burning northeast of Nederland as crews brace for another breezy day despite cooler temperatures.

Helicopter pulls water from Barker Reservoir for #ColdSpringsFire bucket drop pic.twitter.com/aY4iSrjH1f

— Jesse Aaron Paul (@JesseAPaul) July 11, 2016

After little growth overnight, crews will be working on fire lines along Hummer Road and on Hurricane Hill and in the Bonanza area, according to the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management. One of the main goals is to keep the fire north of Boulder Canyon, which remains closed, and away from a large neighborhood that sits on the south side.

“We’re definitely prepared for a hard day,” said Gabi Boerkircher, spokeswoman for the emergency management office. “We’ll just have to see where the wind directs the fire. We definitely do not want (the fire) to cross Boulder Canyon.”

Two spot fires jumped the canyon road Sunday night but crews quickly contained them, according to the Monday morning update. Crews will be stationed in fire engines along Boulder Canyon Drive to watch for any new spot fires on the south side.

Even on Saturday, a few hours after the fire broke out about 1:45 p.m., flames were making runs toward the road.

“Cooler temperatures will make firefighting a little more comfortable for crews battling the Cold Spring fire, but humidity is still low and winds are predicted to be erratic,” the emergency management office said in a briefing bulletin.

Getting breezy early in Ned pic.twitter.com/FEvhIWtS1b

— Jesse Aaron Paul (@JesseAPaul) July 11, 2016

A Red Flag warning is in effect from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. over the area, with forecasters warning of gusts up to 40 mph. Cooler temperatures are expected, and a high of 73 degrees is forecast around the burn zone.

Winds were already picking up about 8:45 a.m. in Nederland. Little smoke was visible, however, as the temperature rose with the sun getting higher in the sky.

“Rapid fire growth and spread will be possible,” the National Weather Service in Boulder said in a forecast bulletin. “Any outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.”

The blaze, which has already burned three homes and three outbuildings, is estimated at 606 acres with no containment. About 2,000 people have been evacuated from a large swath of area as fire commanders brace for the blaze to grow. Contingency plans are in place to move more people out of the area should the fire expand.

Teams are working Monday morning to determine if any other structures have burned. Boerkircher said authorities should know by about 10 a.m. if additional homes were lost.

Boulder County sheriff’s detectives on Sunday afternoon arrested two men from Alabama at the Nederland High School evacuation site in connection with the blaze. They are suspected of being behind a poorly extinguished campfire that ignited the spreading fire.

Campers Jimmy Andrew Suggs, 28, and Zackary Ryan Kuykendall, 26, both of Vinemont, Ala., face felony arson charges because, according to investigators, “lives were endangered as a result of the fire.” The men were booked into the Boulder County jail.

“I’m kind of put out over it,” Rachael Dew said Monday morning of the fire’s cause. “You need to be better educated about fires if you are going to come up here and camp.”

Dew, who was working at the town’s co-op, said the blaze has been stressful for the community. While she hasn’t been evacuated yet, Dew said she has packed up belongings just in case.

With the town’s main artery — Boulder Canyon — closed, there are worries about declining tourism revenues.

Laura Vega, who was evacuated from her home Saturday when the fire broke out nearby, said that Sunday was noticeably slower in Nederland once traffic from Boulder was cut off. The first night away from her house, she slept in the town’s accounting office before moving to a friends place.

“I heard that firefighters did an amazing job in saving our houses,” Vega said. She went through three or four rounds of packing as flames approached her home, grabbing autographed pictures, a Neil Young box CD set and Peruvian weavings among the items she ushered to safety.

Many homeowners forced to flee had livestock in tow. An evacuation center for animals at the Gilpin County fairgrounds had filled up by Sunday night.

More than 450 firefighters, aided by a dozen aircraft, will continue Monday to fight the flames and work to establish a perimeter, according to the Boulder OEM. Officials say one of the main goals is to attack the blaze head-on.

Incident commanders noted just before 11 p.m. on Sunday that fire runs in the afternoon pushed over lines of fire retardant put down by aircraft.

Latest map of #ColdSpringsFire
— Orange is burn area
— Yellow is evacuation zone
— Red dotted lines road closures pic.twitter.com/tBI7TaNRYj

— Matt Sebastian (@mattsebastian) July 11, 2016

“Crowning, torching and spotting are common,” officials said on a website created to release information about the blaze. “New fire perimeter has stretched ground resources, making current air resources critical to success. Fire has spread over roads previously used as escape routes, further limiting tactical options. Predictions for fire growth indicate the potential for significant structure and infrastructure loss, along with closures of two adjacent state highways.”

At 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, command of the Cold Springs fire fight was transferred to Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Black. The Type II team specializes in commanding battles against major blazes.


source: denverpost