Flash Floods Archives - Disasters News

Nov52024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Flood Maps Backfire at Coastal Residents Feel Less Concerned About Rising Seas

The study reveals a surprising challenge for climate risk communication: while maps of projected sea-level rise (SLR) are often used to raise awareness, they may not effectively increase personal concern among coastal residents. Instead, these visual aids may unintentionally reduce perceived personal risk, even for those whose properties are directly threatened by future flooding. When shown maps indicating that their homes could be permanently flooded by 2100, residents tended to view SLR as a broader societal issue, less likely to impact them personally. This detachment underscores a common psychological barrier in risk perception, where people perceive climate threats as more abstract or distant from their immediate lives. Interestingly, the study found that emphasizing infrastruc...

Sep282024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Death Toll from Hurricane Helene Rises to 33 as Storm Devastates Southeastern US

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

The death toll from Hurricane Helene climbed to at least 33 on Friday as the southeastern United States grappled with widespread flooding and destruction caused by the massive storm. After making landfall near Florida’s capital, Tallahassee, Helene wreaked havoc across multiple states, leaving millions without power and prompting large-scale rescue operations. The storm, which began as a Category 4 hurricane with winds reaching 140 mph (225 kph), has weakened to a tropical depression but continues to batter states with life-threatening rain and winds. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned of catastrophic flooding across Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Some regions of the Appalachian Mountains were forecast to receive up to 20 inches of rain. Widespread Da...

Sep272024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mumbai Rains Cause Chaos: 4 Dead, Schools Shut, Flights Diverted Amid Heavy Downpour

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Mumbai was battered by incessant heavy rains on Wednesday, leaving the city paralyzed as four people lost their lives, streets flooded, and transport services ground to a halt. The downpour, which has triggered widespread disruptions across the city and surrounding regions, prompted authorities to issue warnings, shut down schools, and divert incoming flights. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Mumbai and Thane, signaling continued heavy rainfall over the next few days, while a red alert was sounded for parts of Palghar, indicating a severe weather threat. Fatalities and Flooding Chaos The torrential rain, which has been pounding the city since the early hours, led to multiple fatalities. A 22-year-old woman, identified as Swapnali Kshirsagar, tra...

Sep212024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Reveals U.S. Cities Successfully Limit Floodplain Development Using Existing Tools

Breaking News, Disasters

Contrary to common belief, most U.S. cities are effectively managing floodplain development, preventing costly disasters by utilizing established ordinances, plans, and programs rather than relying on novel strategies. This is the central finding of a new study titled "How local governments avoid floodplain development through consistent implementation of routine municipal ordinances, plans, and programs," published in Oxford Open Climate Change. Despite significant investments in flood mitigation, the cost of disasters in the United States has continued to rise, with floods being the most frequent and expensive disaster. The main driver behind these increasing costs is not just climate change, but also the growing concentration of people and infrastructure in flood-prone areas. A no...

Jul172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Why Does Delhi Flood? The Answer Lies in Our Urban Stormwater Management

Breaking News, Disasters, Idea & Innovations

Every year, we witness flooding in our large metropolises and most state capitals. Normally, Delhi is in the news for flooding due to the overflowing of the Yamuna River when large volumes of water are released from the Tajewala dam upstream. However, on June 28, 2024, we witnessed flooding from a high rainfall episode in south Delhi. What explains the frequent in-situ urban flooding in Delhi? This happened in Bengaluru and Lucknow in 2023 as well. High rainfall and climate change are undoubtedly a reality. But is it just that, or something more? To understand the recent flooding in Delhi, let us first understand why 15 minutes of rainfall causes flooding on the Mehrauli-Badarpur road (MB Road) in south Delhi. What does this have to do with understanding Delhi’s urban stormwater managem...

Jul82024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Future of Our Climate Shifting Zones and Increasing Extremes

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Extreme weather events, including storms, floods, fires, droughts, cold snaps, and heat waves, are hitting us harder and more frequently than ever. By the end of the century, more than half of our planet is predicted to shift into new climate zones. A new interactive map, The Future Urban Climates, allows you to explore how your home’s climate will be impacted. Using data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), University of Maryland spatial ecologist Matthew Fitzpatrick has matched 40,581 places around the globe to nearby locations currently experiencing their future predicted climate in 2080. For instance, a trip to northern Mississippi today would give you an idea of the climate New York City is expected to experience by 2080. However, under a low emissions scenari...

Jul72024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heavy Rainfall Brings Relief and Flooding: IMD Warns of More Rain in July

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Heavy rainfall across large parts of India has compensated for the June deficit, bringing the overall monsoon precipitation into the surplus category. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), more spells of heavy to very heavy rain are likely over northwest India and the western parts of peninsular India during the next two to three days and over the northeast during the next five days. India, the world's top producer of critical crops such as rice, wheat, and sugarcane, logged a rainfall deficit of 11 percent in June, with northwest India recording a shortfall of 33 percent. However, heavy rain in the first week of July has compensated for the shortfall but has also caused flooding in many northeastern states. Since the four-month monsoon season began on June 1, the c...

Jul72024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Floods in Assam Claim Six Lives in 24 Hours: Desperate Search for Missing Boy Continues

Breaking News, Disasters

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam has taken a dire turn, claiming six lives over the past 24 hours. In Guwahati, the state's largest city, the relentless search for eight-year-old Abhinash Sarkar continues. Abhinash slipped into a flooded drain three days ago, and his father, Hiralal Sarkar, has not given up hope. Armed with an iron rod, Hiralal has been tirelessly searching the sewage, but has only managed to find his son's slippers. Displaying the pair, he lamented, "I have been searching with an iron rod and have managed to find my son's sandals. I possibly cannot find him with the rod. The government has the machinery, they must find my boy." Hiralal handed over the slippers to the police for verification. Abhinash had slipped from his father's scooter and fallen into the drain...

Jul42024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Three More Bridges Collapse in Bihar Amid Heavy Rainfall, Total Reaches Nine in 15 Days

Breaking News, Disasters

Bihar witnessed the collapse of at least three more bridges or causeways on Wednesday, marking the ninth such incident in the rain-affected state within the past 15 days. No casualties were reported after the three structures, built 30 to 80 years ago by local authorities, caved in during the day in Saran and Siwan districts, officials said. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, however, alleged that four bridges collapsed in a single day, and the chief minister and his deputies are silent. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed the Road Construction Department (RCD) and Rural Works Department (RWD) to immediately conduct a survey of all old bridges in the state and identify those that require immediate repair. "Certain portions of bridges/causeways that caved in Siwan and Saran on Wednesday a...

Jun242024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Chairs High-Level Meeting on Flood Preparedness and Management

Breaking News, Disasters

Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a high-level meeting on Sunday to evaluate the nation's preparedness for flood management and to develop long-term strategies to mitigate the recurring menace of floods in India. The session focused on reviewing previous actions and integrating new technologies for improved flood management. During the meeting, Shah assessed the progress made on the decisions from a similar meeting held last year. He examined the adoption of new technologies by various agencies and the expansion of their networks for flood management. Emphasizing the importance of innovation, Shah highlighted the need for the optimal use of satellite imagery from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to enhance flood and water management efforts. The home minister review...