flood Archives - Disasters News

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Los Angeles Fires Leave Lasting Impact on Health, Environment, and Community

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

The flames may have died down, but the aftermath of Los Angeles’ devastating wildfires continues to affect public health, the environment, and daily life. Experts at a recent UCLA Fielding School of Public Health event warned that the city is facing an epochal disaster that has transformed air, soil, and institutions. Air Quality and Health Risks Even miles away from the burn zones, smoke and toxic particles have impacted the air. PM2.5 fine particulate matter from wildfires can lodge deep in the lungs, causing heart and respiratory issues, said Yifang Zhu, a professor of environmental health sciences. Even when air looks clear, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may linger, making exposure dangerous. Michael Jerrett, an expert in climate and public health, highlighted the severe h...

Jan312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Flooding After Wildfires LA Faces Growing Risk Amid Climate Change

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

In the aftermath of devastating urban wildfires, a rainstorm might seem like a welcome relief. However, fire-scorched landscapes are highly vulnerable to floods, which can bring further destruction. Los Angeles has experienced this repeatedly, from the 1933 Griffith Park Fire to the 2009 Station Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains and the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu. Mitul Luhar, an expert in fluid dynamics and associate professor of aerospace, mechanical, civil, and environmental engineering at USC, is studying these risks. At the City of Los Angeles's Hydraulic Research Laboratory in Frogtown, Luhar and his team have developed a 1:120 scale hydraulic model of a section of the L.A. River to simulate flood scenarios. Luhar explains why floods often follow wildfires and what engineers c...

Jan202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Storms Lash New South Wales Power Outages and Flood Warnings Leave Thousands Stranded

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Severe storms sweeping through New South Wales have wreaked havoc across the Australian state, leaving tens of thousands without power and prompting widespread flood warnings. The relentless low-pressure system has unleashed powerful winds and torrential rains, plunging communities into crisis as emergency services rush to respond. Electricity Cut, Cities Affected In Sydney, Australia’s largest city, approximately 28,000 residents are grappling with power outages, with significant impacts also reported in Newcastle and the Hunter region, where an additional 15,000 households remain in darkness. Ausgrid, the state’s primary electricity provider, is working tirelessly to restore power, but officials warn that conditions may delay repairs as storms continue to batter the region. New ...

Jan152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mining Impact on Rivers Flood Risks in Dynamic Channels

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Thoughts & Talks

Rivers are often subjected to human interventions such as structural confinement and aggregate mining, which significantly alter their natural flow and topography. A recent study conducted on the gravel-bed Bislak River in the Philippines sheds light on how these activities influence river morphology, hydraulics, and flood risks. Using repeat, system-scale, high-resolution topographic surveys, researchers examined annual morphological changes in the Bislak River. They coupled this data with two-dimensional hydraulic modeling to simulate the impacts on flood risk. The findings highlight a complex interplay between human actions, sediment dynamics, and river hydraulics. Key Findings Sediment Dynamics and Topography Aggregate mining was found to export sediment from the river, lea...

Dec32024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Thailand Flooding Death Toll Rises to 25, Heavy Rain Expected to Continue

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

The death toll from devastating floods in southern Thailand has climbed to 25, with more than 660,000 homes affected since the deluge began on November 22, according to the country’s disaster management agency. Officials warned of days of continued heavy rain as the Thai weather agency forecast downpours to persist until December 5. The flooding, which has wreaked havoc across Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, and Yala provinces, has displaced over 22,000 residents. The Thai government’s public relations department confirmed the scale of the disaster, which has overwhelmed local communities and left many struggling to rebuild. Among those severely impacted is Suwas Bin-Uma, a chicken farmer from Songkhla, who lost his entire flock of more than 10,000 birds. “I’ve lost at least 3 million...

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...

Sep72024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Alarming Climate Shift in India: Study Reveals Swapping Trends in Weather Patterns

Breaking News, Climate Actions

A groundbreaking study by IPE-Global and Esri India has revealed a worrying trend in India's climate, with traditionally flood-prone areas now experiencing droughts and drought-affected regions witnessing floods. This "swapping trend" is reshaping the nation's climate risk landscape, putting millions of lives and livelihoods in jeopardy. The research, which analyzed climate data from 1973 to 2023, found that over 85% of India's districts are vulnerable to extreme weather events, with nearly 45% showing evidence of this dramatic shift. The study reported a four-fold increase in the frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of climate extremes over recent decades, with the past 10 years seeing a five-fold surge. Abinash Mohanty, Head of Climate Change and Sustainability Practice at IP...

Aug222024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Global Flooding Hazards Projected to Surge by 49% by 2100: New Study Warns

Breaking News, Disasters, Idea & Innovations

A new study warns that global flooding hazards are set to increase by 49% between 2020 and 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated. The research, published in Water Resources Research, highlights the regions most at risk, including the coasts of the North Atlantic, Indian Ocean, southeastern Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The study utilized advanced modeling techniques to create a Global Flood Map (GFM), which considers floods induced by rainfall, river discharge, and rising sea levels. The research team, led by Professor Paul Bates from the University of Bristol Cabot Institute for the Environment, noted that previously used flood maps lacked accuracy in simulating real floods. By applying new techniques, the team gained more precise insights into future flood risks. The ...

Aug212024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climatopias: The Future of Flood-Resilient Urban Planning or a Property Market Fantasy?

Breaking News, Disasters

As coastal communities face the growing threat of rising sea levels and extreme weather, innovative solutions like flood-resilient settlements, or "climatopias," are emerging as potential game-changers in urban planning. These futuristic designs aim to provide a sustainable response to climate change by creating high-tech, floating cities that not only mitigate flooding but also offer eco-friendly living environments. Governments and developers are promoting these projects as a way to expand housing availability, alleviate land pressure, enhance energy efficiency, and encourage green transportation. Climatopias are envisioned as self-sufficient, technologically advanced cities equipped with solar power, deep-sea cooling systems, and comprehensive facilities, including health care, educa...