Damages caused by Flash Floods

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1 Damages caused by Flash Floods Damages caused as a result of flash flood are enormous both on human lives and loss of property. It is reported that flood disasters account for about a third of all natural disasters by number and economic losses. Floods are responsible for over half of the deaths associated with all such disasters. The following pictures are some of the examples of flood damages in Oman during different events

2 Flood Damages in Oman

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5 Flood Advantages Even though the floods cause damages, they also bring some advantages some of the advantages are: Recharge the groundwater aquifers. Wash and clean the waste from wadi channels. Floods also act as sediment transport from mountains to lower wadi catchments and the sea. As an environmental gain reduces the sea bed erosion, controls saline intrusion and provides nutrients to the fish.

6 Flood Management and Mitigation It includes both Structural and Non-structural measures: Structural : dams, levees and dikes, reservoirs, retarding basins, channel and catchment modification, drainage schemes and flood proofing of vulnerable properties and flood shelters. Non Structural: flood forecasting, flood warning and emergency planning, land use planning controls, acquisition and relocation, flood insurance, public information and education.

7 Government Initiatives in Dealing with Floods Establishment of Hydro-meteorological network. Establishment of guidelines for development in flood prone areas. Production of maps showing flood risk zones. Establishment of National Committee for Civil Defense (NCCD) to deal with all kinds of disaster including floods. Construction of dams. Improvement of drainage systems especially in major cities. Possibility of introduction of flood warning systems. Establishment of Multi Hazard National Center.

8 Hydro-meteorological Network The Ministry operates 4640 different stations, 15 of them working on satellite & 30 GSM Telemetry stations with a database having records of over 100 years in some rainfall stations. While the meteorological department operates more than 30 weather stations.

9 Use of Hydrometric Data Assessment and Management. Landscape and Water Recourse Management. Environmental Management Power Water supply Transport Flood Risk Management Other

10 Guidelines for Development in Flood Prone Areas. The developer or property owner must seek comments and prior approval from MRMWR before a project in a flood risk zone is allowed to proceed for final determination by the planning authority. If a proposal for any major development in a medium or high risk flood zone will cause a significant reduction in channel flow capacity, the developeror property owner is required to demonstrate to the planning authority and MRMWR that the proposal will not significantly increase flood levels. For projects in a high-risk flood zone, it is mandatory to incorporate foolproof evacuation measures.

11 Production of Flood Risk Maps The ministry prepared a series of maps for flood-risk zones for major cities. The ministry is now in the process of updating these maps and also plans are on the way to cover other areas which have not been covered by these maps. These maps are used for town planning and also valuable in helping to determine the value of insurance premiums on properties against flood damage.

12 Establishment of National Committee for Civil Defense (NCCD) NCCD Members H.E Inspector General Police Chairman Asst. IG DY. Chairman Coordinator Director Executive Office Their Excellencies Ministers & Undersecretaries Finance Information Education Social Development Regional Municipal Transport Communication Health Interior DGCD Armed Forces Dhofar Municipality Muscat Municipality SQU Oil Gas Trade Industry Housing Electricity & Water

13 13 NCCD Strategic Goals Ensure all major organisations have effective well-practised Emergency Plans in place Establish Effective National Disaster Communication Structure Establish effective network of local, regional and international contacts and relief agencies