The report deals with the hydrological aspects of flood disaster management, a multi-disciplinary field that endeavors to enhance the total productivity of the flood plains wherein losses are only a part of it. There are climatological and part-climatological causes of flooding and basin conditions, channel conditions and network conditions intensify floods.
The present day thrust of flood disaster management has shifted from structural to non-structural measures. Flood disaster management requires complicated computational methods such as flood plain zoning. The approaches used include –
- Modeling susceptibility to flood damage and disruption
- Modifying flooding
- Modifying the impacts of flooding
The areal inundation of a given flood depends on the flood plain character and the hydrodynamics of flow. In case of coastal regions, effective methods to predict the effect of tidal waters are to be adopted. Hurricane frequency analysis is still to improve to attain adequate lead time for issuance of warning and necessary evacuation. Cyclone warning and geostationary weather satellites are used for forecasting and monitoring. Satellite data can be used for preparation of flood inundation maps.
The data bank for an optimal flood disaster management should comprise of values of cross-section and flood plain, discharge and water level, flood inundation maps, flood loss, river bank and breach, sediment, morphological change and landslide.
Mega-floods are also caused by dam failures and are of serious concern to planners. Though many mathematical models are available, issues like dam failure mechanics, aggradation and degradation need further research.
Various hydrological aspects concerning flood disaster need further research particularly on complex flow phenomenon especially in the background of damage to agricultural crops like paddy and sugarcane. The report observes that field measurements in this regard will help in building mathematical models.
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