Flooding occurs when there is an over flow of water where usually lands are dry. It can happen very quickly over night or it can also occur very slowly. Water levels can increase gradually over time. Floods can wash away lands, crops, houses can go under water. Therefore, a large number of the population who are affected by floods can become homeless (eschoolToday, 2018). Floods are caused by heavy continuous rain fall; also, it can be caused by increased sea levels. Sometimes it can be man-made, such as when water flow systems are interrupted from filled canals and rivers. Water can over flow where lands are in comparably low altitudes because water cannot flow through its natural path. How long the floods last depend on the size of the flood, drainage system of the place, also the area itself.
In a developed country like America we don’t see floods here that often. Even if a flood happens, the water doesn’t stay that long. Also, the damage is a lot less because of advanced weather forecasts, government emergency alert systems let people become aware of the situation ahead of the time. However, in the developing countries, a flood is a pretty common event. Often times it seriously impacts people. Usually in developing countries water drainage systems are not well planned. Therefore, if there is any heavy rain, there is no efficient way to drain the water. Also, some people disrupt the natural water flow by making barriers in the canals or rivers. Specifically, a developing country like Bangladesh, where people in power are mostly corrupt and they do stuff like fill up river banks to build up industry for their own interest, which is a big threat to the environment.
During the monsoon season flooding is one of the common events in Bangladesh. About twenty percent of the total land is effected by floods every year and people lose their crops, cattle. Sometimes floods wash away their house which leave them as homeless. Often times floods are so devastating that it takes away people’s lives. According to CNN, in 2017 around 1200 people were killed by floods caused by monsoon rains, and more than 41 million people were effected by the flood (Steve, 2017). In 2007, when I was in Bangladesh, there was a massive flood. During that time schools were closed because all the roads were under water. I remember our school was closed for couple of weeks because the first floor of the school was flooded. Water was inside the first floor classrooms. It was very risky to go out especially for young kids at that time. Usually my parents always worried about letting me go anywhere by myself because there were a couple cases where young kids were drowned by flood water. According to government officials the flood claimed the lives of over a thousand people, most were children. The flood was started by nonstop rain lasting for a few days. At first water drowned lands with all crops which is usually physically lower than where houses are. Water kept raising over time. When water reached house, it kept raising and people started moving to places that were higher. Some people stayed on their beds with water underneath. At one-point people had to relocate to the government shelter which is usually built on higher land where the water cannot reach and where people can safely stay during the natural disaster. According to government official, during that flood about 50,000 people had to relocate to government shelters. During that time transportation systems broke down, roads went under water and boats were the only means of transportation.
Floods are natural disasters that can be caused by mostly heavy rain fall, or raising sea levels. Most of the time well planned drainage systems can prevent the destructive impacts caused by heavy rains and floods. If the excess water from the rain can be removed, we can prevent flooding in certain areas. Developed countries are very good at this. A developing country like Bangladesh needs to look at this issue to prevent frequent flooding in the future. One way to do this would be to ;et the water drain, water drainage systems are very crucial for prevent serious and dangerous flooding.
Reference,
Steve, G. (2017). A third of Bangladesh under water as flood devastation widens. Retrieved on October 3rd, 2019.
https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/01/asia/bangladesh-south-asia-floods/index.html
What is a flood? Retrieved on October 2nd, 2019.
https://eschooltoday.com/natural-disasters/floods/what-is-a-flood.html
