Flood Mitigation and Management
Many things can be done before an impending flood to reduce damage to home and property.
Rather than trying to prevent floods altogether, flood mitigation involves the management and
control of flood water movement, such as redirecting flood run-off through the use of floodwalls
and flood gates, and wet proofing properties. It also involves the management of people, through
measures such as evacuation. The management and mitigation of flooding can be handled at
three levels: on individual properties, small communities, and whole towns or cities. The costs of
protection rise as more people and property are protected. It is estimated that for every Rupee
spent on mitigation, four rupees are saved. The following strategies may be used to reduce the
impact of floods.
Strategies for Management
1. Introduce better flood warning systems
The flood warning systems must be continually improved in order to give people more time to
take action during flooding, potentially saving lives. Advance warning and pre-planning can
significantly reduce the impact from flooding.
2. Modify structures to better withstand floods
The focus should be on “flood resilience” rather than defense schemes. Residents should be
advised to concrete floors and replace materials such as MDF and plasterboard with more robust
alternatives. Flooding will definitely occur, and we should be prepared for it. Electric sockets
should be moved higher up the walls to increase resilience.
3. Construct buildings above flood levels
All new buildings should be constructed at least one metre from the ground to prevent flood
damage. Conventional defenses need to be supplemented with more innovative methods to lower
the risk of future disasters.
4. Tackle climate change
Climate change has contributed to a rise in extreme weather events, scientists believe.
Governments from 195 countries have pledged to “pursue efforts” to limit the increase in global
average temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
5. Increase spending on flood defenses
Many governments around the world are reducing their spending on flood defenses when they
should actually be increasing the same.
6. Protect wetlands and introduce plant trees strategically
The creation of more wetlands – which can act as sponges, soaking up moisture – and wooded
areas can slow down waters when rivers overflow. These areas are often destroyed to make room
for agriculture and development. Halting deforestation and wetland drainage, reforesting
upstream areas and restoring damaged wetlands could significantly reduce the impact of climate
change on flooding.
7. Restore rivers to their natural courses
Many river channels have been historically straightened to improve navigability. Remeandering
straightened rivers by introducing their bends once more increases their length and can delay the
flood flow and reduce the impact of flooding downstream.
8. Introduce water storage areas
Many countries have established flood storage reservoirs as part of their flood alleviation
schemes. For example, in Britain, following the severe flooding of 2009 a 76,000m3 flood
storage reservoir – the equivalent of 30 Olympic sized swimming pools – was constructed in
Thacka Beck Nature Reserve in the UK to hold back flood water. The risk of flooding from the
beck was reduced from a 20 per cent chance in any given year to a one per cent chance.
9. Improve soil conditions
Inappropriate soil management, machinery and animal hooves can cause soil to become
compacted so that instead of absorbing moisture, holding it and slowly letting it go, water runs
off it immediately. Well drained soil can absorb huge quantities of rainwater, preventing it from
running into rivers.
10. Put up more flood barriers
Flood management agencies use a range of temporary or “demountable” defenses in at-risk
areas. These can be removed completely when waters recede. Temporary barriers can also be
added to permanent flood defenses, such as raised embankments, increasing the level of
protection. As the threat and frequency of flood risk increases, the use of passive flood defense
may be the only realistic long term solution.
