Flood Prediction & Flood Prevention

What is a recurrence interval?

The average time between floods of a certain size.

What is a 100-year flood?

A flood expected to occur once every 100 years, on average.

How can floods be predicted using graphs?

By plotting flood magnitude against recurrence interval and using a best-fit line.

What is another method for predicting floods?

Examining historical flood records.

What do flood risk maps show?

Areas likely to flood, categorized by risk.

What does a severe flood risk category mean?

Floods with a recurrence interval of 1-75 years.

What does a moderate flood risk category mean?

Floods with a recurrence interval of 76-200 years.

Where are the areas most at risk of flooding?

Low-lying floodplains, small basins prone to flash floods, unsafe dams, and low-lying inland shorelines.

How does forecasting and warning work for floods?

Through weather satellites, emergency plans, and river discharge gauges.

What role do computer models play in flood forecasting?

They compare new data with historical trends to predict floods.

What is loss sharing in flood prevention?

Using disaster aid and insurance to help share the costs of flood damage.

What does hard engineering involve?

Works that counter natural processes, such as dams, levees, and channel straightening.

What is the drawback of hard engineering?

While it solves local flood problems, it can increase risks upstream or downstream.

What is hazard-resistant design for buildings?

Modifying structures with sandbags, sealing doors/windows, and moving valuables off lower floors to reduce damage.

How are flood gates used for flood prevention?

They are installed on individual buildings, like in Yarm on the River Tees.

What is land use zoning in flood management?

Avoiding construction on flood-prone areas and allowing natural flooding on floodplains.

What is soft engineering for flood prevention?

Working with natural processes, such as afforestation, contour ploughing, and flood diversion.

What does flood abatement do?

It reduces the amount of runoff through techniques like afforestation and sediment removal.

What is the goal of flood diversion?

To designate areas where flooding can occur safely, rather than on built-up areas.

How is land used on floodplains to reduce flood risk?

Areas closest to the river should have protected wetlands, rough grazing, and parks, with critical buildings furthest away.