Heavy rainfall and flash floods have hit several countries in the past few weeks leading to massive destruction and deaths. Destructive flooding in various countries such as India, Japan, China, UK, Turkey, and the United States have hit the headlines. Flash floods have led to the destruction of roads, houses, buildings and have claimed dozens of lives. Weather agencies across countries have issued alert warnings and have deployed rescue teams.

In India, the most affected states are Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and the capital city. Delhi- NCR (national capital region) received such unprecedented rainfall that it became one of the wettest July in 41 years.

Various parts of the United Kingdom are bracing through heavy downpours. Manchester, Sheffield, and even parts of Liverpool have been waterlogged. New York is facing a similar situation. The government has issued flood warnings for Orange, Putnam and Rockland counties, north of New York City. And have asked the residents to avoid travelling. 

Scary situation is being faced by the people living in Zaragosa, Spain. Videos of cars being swept away, and residents stranded as water level rises in the streets flooded social media. 

According to Turkey’s emergency and disaster authority, over 200 people have been rescued and evacuated. Whereas in Japan, heavy floods and mudslides have led to the death of two people and six others are missing as per official reports. A month back, after witnessing a deadly drought for the span of six years, flash floods in Somalia claimed the lives of over  200,000 people.

The presence of pollutants, notably carbon dioxide and methane, contributes to the heating of the atmosphere. Rather than allowing heat to dissipate from Earth into space, these pollutants trap and retain it, exacerbating the warming effect.

Why are flash floods happening?

While it may appear geographically distant, there’s a shared factor that has led to nature’s fury. According to scientists, these events are linked to the formation of storms in a warmer atmosphere, resulting in the present reality of extreme rainfall. Even though climate change may not directly be responsible for this unprecedented rainfall, what can’t be overlooked is a warmer climate which is a direct result of climate change. 

A warmer atmosphere has the capacity to retain higher levels of moisture, leading to storms that unleash greater amounts of precipitation, potentially resulting in deadly consequences. The presence of pollutants, notably carbon dioxide and methane, contributes to the heating of the atmosphere. Rather than allowing heat to dissipate from Earth into space, these pollutants trap and retain it, exacerbating the warming effect.

What Are Flash Floods?

Flash floods occur when there is extreme rainfall. The things that determine the severity of these flash floods are the intensity of rainfall and the distribution of rainfall. Also, the topography of that place plays a major role in impacting these flash floods, like the soil type, vegetation and the soil-water content of that place.

Sometimes these flash floods can also occur when a dam breaks, and the water gushes, submerging and washing the entire place. This recently happened in Ukraine, where the areas around the Dnipro river faced a flood like situation after the Kakhovka dam collapsed in southern Ukraine flooding around 14,000 houses.

Why are Flash Floods Happening Frequently?

The climate over these years has become more and more unpredictable, leading to extreme natural disasters like floods, droughts, cyclones, and hurricanes. This has been a result of the climate change the world is witnessing. Phenomena like El-Nino and El-Nina, that are responsible for changes in monsoon patterns have become more frequent, leading to irregular distribution of rainfall. And making floods and droughts common occurrences all over the world.

Apart from natural phenomena, human activities such as urbanisation, deforestation, have also impacted the natural environment. 

What To Do During Flash Floods

Stay updated: Listen to local news and keep up to date with the current situation. And also keep in touch with local authorities. Call helpline numbers if any assistance is needed.

Emergency supplies: Gather emergency materials like medicines, non-perishable food, diapers, dry clothes.

Store water:  The water might be contaminated during floods, so it’s always better to store drinking water in huge containers and keep it covered. Also, store dry food materials that won’t need storage in refrigerators. As the power supply might get affected.

Important documents: Collect all your important documents like voter id cards,ration cards, Aadhar cards, credit cards, debit cards, and keep them safe inside a waterproof bag. 

Be prepared: If in a low-lying area, gather sandbags, ladders, and ropes to prevent and avoid flood waters.

Emergency kit: Keep an emergency kit handy with supplies like a battery-operated torch, extra batteries, battery-operated radio, candles and matches in a waterproof container. Also, knives, chlorine tablets or powdered water, thick ropes, and proper/waterproof footwear.