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Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Today, we’re going to focus on how elevated roads have affected housing in flood-prone areas. Can anyone explain what happened to houses after the roads were elevated?
I think the houses became more at risk because the roads were higher than the homes.
That's correct! Elevated roads can create a situation where floodwaters accumulate around homes instead of running off. This increases their vulnerability significantly.
So, if the floodwaters come, they will enter the houses more easily?
Exactly! Remember the acronym F.A.C.T. - Floodwaters Aggregate Carrying Threats. Good job!
Is there anything people can do to reduce that risk?
Involving community in flood preparedness and improving drainage systems can help.
And what about local authorities?
They play a crucial role in urban planning to mitigate these risks.
To sum up, elevated roads can lead to increased vulnerability of houses, which is exacerbated during floods.
Next, let's talk about river encroachment. Does anyone know how this affects flooding?
If people build next to the river, it might block the water?
Yes! When structures block natural waterways, it prevents water from flowing properly, increasing the risk of flooding in the surrounding areas.
But what happens when the municipal authorities demolish these structures?
A temporary relief is provided, but new constructions often arise, which is a significant challenge. How can we encourage communities to improve this situation?
Maybe by creating awareness about the risks they face?
Correct! Raising awareness about the consequences of encroachment can play a significant role.
In conclusion, encroachment near waterways can severely impact flood risks, and continuous community engagement is essential.
Let’s examine the impact of floods using the 2005 example. Who remembers what happened during that flood?
Many houses got flooded, and people lost their belongings!
That’s right! Many homes were submerged with around 6-10 feet of water in certain areas. Can you imagine the loss?
Was there any effort to help people afterward?
Yes, community engagement increased after the flood, leading to mapping exercises to identify vulnerabilities.
Did that change anything for them in the long term?
Absolutely! It led to improved action plans and community organizations aimed at disaster preparedness.
In summary, the 2005 floods were a stark reminder of the risks and sparked important community initiatives that promote resilience.
Finally, let’s talk about community action plans. Why is community participation important after a disaster?
It helps people feel involved and empowered!
Exactly! Active participation makes communities feel ownership over solutions. What could improvement strategies include?
They should develop lists of emergency resources and contacts.
Great point! Also, planning for regular clean-up drives to keep drainage systems clear is essential.
It sounds like we could develop committees too!
Yes! Establishing community committees can enhance coordination in emergency response. To conclude, community engagement is crucial for effective action planning post-disaster.
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This section outlines various concerns related to flood risks before and after the event, emphasizing how road elevation and encroachment aggravate flooding. It highlights the significant damage to buildings, emphasizes community mapping exercises, and the need for actionable plans to mitigate future risks.
This section delves into the multi-faceted concerns surrounding floods in specific urban areas, particularly those near the Mithi River. Key issues include:
In conclusion, immediate and long-term strategies are essential for flood mitigation, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and cooperation with authorities for effective urban resilience.
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Another one is that before the flood, it was a house and it was like that, then the local government started to elevate the road okay simply elevated the road year after year. But as a result what happened they can see that it makes the houses more vulnerable water can easily come to house and it is really risky for them. So these are some of the concern they shared.
The local government elevated the roads over several years without considering the impact on nearby houses. This elevation caused houses to become more susceptible to flooding, allowing water to flow into them easily. Residents expressed this concern, highlighting the risks they faced as a result of this decision.
Imagine living in a neighborhood where the roads are gradually raised but the houses remain the same height. It's like if you put your house on a lower hill while the surrounding ground is lifted; during rain, all the water would naturally flow toward your house, making it an easy target for flooding.
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There is also an encroachment by on Mithi river some people are encroaching, this is a Mithi river you can see that new constructions arouses. So municipal authority actually demolished these places recently, but again new constructions are coming. So these some of the facts people have shared.
Encroachment refers to the act of building structures on land that is not owned or permissible, in this case, on the banks of the Mithi River. Despite municipal authorities demolishing illegal constructions, new buildings continue to emerge, reducing the river's capacity to manage flood water and posing additional risks to the area.
Think of a river as a natural pathway for water during heavy rains. If people build homes too close to this river, it's like blocking a lane of traffic; the water has nowhere to go, and it can cause big problems, like flooding people's homes.
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What we found that in 1980 it was a mangrove area totally on Mithi river, that is the road, and this is the Dharavi area, but it was actually a mangrove areas. In 1990 in the early 1990s or late 1980s some settlements have come especially the construction workers they started to build temporary houses, in 1995 that is also increasing you can see again 2000, 2005, and 2013.
Historically, the Mithi river area was covered with mangroves, which acted as natural defenses against flooding. However, by the late 1980s, people began to build temporary homes in the area, which gradually led to the settlement population increasing over the years from 1990 to 2013, altering the land's natural properties.
Consider how a forest acts like a sponge that absorbs water. If people cut down that forest and build homes instead, there’s nothing left to hold the water back, making flooding more likely. This is similar to what happened as more people settled in the Mithi river area.
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The flood level in 2005 and these areas, the red mark areas close to the Mithi river, these areas were around six to ten feet of water, six to ten feet that is more than a human height and also they had two to five feet in most of the parts and close to the road they were not much suffered, only one feet of water.
In the flood of 2005, certain areas near the Mithi river experienced significant water levels ranging from six to ten feet, which is taller than most people. Other parts of the area encountered lower flooding, around one to four feet, showing a correlation between proximity to the river and flood intensity, which impacted how severely different locations suffered.
Imagine trying to walk through a pool that is six feet deep; you would need to swim! In the 2005 flood, many homes were submerged in deep water, similar to how someone would struggle in a swimming pool, while houses further from the river only faced minor flooding.
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In waterlogging, they were facing annual waterlogging in these series, and you can see here that most of the building most of the houses they face this one to two feet waterlogging annually and it continues for around two to three hours most of the cases okay, some are less some are more like that. It was the damage to building and damage to household, durable asset due to 2005 flood you can see those houses which are close to the Mahim Creek or Mithi river they were the most affected households by they had total damage okay. A major damage you can see also in the middle and people who are close to and they have less damage.
Every year, homes in the area face waterlogging, with one to two feet of water collecting for hours after heavy rains. The 2005 flood exacerbated this, causing severe damage to houses close to the Mahim Creek and Mithi river. Those homes suffered complete damage, losing essential items and the structure itself, while homes further from the water experienced less damage.
Think about a sponge that gets soaked with water. If you keep pouring water on it, it can’t hold more and starts leaking, damaging everything nearby. In the same way, homes near the rivers could not withstand the excessive flooding from the rain and faced significant destruction.
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After we finish this exercise of connecting many more mappings and all we ask people that hey please mark us that what how you involved into this project of risk mapping, was it successful or not. So most of the cases we did very well like early engagement, representation of just stakeholder, continuity engagements clear and agreed object. But some cases right we have less resource availability.
After assessing the community's flood risks through mapping exercises, the researchers asked residents for feedback on their participation in the project. They found that while successful community engagement occurred in many cases, there were issues such as limited resources that hindered some aspects of the project.
Think about a group project in school. If everyone helps out, it can be successful, but if some group members don’t have the right materials or information, it can be tough to finish well. In flood risk mapping, the same idea applies—the success relies on everyone's active participation and the right tools.
Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.
Key Concepts
Vulnerability: The susceptibility of buildings and infrastructure to flooding due to location and local environmental changes.
Encroachment: Human activities that invade flood-prone areas, leading to increased flood risks.
Community Mapping: Engaging local people to identify risks, resources, and strategies for disaster preparedness.
Flood Impact: The tangible and intangible losses incurred by communities during flooding events, including property and personal belongings.
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
In 2005, areas near the Mithi River experienced up to 10 feet of flooding, which caused widespread damage to homes and loss of property.
Community mapping exercises revealed critical flood-prone areas and led to the establishment of local volunteer committees dedicated to disaster response.
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
When the road is high and the floodwaters try, houses will sit and sadly cry.
Once upon a time, in a village near a river, people built roads but forgot the river's quiver. When the rains came, water rose high, their homes were swept away with a sorrowful sigh.
F.E.C.C. - Floods, Engagement, Communities, Capacity: Remember the four key themes when discussing flood concerns.
Review key concepts with flashcards.
Review the Definitions for terms.
Term: Encroachment
Definition:
The act of intruding on or occupying land that is not legally permitted, usually close to a river or waterway.
Term: Flood resilience
Definition:
The ability of a community or infrastructure to withstand and recover from flooding events.
Term: Community mapping
Definition:
An exercise involving the community to identify and analyze local hazards, vulnerabilities, and resources.
Term: Waterlogging
Definition:
The accumulation of excess water in the soil, often leading to flooding and plant root damage.
Term: Actionable plan
Definition:
A strategic plan detailing specific steps and actions that can be taken to address identified issues or risks.