What Are Flash Floods
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What are Flash Floods? Flash floods are short-term events, occurring within 6 hours of the causative event (heavy rain, dam break, levee failure, rapid, snowmelt and ice jams) and often within 2 hours of the start of high intensity rainfall. A flash flood is characterized by a rapid stream rise with depths of water that can reach well above the banks of the creek. Flash flood damage and most fatalities tend to occur in areas immediately adjacent to a stream or arroyo. Additionally, heavy rain falling on steep terrain can weaken soil and cause mud slides, damaging homes, roads and property. Flash floods can be produced when slow moving or multiple thunderstorms occur over the same area. When storms move faster, flash flooding is less likely since the rain is distributed over a broader area. (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/flood/PDF/Flood_p3.pdf) Causes Flash flooding occurs when precipitation falls rapidly on saturated soil or dry soil that has poor absorption ability. The runoff collects in gullies and streams and, as they join to form larger volumes, often forms a fast flowing front of water and debris. Flash floods most often occur in normally dry areas that have recently received precipitation, but may be seen anywhere downstream from the source of the precipitation, even many miles from the source. In areas on or near volcanoes, flash floods have also occurred after eruptions, when glaciers have been melted by the intense heat. Flash floods are known to occur in the highest mountain ranges of the United States and are also common in the arid plains of southwestern United States. Flash flooding can also be caused by extensive rainfall released by hurricanes and other tropical storms, as well as the sudden thawing effect of ice dams. Human activities can also cause flash floods to occur. When dams, constructed for hydro-electricity, have failed, large quantities of water can be released and can destroy everything within its path. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_flood)
Significant flash flood articles recorded in Davao City DAVAO CITY (5th Update, 5:35 p.m.) -- Twenty-five people were confirmed dead while 3,000 families were displaced by the flooding that hit this city Tuesday evening. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, 19 of the confirmed fatalities were identified as Angelita Paches, 65 years old; Alexander Baricuatro, 4; Jason Ataros, 3; John Michel Alvarez, 7; Rowena Balderosa, 7; Melchin Roseno, 2; John Carlo Alvarez, 3; Tito Servidad, 53; Dennis Ayag, 4; Pastor Jimmy Bao; Conchita Bao; Isadora Baricuatro; Antonio Inciso, 77; infant Chris Alvarez; Alexandria Baricuatro, 7; Beth Amatos, 7; Catherine Balderosa; Kassandra Supa, 2; and Carl Andrei Olivares, nine months old.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said that as of Wednesday noon, 15 are still missing and a total of 127 houses were washed out. The city also estimated the total cost of damage at P40 million, including the damage to a foot bridge in Matina Pangi. The heavy downpour in Bangkal and Matina on Tuesday evening lasted for six hours, causing the flashflood. The rising floodwater also inundated several areas in at least four affected barangays, namely: Matina Aplaya, Matina Pangi, Bangkal and Talomo. Some of the affected residents told Sun.Star that the floodwater Tuesday night reached to as high as four feet inside subdivisions. Due to flooding, authorities closed the Matina-Balusong Bridge after cracks were noticed in it, causing heavy traffic. Mayor Duterte called for an emergency meeting to map out the efforts of the City Government in helping the victims. She said the city has about P170 million calamity fund available and they are only asking for about P40 million to be released for the victims. Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also called for a special session in the City Council for the declaration of a state of calamity in the affected areas so that the calamity fund would be released immediately. Authorities said the calamity fund to be released will be for food and financial assistance to the victims. Mayor Duterte said they will give P10,000 to each of the families affected. Vice Mayor Duterte, meanwhile, reminded the public that only the bare essentials will be subjected for financial assistance, after he found “fighting cocks” as among those recommended for refund by the city. “Ihawa na ninyo inyong mga manok. Dili na labot sa bayaran sa gobyerno (You slaughter your fighting cocks. The government will not pay for them),” Duterte said. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Davao City, meanwhile, revealed that it only recorded eight millimeters of rain Tuesday night. Pagasa said, however, that it has no rain gauge installed in Matina area where the heavy downpour occurred. It said its rain gauge is only located at its station near the airport. (Tesiorna, Ben O., Davao flood death toll now 25, Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
Around 15 Davao City barangays were placed under a state of calamity Monday night as flash floods continued to inundate the area. According to a report on GMA News TV's State of the Nation, the declaration allows access to the over P53 million calamity fund for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the affected areas. A report on Davao Today specified the 15 barangays as Tigatto, Mandug, Waan, Lasang, 19B, 5A, 8A, 9, 10, 1A, 2A, 74A, 76A, Maa, and Calinan. Based on the State of the Nation report, the National Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recorded 17 affected barangays and over 10,000 affected families., The NDRRMC also recorded 3 deaths over the weekend, the report said., According to PAGASA, the floods were brought on by heavy rains from the tail-end of a cold front. Moderate to heavy rains are still to be expected in a major portion of Mindanao.(Lago, Amanda /DVM, 15 barangays in Davao City now under state of calamity, Jan 21, 2013 10:42pm,GMA News)
Significant flash flood articles recorded in Davao City DAVAO CITY (5th Update, 5:35 p.m.) -- Twenty-five people were confirmed dead while 3,000 families were displaced by the flooding that hit this city Tuesday evening. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, 19 of the confirmed fatalities were identified as Angelita Paches, 65 years old; Alexander Baricuatro, 4; Jason Ataros, 3; John Michel Alvarez, 7; Rowena Balderosa, 7; Melchin Roseno, 2; John Carlo Alvarez, 3; Tito Servidad, 53; Dennis Ayag, 4; Pastor Jimmy Bao; Conchita Bao; Isadora Baricuatro; Antonio Inciso, 77; infant Chris Alvarez; Alexandria Baricuatro, 7; Beth Amatos, 7; Catherine Balderosa; Kassandra Supa, 2; and Carl Andrei Olivares, nine months old.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said that as of Wednesday noon, 15 are still missing and a total of 127 houses were washed out. The city also estimated the total cost of damage at P40 million, including the damage to a foot bridge in Matina Pangi. The heavy downpour in Bangkal and Matina on Tuesday evening lasted for six hours, causing the flashflood. The rising floodwater also inundated several areas in at least four affected barangays, namely: Matina Aplaya, Matina Pangi, Bangkal and Talomo. Some of the affected residents told Sun.Star that the floodwater Tuesday night reached to as high as four feet inside subdivisions. Due to flooding, authorities closed the Matina-Balusong Bridge after cracks were noticed in it, causing heavy traffic. Mayor Duterte called for an emergency meeting to map out the efforts of the City Government in helping the victims. She said the city has about P170 million calamity fund available and they are only asking for about P40 million to be released for the victims. Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also called for a special session in the City Council for the declaration of a state of calamity in the affected areas so that the calamity fund would be released immediately. Authorities said the calamity fund to be released will be for food and financial assistance to the victims. Mayor Duterte said they will give P10,000 to each of the families affected. Vice Mayor Duterte, meanwhile, reminded the public that only the bare essentials will be subjected for financial assistance, after he found “fighting cocks” as among those recommended for refund by the city. “Ihawa na ninyo inyong mga manok. Dili na labot sa bayaran sa gobyerno (You slaughter your fighting cocks. The government will not pay for them),” Duterte said. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Davao City, meanwhile, revealed that it only recorded eight millimeters of rain Tuesday night. Pagasa said, however, that it has no rain gauge installed in Matina area where the heavy downpour occurred. It said its rain gauge is only located at its station near the airport. (Tesiorna, Ben O., Davao flood death toll now 25, Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
Around 15 Davao City barangays were placed under a state of calamity Monday night as flash floods continued to inundate the area. According to a report on GMA News TV's State of the Nation, the declaration allows access to the over P53 million calamity fund for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the affected areas. A report on Davao Today specified the 15 barangays as Tigatto, Mandug, Waan, Lasang, 19B, 5A, 8A, 9, 10, 1A, 2A, 74A, 76A, Maa, and Calinan. Based on the State of the Nation report, the National Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recorded 17 affected barangays and over 10,000 affected families., The NDRRMC also recorded 3 deaths over the weekend, the report said., According to PAGASA, the floods were brought on by heavy rains from the tail-end of a cold front. Moderate to heavy rains are still to be expected in a major portion of Mindanao.(Lago, Amanda /DVM, 15 barangays in Davao City now under state of calamity, Jan 21, 2013 10:42pm,GMA News)
