Case Studies: Contrasting Examples of Flood Mitigation (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Case Study – Jakarta, Indonesia
Map of Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta is the current capital city of Indonesia
Causes of flooding
It faces significant flooding challenges because:
There is rapid urbanization
Many parts of the city are below sea level
Many parts of the city have an average height of just seven metres above sea level
The city experiences both tidal and river flooding
About half of the city is sinking at a rate of nine inches per year
Various factors affect the severity of flooding in the area:
Intense rainfall
Land subsidence
Poor urban planning
Impacts of flooding
On 1st January 2020, Jakarta experienced over 400mm of precipitation
Ciliwung and Cisadane rivers flooded:
In total, 66 people were killed
Around 60,000 people were displaced
In some parts of the city, floodwaters reached two metres
Landslides in areas on the outskirts of Jakarta buried people and buildings
Blackouts and lack of communication slowed the rescue efforts
Responses to flooding and mitigation
Cloud seeding planes were used to increase rainfall over the oceans
This aimed to reduce the amount of rain over the land and therefore reduce flooding
Over 11,000 health workers provided medical care
Disinfectant sprayed to reduce the spread of disease
Emergency shelters provided
Strategies to mitigate future flooding included:
Widening and deepening the river channels to reduce flooding
Construction of the East Flood Canal
Jakarta Emergency Dredging Initiative to increase the capacity of the rivers
Creating more urban green spaces to reduce surface runoff and increase infiltration
Creating an advanced warning system which uses real-time alerts for residents and businesses
Community workshops for poorer communities living along the river to explain how to protect themselves from future flooding
Preparation for disaster response, including megaphones, life vests and emergency kits
Case Study – River Severn, England
Map of River Severn
Causes of flooding
Storm Ciara produced heavy rainfall of 75mm in 48 hours in February 2020
Storm Dennis added 125mm falling in the Severn’s tributaries
The Met Office UK advised that February 2020 was the wettest on record
Some areas experienced a month of rain in 24 hours
Impacts of flooding
Over 1600 properties were flooded in the West Midlands
Homes were evacuated
Impact on transport infrastructure due to road and rail closures
Financial impact on businesses
Responses to flooding and mitigation
Nearly 30,000 warnings were given to property owners by the Flood Warning Service
Over 380 staff from the Environment Agency and DEFRA responding to incidents across the Midlands
Over 86 Aid staff from across the country helped manage the flood risks at pumping stations and prepare evacuation plans
An incident room was set up to help people affected
Demountable barriers used to help reduce flooding
A pumping station helped reduce surface runoff
Reservoirs being pumped down to reduce water levels
Strategies to mitigate future flooding include:
£4.5million now being invested along the catchment area to reduce flooding
Construction of embankments
Additional culverts to let surface water out and stop river water coming in
Afforestation
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