In this Article
Flash flooding differs significantly from traditional floods. It occurs suddenly and is triggered by heavy rainfall over a short period of time, (Grealish, 2021), usually within the first three to six hours of the rainfall. Unlike regular floods, which results from rivers or streams overflowing, flash flooding occurs swiftly leaving no time for the water to drain in urban areas due to the paved surfaces. This rapid onset often leaves little time for warning, leading to more extensive damage (Vigdor, 2021). The European 2021 flash flooding is one example of how devastating flash floods can be.
Event Timeline
Flash Floods Impacts and Government Response
| Country/ Region | Impacts | Government Response |
| Germany | 196 reported deaths Approximately 749 injured 170 remained missing Over 40,000 residents left without access to clean drinking water, electricity, and gas. | Climate Change Acknowledgement by president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Immediate Aid Approval of 400 million euros to assist people in coping with the aftermath of the disaster. Reconstruction Plans initiated to rebuild impacted areas. |
| Belgium | Population: 200,000 in Liege faced significant challenges making evacuation difficult. 42 reported deaths. 1000+ reported missing search efforts hindered because of damaged phone networks. | Response Teams to provide aid and support affected areas. Public Assistance: individuals were encouraged to provide assistance to those in need. |
| Netherlands | Flooding in Limburg due to high precipitation No fatalities reported. 433 household left without power. Food shortages. | Mass Evacuation in Limburg with the deployment of 300 military personnel. |
Why Are Flash Floods Dangerous?
Flash floods, characterized by their short duration and localized occurrence, present unique dangers:
Sudden and Unpredictable: Flash floods are notorious for their abrupt onset. Within mere hours of heavy rainfall, these deluges can turn placid streams into raging torrents (Grealish, 2021). Their rapid development means traditional warning systems often fall short (Raška & Brázdil, 2015).
Devastating Impacts: The devastation wrought by flash floods extends to both communities and the environment. They pose a severe threat to human life, wreak havoc on ecosystems, and can obliterate vital infrastructure.
Limited Warning Time: Due to their swift nature, flash floods often strike before comprehensive warnings can be issued, leaving us with little time to react (Marchi et al., 2010).
Poor Understanding: Astonishingly, flash floods remain inadequately understood and documented, hindering our ability to mitigate their effects (Gaume et al., 2009).
Economic Toll: Flash floods exact a hefty economic toll. Between 1950 and 2006, Europe witnessed 40% of flood-related casualties, with an estimated annual income loss exceeding €40 billion (Gaume et al., 2009).
Rising Threat: As societies continue to develop socially and economically, flash floods pose an ever-increasing threat, exerting pressure on land use and infrastructure (Marchi et al., 2010).
Flash Floods Predictions
Predicting flash floods is a challenging endeavour due to several factors:
Spatial and Temporal Scales: Flash floods occur on small spatial and temporal scales, making them difficult to monitor effectively using conventional rain and discharge measurement networks (Marchi et al., 2010).
Rare Local Events: Flash floods are relatively rare at the local scale, further complicating observation and study in experimental catchments.
Insights from Local Flash Flood Events
A study by Bryndal (2015) sheds light on local flash flood events:
These events often result from short-duration, high-intensity rainfall lasting less than two hours.
Flash floods frequently impact mountainous and upland areas, influenced by topographic conditions exacerbated by global warming.
Climate Change and Flash Floods
Climate change encompasses long-term environmental shifts, including a significant rise in global temperatures over the past century (Kumar et al., 2021). Projections indicate a further increase of 1.8 to 4°C in the 21st century.
Impact on Extreme Weather
The rise in temperature, primarily driven by greenhouse gas emissions, has ushered in a host of challenges, including a surge in extreme weather events (Kumar et al., 2021). European countries have experienced weather patterns previously unseen, complicating disaster preparedness and response.
Intensification of Hydrological Cycle
Evidence points to an intensifying hydrological cycle due to global warming, contributing to the increased frequency and severity of flash floods (Marchi et al., 2010). This intensification results from changes in climate, storm patterns, and river discharge conditions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our exploration into flash floods and their connection to climate change reveals a pressing concern. Flash floods, characterized by their sudden intensity, pose unique challenges for prediction and mitigation due to their small-scale and rapid onset.
The European countries we’ve discussed face unprecedented weather patterns, straining disaster preparedness and response. Climate change’s most alarming consequence is the intensification of the hydrological cycle, leading to more frequent and severe flash floods. This intensification stems from climate shifts, altered storm patterns, and river discharge changes, amplifying the risks.
It’s clear that flash floods are not isolated incidents but part of a larger environmental narrative. Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, makes flash floods a recurrent and dangerous threat.
To address this challenge, we need improved prediction methods, enhanced emergency management, and a deeper understanding of these events. Crucially, we must tackle the root cause by reducing emissions, adapting to changing weather, and building resilience to protect our communities from flash floods in our rapidly changing world.
Sources
Bryndal, T. (2015). Local flash floods in Central Europe: A case study of Poland. Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift – Norwegian Journal of Geography, 69(5), 288-298. https://doi.org/10.1080/00291951.2015.1072242
Eddy, M., Specia, M., Erlanger, S., Erwing, J., Erdbrink, T., Fountain, H., & Schwartz, J. (2021). Europe Flooding Deaths Pass 125, and Scientists See Fingerprints of Climate Change. Nytimes.com. Retrieved 26 October 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/07/16/world/europe-flooding-germany.
Fitzgerald, M., Angerer, C., & Smith, P. (2021). Almost 200 dead as Germany counts devastating cost of floods. NBC News. Retrieved 5 December 2021, from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/almost-200-dead-many-still-missing-after-floods-germany-counts-n1274330.
Gaume, E., Bain, V., Bernardara, P., Newinger, O., Barbuc, M., & Bateman, A. et al. (2009). A compilation of data on European flash floods. Journal Of Hydrology, 367(1-2), 70-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.12.028
Graphic News [@GNgraphicnews]. (2021, July 19). Death toll exceeds 190 in European floods: July 19, 2021 — #floods #Germany #Germanyfloods #Belgium #Netherlands #climatechange… [Image attached][Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved 08 December 2021, from https://twitter.com/GNgraphicnews/status/1417172020077338657.
Grealish, S. (2021). What is a flash flood? The Sun. Retrieved 7 December 2021, from https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16041981/what-is-a-flash-flood/.
Kumar, A., Nagar, S., & Anand, S. (2021). Climate change and existential threats. Global Climate Change, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-822928-6.00005-8
Marchi, L., Borga, M., Preciso, E., & Gaume, E. (2010). Characterisation of selected extreme flash floods in Europe and implications for flood risk management. Journal of Hydrology (Amsterdam), 394(1-2), 118–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.07.017
Mathiesen, K., Posaner, J., & Gehrke, L. (2021). Europe’s floods: How a modern warning system was overwhelmed. POLITICO. Retrieved 4 December 2021, from https://www.politico.eu/article/unnatural-disaster-the-german-belgian-floods-climate-change/.
Niranjan, A. (2021). German floods: Climate change made heavy rains in Europe more likely | DW | 23.08.2021. DW.COM. Retrieved 5 December 2021, from https://www.dw.com/en/german-floods-climate-change/a-58959677.
NL Times. (2021). Heavy rains leave Limburg flooded; Some showers expected today. NL Times. Retrieved 14 December 2021, from https://nltimes.nl/2021/07/15/heavy-rains-leave-limburg-flooded-showers-expected-today.
NOAA Satellites [@NOAASatellites]. (2021, July 16). Imagery from Europe’s #Meteosat11… [Image attached] [Tweet]. Twitter, Retrieved 06 December 2021, from https://twitter.com/NOAASatellites/status/1416050009791991808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1416050009791991808%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fweather%2F2021%2F07%2F16%2Fweather-pattern-climate-germany-flooding%2F
Oltermann, P. (2021). Germany floods: 155 still missing as hopes of further rescues fade. the Guardian. Retrieved 26 October 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/21/germany-floods-one-hundred-fifty-five-still-missing-hope-further-rescue-fade.
Raška, P., & Brázdil, R. (2015). Participatory responses to historical flash floods and their relevance for current risk reduction: a view from a post-communist country. Area, 47(2), 166-178. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.12159
Summer Floods in Europe 2021. Jbarisk.com. (2021). Retrieved 10 December 2021, from https://www.jbarisk.com/flood-services/event-response/summer-floods-in-europe-2021/.
Vigdor, N. (2021). What Is Flash Flooding, and How Can You Avoid It? Nytimes.com. Retrieved 6 December 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/article/flash-flood-safety-tips.html.
Planet Pulse 
Leave a comment