New Year Starts with Many Floods  

PDC Global Hazards Atlas displaying PDC Integrated Active Hazards and 3-day precipitation accumulation.

It’s a new year, 2013, and people in many parts of the world are discovering ways to be safer from flooding, but the hazards remain, and sometimes these threats will have disastrous effects. In fact while most were celebrating the arrival of the new year, others were preparing for oncoming floods, struggling with ongoing floods, and recovering from recent flooding. Regardless of the season, the hemisphere of the earth, or any other factor, there are always some potential causes of flooding. Beware, and be safe. This week we’ll look particularly at flooding in central Africa and around Greece in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Flooding in Central Africa 

PDC Global Hazards Atlas centered on easterly central Africa displaying PDC Integrated Active Hazards and 3-day precipitation accumulation.

Areas of central Africa, especially Zimbabwe (RSOE EDIS) and the Singida Region of Tanzania (RSOE EDIS) were experiencing flooding through the holiday, and some of the flooding continues today (January 3). The flooding rains in this area continue, but are moving away from areas already flooded, meaning the threat of flooding in this general area of Africa continues for the foreseeable future. Although no deaths are attributed to the flooding, the damage to infrastructure, according to the Natural Disaster News Net, has been extensive, especially in Tanzania where flood waters destroyed a bridge that is a “key link on the Mwanza Highway,” leaving travelers and supply trucks stranded.

Flooding in the Eastern Mediterranean 

PDC Global Hazards Atlas displaying PDC Integrated Active Hazards and 3-day precipitation accumulation.

Greece and other countries around the eastern Mediterranean have experienced flooding for several days in a row, with central Greece (Natural Disaster News Net) being the most heavily affected area so far. There has been at least one fatality. Like the storms in Africa (above), these flooding rains have moved from the areas already flooded and are now largely over the Mediterranean Sea. Nonetheless, the threat of additional flooding in Greece and, even more so, in southern Turkey has not passed.

Want to learn more about flooding in all seasons and other types of disasters? Then, be sure to check out PDC’s Natural Hazards page! Also don’t forget to download the free Disaster Alert mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. PDC’s Disaster Alert will help you stay aware of hazards happening in your neighborhood and around the world!

Recent Flooding Events

Some flooding events that are ongoing or occurred last week are:

• Spain (RSOE EDIS)
  • Province of Huesca
  • 1,200 residents evacuated
  • Foreign nationals affected
• Reunion in the Indian Ocean (RSOE EDIS)
• Tropical Storm Dumile
• 25,000 persons directly affected
• Kenya (RSOE EDIS)
  • Keiyo Valley area
  •  10 deaths
  • 10 missing
• England (Daily Mail)
• High Askew on the North York Moors
• Footbridge collapsed
• Two men hospitalized

PDC is currently monitoring flooding events/threats in: The South Pacific, Central Africa (including Kenya), the United Kingdom, Spain, and elsewhere.

Looking Ahead

Over the next week, PDC will continue to monitor areas of high precipitation and keep a close eye on flooding across the globe. Want to find the most up-to-date information on flooding and other hazards occurring in your neighborhood or around the world? Then be sure to download PDC’s free Disaster Alert mobile app available for your iOS or Android devices today! Also be sure to continue to monitor PDC on Twitter, Facebook, and by way of the Global Hazards Atlas.