A Year of Flooding in Review: 2012  

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

Happy New Year! Just over a week ago we celebrated the beginning of a new year. As we reflect on another year gone by, let’s review some of the impacts of flooding events in 2012.

For the year 2012, PDC recorded over 780 Flood events around the world. According to EM-DAT, the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters’ (CRED) International Disaster Database, of the Top 10 most important flood disasters that occurred in 2012,  three of the top 10 flood disasters occurred in China, as well as four in the Indian subcontinent. As shown in the table below, the top flood disaster, which occurred in China in June of last year, affected over 17.4 million people. The second top flood event also occurred in China in April (over 13.1 people affected), followed by the third-ranking flood event, which occurred in Pakistan in August and affected over 5 million people.

(Source: “EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database”)

Why not make it your 2013 resolution to be prepared for flooding and other disasters that may affected your area? For information on how you and your family can better prepare for disaster, be sure to check out the PDC’s ‘Preparing for Disaster’ webpage, as well as the PDC’s ‘Printable Disaster Checklist’. Why wait? Start preparing today!

Recent Flood Events

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

• Palestinian Territory (IFRC)
  • Torrential Rain, Snow Storm, Floods
  • Around 130 families evacuated and 2 persons killed
  • Largest storms in decades
• Indonesia (ReliefWeb/Jakarta Post)
• South Sulawesi
• Severe Storm, Flooding
• At least 15 persons killed, hundreds of houses affected

PDC is currently monitoring flooding events/threats in: England, Indonesia, Palestinian Territory, and United States.

Looking Ahead

Throughout 2013, 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.