Department of Water Affairs and Forestry 1 CHALLENGES OF FLOODS IN HUMAN SETTLEMENTS Presented by: Amelius Muller 19 April 2005

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry2 FRAMEWORK Forces of Nature Forces of Nature Risk Reduction Measures Risk Reduction Measures Challenges Challenges

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry3 THE FORCES OF NATURE Fire Fire Floods Floods Winds Winds Earth Quakes Earth Quakes …have had devastating effects on humans and human development in the past and it will happen again and again. Can this be avoided?

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry4 Nothing can be done to prevent the natural event from occurring but a lot can and must be done to: Avoid losses Avoid losses Minimise losses Minimise losses Do we have the means to do it? THE FORCES OF NATURE

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry5 THE FORCES OF NATURE Impact on Human property and development

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Department of Water Affairs and Forestry11 THE FORCES OF NATURE ImpactonHumans

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Department of Water Affairs and Forestry16 THE REALITY In an impoverished environment, any number of steps we have moved forward in the eradication of poverty can be wiped out completely by a single fire or flood event

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry17 RISK REDUCTION MEASURES What can be avoided and how? What can be avoided and how? Mitigating measures Mitigating measures Do we have the means? Do we have the means?

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Department of Water Affairs and Forestry22 RISK REDUCTION MEASURES What can be avoided and how? What can be avoided and how? Mitigating measures Mitigating measures Do we have the means? Do we have the means?

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Department of Water Affairs and Forestry24 RISK REDUCTION MEASURES What can be avoided and how? What can be avoided and how? Mitigating measures Mitigating measures Do we have the means? Do we have the means? Yes – but we must have the will to put it to good use

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry25 WHY THE TENDENCY TO DEVELOP CLOSE TO RIVERS? RICH DAD Tranquility Tranquility Scenic Beauty Scenic Beauty Investment Investment RICH DAD Tranquility Tranquility Scenic Beauty Scenic Beauty Investment Investment POOR DAD Drinking water Drinking water Washing Washing Availability Availability POOR DAD Drinking water Drinking water Washing Washing Availability Availability

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry26 THE CHALLENGE TO BE PRO-ACTIVE What does the law lay down? What does the law lay down? –National Water Act, Article 144 –Municipal bylaws –National Disaster Act Only for new developments Only for new developments

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry27 NATIONAL WATER ACT Act No 36 of For the purposes of ensuring that all persons who might be affected have access to information regarding potential flood hazards, no person may establish a township unless the layout plan shows, in a form acceptable to the local authority concerned, lines indicating the maximum level likely to be reached by floodwaters on average once in every 100 years For the purposes of ensuring that all persons who might be affected have access to information regarding potential flood hazards, no person may establish a township unless the layout plan shows, in a form acceptable to the local authority concerned, lines indicating the maximum level likely to be reached by floodwaters on average once in every 100 years.

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry28 THE CHALLENGE OF FUNDING National Disaster Management Structure National Disaster Management Structure National Disaster Management Fund National Disaster Management Fund but …. Procedures must be streamlined

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry29 THE CHALLENGE TO DEFINE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES National Government National Government –Sector Leader –Disaster Management Plan –Integrated Development Plan Provincial Government Provincial Government Local Government Local Government

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry30 TECHNICAL CHALLENGE Structural Measures Structural Measures –Flood absorption dams –Development of flood plains Active Flood Warning Systems Active Flood Warning Systems –Examples of existing systems –Constraints Community River Watch Systems Community River Watch Systems

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry31 THE SOCIAL CHALLENGE Alternative Accommodation & Infrastructure Alternative Accommodation & Infrastructure Monitoring to keep evacuated areas open Monitoring to keep evacuated areas open Develop evacuated areas without delay for instance into recreational areas Develop evacuated areas without delay for instance into recreational areas Education & information Education & information Involvement of political leaders Involvement of political leaders Involvement of community leaders Involvement of community leaders

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry32 MAIN CHALLENGE To what extent have we, in South Africa, met the objectives set by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989 when they declared the period 1990 to 2000 as the: “International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR)”?

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry33 OBJECTIVES OF THE IDNDR have in place comprehensive national assessments of risks from natural hazards, integrated into development plans; have in place comprehensive national assessments of risks from natural hazards, integrated into development plans; Mitigation Plans at national and / or local levels that address long term prevention; Mitigation Plans at national and / or local levels that address long term prevention; Preparedness and community awareness; Preparedness and community awareness; Ready access to global, regional, national and local warning systems. Ready access to global, regional, national and local warning systems. By the year 2000 all countries, as part of their plan to achieve sustainable development, should:

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