Effects of floods and ways that can be implemented to prevent floods.

According to Mensah(2020) and Ahadzie urban flooding has emerged as significant across
various regions globally, owing to its profound effects on society, the economy and
environment. On the other hand, Ghana experience annual floods that significantly impact
lives, property, infrastructure and leave many people without homes. In addition, it has been
proven that primary reasons for urban flooding in Ghana include insufficient urban planning
and development, inadequate drainage systems, a lack of environmental consciousness, and
heavy rainfall. This essay will therefore discuss impacts of floods on people, infrastructure
and economy. However, there will be strategies that can reduce floods the coping mechanism
most frequently mentioned were property protection, and the construction of drainage
systems.

Urban flooding has bad impact on people in such a way that Mensah and Ahadzie (2020) also
stated that individuals residing in flood -prone areas face elevated susceptibility to disease
like cholera, malaria, and hepatitis. Olanrewaju et al. (2019) stated that there was a
waterborne disease which was caused by flood disasters which was diarrhea when water
supplies become contaminated. According to Mensah and Ahadzie (2020) strategy of
reducing waterborne disease is construction of drain and relocate in flood prone areas. The
obstruction of waterways and drainage systems increases the like hood Dube at al. (2022).
According to Mensah and Ahadzie (2020) there is a poor urban planning and development
and there are floods which means buildings were not strong enough to resist high rainfall
which lead to houses being destroyed. Naidoo et al. (2022) stated that on South-eastern places
floods killed people over 400 people, there was destroyed homes about 16000 homes of
people which was affected in destruction of infrastructure which means people didn’t have
homes during flood damage surely the safer place to trust was health facilities. However, the
useful strategy is to relocate to healthy facilities.

According to Naidoo et al. (2022) intense flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall
resulted in loss of over 400 lives the destruction of 16000 homes, and telecommunications
services. Additionally, some roads were destroyed both staff and patient faced difficulty
reaching healthcare facilities due to main roads being flooded and mudslides obstructing
passage. Moreover, mobile health teams were assigned to visit centers housing displaced
individual, offering health screenings and distributing medication. Also, there are warning
systems which ensure that it warns people with weather conditions such as floods.
However, infrastructure might lead to poor network which might cause miscommunication
between people to raise awareness about floods. Moreover, there was community health
facility that closed because floods had caused a damage which means places that people
trusted that if houses were flooded, they will get places to be safe were also flooded.
According to Naidoo et al. (2022) stated that primary healthy care facilities play a crucial role
in disaster response, they serve as first point of contact for affected communities, providing
essential medical care, supplies, and support during natural disasters.

Impact of floods on economy Mensah and Ahadzie (2020) said that floods in Pakistan are
increasingly widespread and unmanageable, resulting in significant economic losses for
government in 2010.Furthermore, the floods have disproportionately damaged building and
infrastructure, exacerbating the economic hardships, especially for residents in lower-lying
areas and informal settlements. Additionally, people did not move to places that are not
exposed to floods because of shortage of income. According to Naidoo et al. (2022) stated
that some health facilities were renovated that involves money which also mean there will be
money government would pay so that people can find proper and safer places to stay.

Inconclusion floods have caused many damages on people, infrastructure and economy but
there are ways in which can be Implemented to reduce it. In cases authors have seen the same
impact and strategies that are linking so it means indeed flooding has negative impacts and
need to given attention as it involves peoples lives in the matter which cannot be replaced.
Additionally especially on strategies there are strategies in which require lot of money and
time like construction drain systems but there is no other way that can help people to access
clean water in most cases like provision of water tank water will be a problem during winter
time so construction of drains system will always supply people with water the disadvantage
on that strategy it may take time specially those need money government may delay a lot
when it comes to money. However, some bad impact on people like waterborne disease that
can be treated by improving sanitation.
REFERENCE LIST

Dube, K. Nhamo, G. and Chikodzi, D. (2022). Flooding trends and their impacts on coastal
communities of Western Cape, South Africa.GeoJournal,87(supply4), pages 453-S468.
Mensah, H. and Kwaku, A. (2020). Causes, impacts and coping strategies of floods in Ghana;
a systematic review .SN Applied Sciences ,2;792.
Naidoo, K. Manyangadze, T.and Lakotola, C.L. (2022). Primary care disaster management
for extreme weather events, South Africa. African Journal Primary Health and Family
Medicine ,14.
Olanrewaju, C.C. Chitakira, M, Olanrewaju,O.A and Louw, E.(2019). Impacts of floods
disasters in Nigeria: A critical evaluation of health implications and management. Journal of
disaster Risk Studies,11(1), pages 1-9.
NAME: MASIBONGE ANELE DLAMINI

STUDENT NO: 224145583

GROUP :2

MODULE : SCOM 101