Flooding....WHY!!!





This graph show the rainfall of the month.

vTWO INTENSE RAINS 

 

v  Firstly, on that day, two intense rainstorms, which were around 60 per cent of the average monthly rainfall in June, caused water level to rise rapidly and overflow onto Orchard Road because Stamford Canal was unable to deal with high amounts of rainfall.

v  The intervals between the two rainstorms are fast. First rain washed some debris into the culvert and the second rainstorm worsen the situation, result in more serious blockage of the culvert.v  Most times, our drains are able to cope with the rain that we receive. However, extremely heavy rainfall can sometimes exceed the capacity that the drains are designed for.

  

The drain along Orchard Road blocked
 BLOCKED CULVERT

∞     One third of the culvert was blocked because the heavy rains had sweep the debris into the culvert

∞     It became clogged which resulted in water flowing into the canal and the canal was unable to handle the full load.

∞     Thus, the design and capacity of Stamford Canal has been found to be another cause of the flood.



                                             
Link:
http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100617024851AAaf4xz
http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/06/16/flash-floods-cause-havoc-in-singapore/
http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2010/06/tnp-1999-why-orchard-road-will-never.html
http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20100618-222731.html

Look at what the flood had done!

--> SHOPPING MALL AFFECTED

·         The floods had affected the shopping malls along the basement of Orchard Road.

·         High-class restaurants like the Wendy’s were affected by the flood.

·         This repelled customers and some restaurants had no one patronising them.  They also suffered electricity trips.

·         Massive reconstruction and clean-up had to be done immediately after the flood .The damage of their goods also caused them a millions of dollars of loss.

-->TRAFFIC CHAOS

• The floods caused traffic chaos.
• A tree which fell and blocked off all three lanes, result in the road closed.
•  Many vehicles were toppled down by the flood and some drained in the flood, result in people trapped inside cars and buses.
•  The owner of the vehicles also had to send their cars for a repair. Some had no choice but to purchase another one.

HOUSES FLOODED!

• The water level sensor reached 75% at the houses at Bukit Timah area at that morning.
• The floor had also reached people's knee-high level
•  Also, the floor had caused serious damage on electronic devices in their houses.

From a litter-free Singapore, it became an unrecognizable hodgepodge of muddy water with general waste floating across the surface of the flooded pavements.

link:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_541057.html
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/394710/heavy_rains_cause_severe_flooding_along_orchard_road.html
http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978305020

Then WHAT CAN WE DO!!!

1. FREQUENT CHECKS ON CANALS BY PUB!

• The Public Utilities Board conduct more frequent checks on canals
• PUB has put in place a Code of Practice that stipulates drainage requirements.
• This includes minimum platform and crest levels for buildings and entrances to underground facilities such as basement car park.

2. SAND BAGS and FLOOR PANALS

• placing sandbags, large rocks( prevent erosion)  along the riverbank to serve as levees
• prevents riverbanks from deteriorating, remaining high enough so that flooding will not occur as frequently.
• Orchard already have floor panals which will lies flat when not in use.
• place water level sensors along Stamford Canal to enable closer monitoring of unusual peaks

3. BARRAGES

• Marina Barrage helps in flood control by discharging excess storm water into the sea in low-lying areas of the city such as Chinatown.
  
  
   4. WHAT WE CAN DO!!
  

  • We can also help to keep our drains litter-free so that water can flow easily.
  • We can prevent our electronic devices like fridges to be damage by putting a water-proof sheet(plastic bag) and cover it. It is to prevent the contact of water with the devices...

  
  

link:

http://www.therestorationresource.com/How_to_Prevent_Flood_Damage.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/flooding/prevention.shtml
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxmbG9vZHNhaHN8Z3g6MjY3Zjk0NDJiNjA1NWM5MA

Video to show you the seriousness!!!