Flash Flood Risk Management – A Training of Trainers ... - ReliefWeb

Day 1
Figure 4: Categorisation of flood losses
Flood Losses
Tangible direct losses
Tangible indirect losses
Intangible human
and other losses
Primary
Damage to:
• Buildings (e.g., houses)
• Contents of buildings
• Infrastructure
(e.g., roads, bridges)
• Crops and animals
Loss of or disruption to:
• Agricultural production
• Industrial production
• Communications (e.g., road, rail,
and telecommunications)
• Health care and education services
• Utility supplies (e.g., electricity)
• Loss of life
• Physical injury
• Loss of heritage or
archaeological sites
Secondary
• Fire and fire damage
• Contamination of land
and reduced crop
yields due to salt in
seawater
• Cut electricity supply,
damaging susceptible
machines and
computer function
• Lost value added in industry
• Increased traffic congestion and
costs
• Disruption of flow of employees to
work causing “knock-on” effects
• Contamination of water supplies
• Food and other shortages
• Increased costs of emergency
services
• Loss of income
• Increased household costs
• Increased stress
• Physical and
psychological trauma
• Increase in floodrelated
suicides
• Increase in waterborne
diseases
• Increase in ill health
• Increase in post-flood
visits to doctors
• Hastened and/or
increased mortality
Session 3
Tertiary
• Enhanced rate of
property deterioration
and decay
• Long-term rot and
damp
• Weakened structures,
making them more
damage prone in
subsequent floods
• Some businesses bankrupt
• Loss of exports
• Reduced national gross domestic
product
• Homelessness
• Loss of livelihoods
• Total loss of
possessions (i.e.,
uninsured)
• Blighted families
• Loss of community
where communities are
broken up
Source: Parker (2000)
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