When the levee breaks

When the levee breaks

Articles:

1. Sujatha Byravan, a scientist has talked about calamities arising from extreme weathers.

Important Analysis.

2. Author has made an argument,that metrological events may trigger the natural disaster but the main causes are different.

3. Damage in the Kerala hasnot only caused by heavy rain but it is also attributed to

• Mismanagement of reservoirs
• Illegal constructions
• Destruction of forest and land use patterns
• Along with heavy rain due to extreme weather has caused severe damage in Kerala.

4. Extreme events has also been experienced by other parts of the world.

5. Climate getting warmer causing dry condition and fire. Such as Sweden and Norway experienced wildfires due to heat waves.

6. Due to extreme weather, the frequency of cyclones, heavy downpours, flood, and droughtare very frequent in different part of the world.

7. Separate pattern of destruction has been noticed when extreme weather interacts with local activities such as

• Landslides in Hilly areas due to little vegetation.
• Severe flooding in homes constructed near the lake beds.
• Flooded streets when drainage of storm water is not clear.
• Destruction of property and loss of life.

8. Author has raised the concern over decision maker such as.

• They focus on immediate measures which is not quite useful for long term.
• Extreme events have low probability of occurrence but due to lack of management responses impact of disaster is more.
• Long term planning often involve difficulties such as moving people out of flood plains during disaster and construction of flood resilient building.
• They do not address long term changes taking place as a result of climate changes.
• Fail to consider local ecology and landscape.

9. Certain problems associated with climate change.

• Spread of Vector borne diseases.
• Spraying insecticide boost resistance of pest to chemical used. In Brazil due to an extra effort to fight against dengue developed insecticide resistance.
• Similarly, U.S forest department approach to suppress forest fire unexpectedly resulted into growth of denser and more flammable forest.

10. Few suggestion has been noticed by Author such as:

• Long term decision to improve land use. It will help to absorb much of the rain water.
• Limitconstruction activity in the area which are vulnerable in Western Ghats.
• Designing of effective evacuation plan.
• Developing system for integrated water management
• Improving institutional mechanism to provide immediate response.
• Finally Author has said, suitable long and short term action is crucial for an effective disaster response.