The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority recently drew up a flood map of the state, marking areas prone to varying degrees of flooding. An annual exercise that is being done since the 2015 floods, it seeks to help local bodies with up-to-date information about areas under their jurisdiction that may need additional attention, ahead of the monsoon. At the time of this article going to press, it was said that in the first week of October, a revised flood map of the city will be up on Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) website. The information is expected to include numbers of heads of disaster response teams and escape routes to be taken in the event of heavy flooding.
According to reports, 306 areas within GCC limits have been classified as flood-prone. Of these, 37 are considered highly-vulnerable. The criterion for classifying an area as highly vulnerable — water stagnation up to five feet.
Residents’ role
Once the map is in the public domain, Resident Welfare Associations can carry out micro-level planning to avert problems in the flood-prone areas.
If a flood-prone area has not been marked on the map, any resident or residents welfare association can bring it to the notice of the authorities.
Identify and map flood-prone areas in street, neighbourhood or apartment complex. Install a signoard — even a makeshift one would do — or some other indication warning people of these areas.
Follow up with local officials to find out if any measures are being taken to prevent flooding in these areas. Find out if stormwater drains in your streets are connected to the main stormwater network; and that there are no clogs in the stormwater drains preventing free flow of rainwater.
Check with local engineers if stormwater drains were desilted recently. Make sure the drains are cleaned periodically and there is no garbage accumulating on the streets. Streets with rainwater harvesting wells must be desilted so that water from the streets/ lanes collect in the these chambers.
Have the contact numbers of local authorities such as Corporation zonal officer, executive engineers and disaster response teams.
