Damages caused by Flash Floods• Damages caused as a result of flash flood are

enormous both on human lives and loss ofproperty.

• It is reported that flood disasters account for abouta third of all natural disasters by number andeconomic losses.

• Floods are responsible for over half of the deathsassociated with all such disasters.

• The following pictures are some of the examples offlood damages in Oman during different events

Flood Damages in Oman

Flood AdvantagesEven though the floods cause damages, they

also bring some advantages some of the advantages are:

Recharge the groundwater aquifers.Wash and clean the waste from wadi channels.Floods also act as sediment transport from

mountains to lower wadi catchments and the sea.

As an environmental gain reduces the sea bed erosion, controls saline intrusion and provides nutrients to the fish.

Flood Management and MitigationIt includes both Structural and Non-structural

measures:• Structural : dams, levees and dikes, reservoirs,

retarding basins, channel and catchment modification, drainage schemes and flood proofing of vulnerable properties and flood shelters.

• Non Structural: flood forecasting, flood warning and emergency planning, land use planning controls, acquisition and relocation, flood insurance , public information and education.

Government Initiatives in Dealing with Floods

Establishment of Hydro-meteorological network. Establishment of guidelines for development in flood prone

areas. Production of maps showing flood risk zones. Establishment of National Committee for Civil Defense

(NCCD) to deal with all kinds of disaster including floods. Construction of dams. Improvement of drainage systems especially in major cities. Possibility of introduction of flood warning systems. Establishment of Multi Hazard National Center.

Hydro-meteorological Network The Ministry operates

4640 different stations, 15of them working onsatellite & 30 GSMTelemetry stations with adatabase having records ofover 100 years in somerainfall stations.

While the meteorologicaldepartment operates morethan 30 weather stations.

Use of Hydrometric Data• Assessment and Management.• Landscape and Water Recourse Management.• Environmental Management• Power• Water supply• Transport• Flood Risk Management• Other

Guidelines for Development in Flood Prone Areas.

The developer or property owner must seek commentsand prior approval from MRMWR before a project in aflood risk zone is allowed to proceed for finaldetermination by the planning authority.

If a proposal for any major development in a medium orhigh risk flood zone will cause a significant reduction inchannel flow capacity, the developer or property owner isrequired to demonstrate to the planning authority andMRMWR that the proposal will not significantly increaseflood levels.

For projects in a high-risk flood zone, it is mandatory toincorporate foolproof evacuation measures.

Production of Flood Risk Maps The ministry prepared a series

of maps for flood-risk zones formajor cities.

The ministry is now in theprocess of updating these mapsand also plans are on the way tocover other areas which have notbeen covered by these maps.

These maps are used for townplanning and also valuable inhelping to determine the valueof insurance premiums onproperties against flooddamage.

H.E Inspector General Police Chairman

Asst. IGDY. Chairman

Their Excellencies Ministers &Undersecretaries

CoordinatorDirector Executive Office

Interior Health TransportCommunication

Social Development

Education Information Regional Municipal

Finance

Housing Electricity & Water

TradeIndustry

Oil Gas

SQU MuscatMunicipality

DhofarMunicipality

Armed Forces

DGCD

Establishment of National Committee for Civil Defense (NCCD)

NCCD Members

13

NCCD Strategic Goals

Establish effective network of local,

regional and international

contacts and relief agencies

Establish Effective National Disaster

Communication Structure

Ensure all major organisations have effective well-practised

Emergency Plans in place