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 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
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SQU MuscatMunicipality
DhofarMunicipality
Armed Forces
DGCD
Establishment of National Committee for Civil Defense (NCCD)
NCCD Members