Resource manual on flash flood risk management module 2: non-structural measures

Frequent flash floods in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region pose a severe threat to life, livelihoods and infrastructure, both within the mountains and downstream. They tend to carry with them much higher amounts of debris which can cause damage to hydropower stations, roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure.

This manual aims to build the capacity of district-level disaster mitigation and relief workers, professionals from community-based and non-governmental organisations such as hydrologists, meteorologists, and engineers. This module focuses on technology-based, non structural measures for managing floods.

Chapters in this manual cover the following areas: 

• introduction to the natural setting of the region including topology, geology and climatic systems 
  
• the three major types of flash floods which occur in the region supplemented by examples and case studies 
  
• how to assess flash floor risks 
  
• general non structural flash flood risk management measures such as risk acceptance measures, risk reduction, integrated flash flood management and mitigation strategies 
  
• insights into some hazard-specific flash flood management measures such as rainfall measurement, flood routing, landslide hazard assessment and early warning systems, risk mapping

Module 1 focusing on community-based management can be linked to under further information.

Annexes including hazard, vulnerability and risk analysis, application of GIS to flood hazard mapping, a training manual on flash flood modelling and an inventory of glaciers and glacial lakes are available on an accompanying CD-Rom. Please contact ICIMOD directly for more information.