FLOOD DISASTERS IN TURKEY A Case Study: RECENT FLOOD DISASTERS AT NORTH WESTERN BLACK SEA REGION OF TURKEY

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FLOOD DISASTERS IN TURKEY A Case Study
RECENT FLOOD DISASTERS AT NORTH WESTERN BLACK
SEA REGION OF TURKEY
BALWOIS CONFERENCE ON WATER AND INFORMATION
SYSTEM FOR DECISION SUPPORT 25-29 May 2004
Ohrid, Macedonia

• Ibrahim GURER
• Professor, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
• Hamza OZGULER
• Hydrological Expert, State Hydraulic Works (DSI),
  Ankara, Turkey

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representation of flood causes
Source TEFER Project Document
damage level
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Meteorological causes of floods in Turkey

• heavy rainfall on the costal areas of the
  northern, southern and western parts of Anatolia
• a sudden increase in air temperature, resulting
  in snow melt in the eastern and mountainous part
  of southeastern Anatolia

22 floods and 19 deaths per year on average
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Social causes of floods

• unsuitable planning and mismanagement practice.
  
• selection of flood-exposed sites for industrial
  and settlement purposes

• deforestation has left many steep hillsides
  bare, causing landslides
• growing population pressures have led many
  people to settle on vulnerable flood plains and
  hillsides.

Bartin, 1998
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Flood management measures in Turkey

• Structural protection measures against flood
  control
• reforestation land improvement
• multi-purpose reservoirs
• dikes
• levees
• channel improvements
• other river training structures
• As non-structural measures
• real time data collection
• early flood warning systems
• education and information transfer

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Administrative structure in flood management
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The case studyflood in Black Sea region (19-21
May 1998)

• life loss (30 people),
• damage to major infrastructures
• a lot of settlements, many buildings (500
  houses) and substructures (1900 kms of highways
  and the 103 bridges, 6900 culverts, 13800 m
  retaining wall)
• agricultural land areas (35000 km2) were flooded.

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the hydro-meteorological characteristics of
flood, 19-21 May 1998
av 60 mm
rainfall
June
April
May
flood of 19-21 May 1998 duration 3
days total 160 mm
460 m3/s
Run-off
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Physical features of the flood prone region

• Most of the drainage areas of the rivers in the
  project area
• are featured by short main courses,
• their steep slopes
• the tributaries have river bed slope bigger than
  2 at upper reaches.
• the large amount of erosion and debris materails
  dragged by the flowing water and deposited in the
  flatter low lying areas.
• the main use of the water in the region is for
  irrigation. At the outlet of the rivers to the
  Black Sea, there is limited navigational use.

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Non-structural solution for the case study area
TEFER (Turkey Emergency Flood and
Earthquake Recovery)
real time hydrometric data
hydrologic organization (DSI)
flood warning
radar weather data
meteorological organization (DMI)
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System components of TEFER
129 automatic real-time hydrometric, 206
automatic real-time meteorological and 3 radar
stations (Doppler)
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Flood management coverage areas in TEFER
(I. Phase 1999 - 2004)
(II. Phase 2004 - 2008)
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Conclusions

• Experiences gained show that structural measures
  are effective but too costly in reducing the risk
  of flood damages.
• More importance should be given to non-structural
  measures,
• modification of traditional land use,
• updating building code guidelines and design
  standards,
• early flood warning system based on real time
  data collection,
• insurance and re-insurance in flood disasters
• timely and effective emergency management
  supported by scientific and technical information
  needed for lowering the life and property losses
  
• to support research activities in this area
• to disseminate the existing experiences and new
  techniques among the related people, so creation
  of public awareness

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Thank you for your attention.