EDITORIAL: Flooding an issue to be tackled

According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), flooding as an extreme event has become progressively evident in the Caribbean sub-region, as a result of an increased number of intense rainfall events and storm surges from hurricanes and we can add, bad weather in general.

ECLAC, in a publication of a study entitled “An economic analysis of flooding in the Caribbean: The case of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago” issued late last year, points out that such events in turn have been linked to the impacts of global climate change, which has been shown to be the cause for several specific events, including sea-level rise, global temperature rise, ocean warming and acidification, and the melting of glaciers. Additionally, in the specific instance of the Caribbean sub-region, flooding events often result in significant disruptions of economic and social life.

Here in Barbados, we can all agree that when flooding occurs, it is quite disruptive to some communities, which have long had to battle with this re-occurring problem. Residents are at times displaced and they usually have to count their losses after the impending bad weather passes. In some instances, businesses are affected as well.

Just this week, the Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) advised that a flood watch was in effect. A flood watch, the BMS said, is issued when conditions are favourable for flooding within the next 36 hours, but does not mean that flooding will occur, but rather it is possible. It was said that maximum rainfall accumulations of 100.0 to 150.0 mm in heavy showers were forecasted for Thursday, October 1, 2020 and isolated higher amounts of 150 to 200 mm were possible during that time. These excessive amounts of rainfall accumulation could likely present life-threatening floods, the BMS meanwhile indicated. The BMS added that a tropical wave in conjunction with a favourable upper level environment was expected to produce unsettled conditions across the island.

Residents and visitors were advised to monitor the situation closely as occasional showers and thunderstorms were set to occur. The BMS also indicated that residents and visitors should note that the following impacts were possible during the watch period – significant runoff from higher elevations, significant soil erosion was likely on exposed or scarred land surfaces, large water settlements on roads and fields, significant adjustments to water levels of existing water bodies (ponds, etc.) and persons could expect significant delays on traffic routes with some roads possibly becoming impassable. It was also noted that large objects or debris from higher elevations may have also become embedded within fast-moving water flows and significant flooding at the foot of hillsides and coastal roads was possible.

Though we were spared from most of these outcomes, we can see the potential threats from excess rainfall and flooding. That said, more must be done to ensure that a strategic plan is put in place to deal with the issue of flooding in Barbados, especially in flood-prone areas. There is no one single best approach to tackle the issue, but we cannot have the same scenarios repeating themselves, each and every time a potentially bad weather system approaches or excess rainfall is expected. We do need the rain, but not at our expense.