Flash flooding submerges a street in Looe, Cornwall, on October 28, 2023 (Picture: SWNS)
Exacerbated by climate change, flash floods can be deadly – just like in Dubai a few weeks ago and now in northeast Italy.
Nature’s power has been witnessed in full force in the region of Friuli, which borders Austria, where floods have caused chaos in the past two weeks.
A tragic video showed three friends, who had been taking a stroll along Natisone River, near Udine, holding tight to each other before being swallowed up by surging waters.
They were last seen alive on Friday, and two bodies have been discovered since, less than a mile from where they were seen clutching one another in their final moments.
Members of the emergency services help local residents to safety in Brechin, Scotland, as Storm Babet battered the country on October 20, 2023 (Picture: PA)
Mayor Michele De Sebata expressed his condolences for the trio who were trapped in an ‘unpredictable situation’.
He said they arrived when it was sunny, and couldn’t have known what was about to happen.
Mr De Sebata said the river can change quickly and ‘it only took minutes’ for the tragedy to unfold.
As such catastrophic events become more frequent, it is crucial to know how to stay safe during a flash flood.
What is a flash flood?
Flash flooding happens when rain falls so fast that the underlying ground cannot cope, or drain it away fast enough, according to the Met Office.
Generally, floods take hours or even days to develop, giving people enough time to evacuate, but flash floods come with little warning.
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A stream or a river can overflow, causing a flash flood, just like it did on Friday in northern Italy, a devastating example of its destructive power.
Such floods often erode soil, leaving buildings vulnerable to collapse.
Roads can become like rivers and if there is a lot of water, it can even carry cars away. Entire areas are often seen blanketed in mud in the aftermath.
Flash floods are exacerbated by factors like deforestation, poor drainage systems, and urbanisation.
Why are flash floods so dangerous?
Fast rising water means people have little time to escape from flash floods.
Powerful currents can sweep away almost everything in their path: humans, animals, even buildings.
Floodwater surrounding a van in a residential street in Wraysbury, west of London on January 9, 2024 (Picture: AFP)
Flash floods often occur in areas that are not typically prone to such weather anomalies, catching people off guard. This was the case in Dubai, where flash flooding caused apocalyptic scenes just a few weeks ago.
Fast-moving water can also scoop up debris, injuring people along the way.
From 2010 until 2020, at least 36 people were killed in flash flooding in England and Wales.
And in January 1953, more than 2,000 people drowned, when the greatest surge on record happened in the North Sea.
How to prepare for a flash flood in the UK
A car left abandoned under a flooded railway bridge in Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, on October 7, 2023 (Picture: PA)
Flash flooding can happen anywhere, at any time. But it is important to know that in the UK, the risk is higher during the summer.
Long before such an event, people should have a plan in place. It may seem like overkill, but it could save your life.
Official government advice says there are a few things that should be done in preparation for the worst.
These include signing up to Met Office weather warnings; insulating documents and valuables from water damage; knowing how to turn off water, gas and electricity supply quickly; having insurance that covers flooding.
It is also vital to prepare a ‘go bag’. The kit should include items such as medicine and all prescriptions needed, warm and waterproof clothing, a phone charger, a torch, and important paperwork like birth certificates and passports.
Being prepared is often what saves lives, particularly in the aftermath of a flood.
Cars are abandoned in the Pentagon area of Derby after the River Derwent burst its banks during storm Babet on October 21, 2023 (Picture: Getty)
What to do during a flash flood in the UK
This is everything that the government advices people to do in case of a flash flood.
Act – if water starts entering your home, move yourself, your family and pets away from danger.
If you live in a basement or ground floor flat, you could escape to the neighbour’s on a higher level.
It is vital to turn off electricity, gas and water if safe to do so. Do not drive through flood waters, just one foot of water can be enough to move a car and beneath the water may be hidden hazards.
A woman battling a flooded street in Midleton, Co Cork on October 18, 2023 (Picture: PA)
Survive – call 999 if there is an immediate threat to life. Emergency services can help if you need to evacuate your home.
Your local council will have more instructions on what to do and where to go in an emergency including possible temporary shelters.
If you have to leave your home, remember to tell family, friends and carers where you are going and if you are in receipt of a care package, please let your provider know where you have gone.
What is the most recent flash flood in the UK?
In the summer of 2021, London was devastated by severe flash flooding after days of thunderstorms.
At its heaviest, a month’s rain fell on some parts of the capital in just one hour.
The London Fire Brigade said it had taken about 300 calls – mostly about flooded basements or roads – in just one afternoon. More than 2,000 were flooded by the end.
As a result, many people had to seek shelter elsewhere as stormwater and sewage had broken into their homes.
London has seen isolated incidents of flash floods since, but not on the same level of severity like in 2021.
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