Flood

lesson plan
The flood lesson plan provides teachers and
students with an opportunity to investigate how
floods occur and how to stay safe during a flood
through individual or classroom activities.

ITEMS

Teachers lesson plan Student assignments

About floods Real life stories

Floods: Be prepared Related links

Contents
Lesson plan 2

About floods 5

Floods: Be prepared 8

Student assignment: Flood map of Australia 11

Student assignment: Investigating floods 12

Student assignment: My flood project 14

Real life stories 16

Related links 20

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 Flood
lesson plan

This lesson plan provides teachers and students

with an opportunity to investigate how floods occur
and how to stay safe during a flood through
individual or classroom activities.

Objectives
LEARNING AREAS
Participating in this lesson will help students to: The learning areas for this lesson
plan include:
• understand how floods occur
• understand that there are different • Geography
levels/types of flooding and these have • History
varying impacts • Humanities and Social
Science
• recognise the various areas in Australia
• Maths
that have had major floods
• Science
• consider various flood management or
• Health and physical
prevention strategies. education
• The Arts
• English
• Technologies.

2
Required resources

• Computers with internet access

• Online maps or atlases
• Map of Australia activity sheet
• Investigating floods activity sheet
• lood project activity sheet

Lesson steps

Investigating floods
In small groups or individually, students to investigate floods and answer the questions on the
About Floods and Be Prepared pages are a good starting
point.

Map of Australia
Ask students to research then make a list of notable floods in Australia from 1970 to the present day.

to A3). Have students make some notes about each flood (such as cause, duration effects etc.).

Once all the locations are marked, ask students to identify any patterns in the data. Are there areas
that flood more often than others? Why do they think this is the case? In small groups, students to
work together to make a list of flood prevention strategies that could be helpful in flood-prone areas.

To extend their learning students could consider what other places (such as the Netherlands or
Venice) have done to manage or prevent flooding. Some places have been doing this for centuries.
Students could select one strategy (e.g. dykes or amphibious homes) and give a short presentation
explaining how it works.

My flood project

Flood history

lood project activity sheet. Students are to find out about the flood
history of their town or city by conducting research at the local library, on the internet or at their local

3
council. They will investigate whether a community flood plan exists and describe what it includes. If
there is no flood plan, they will need to decide if it is important to have one and what it would contain.

Predicting and explaining floods

Students are to visit the Bureau of Meteorology website www.bom.gov.au and

1 examine the rainfall maps. Using the Climate Data Online Section of the website, they
are to make a chart showing the monthly rainfall for the last six months in their
state/area.

Using their chart and a rainfall map for their area, students are to explain how and

2 when rainfall might cause floods in their community.

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About floods

Floods occur when water covers land that is

normally dry. They can be caused by prolonged or
very heavy rainfall, severe storms or tropical
cyclones, and the monsoonal (wet season) rains in
the tropics.

Other causes
include snow-melt
and dam failure.

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In the coastal regions of Australia, floods can also be caused by the sea. Seawater flooding can
happen during storm surges, king tides and tsunamis.

People who live in low-lying areas, or close to rivers, creeks or major stormwater drains are usually
most at risk from flooding. Heavy rains and storms in one area can cause flooding in another. When
the water level of local rivers and streams rises it can cause them to overflow, sometimes spilling out
over thousands of kilometres.

Flooding can be caused by a range of situations that include:

• Seawater flooding coastal areas may be flooded when a cyclone or severe storm causes a
surge of sea water.
• Tidal flooding floods that are caused by high tides that coincide with higher than normal
river levels.
• Run-off from rivers and dams flooding can be caused when river systems need to carry
more water than usual following a snow-melt or when dams start to overflow.
• Urban drainage flash flooding is a serious problem in some cities when the drainage
systems fail. People can be caught in stormwater drains, trapped in their cars or even swept
off the roads by water.

Is it always bad news?

Floods can have both positive and negative impacts. Sometimes floods can bring welcome relief for
people, livestock and areas experiencing drought conditions.

Flooding can also be a natural way for wetland areas,

swamps and native waterways to survive. Underground
aquifers and soils with high salt levels also benefit from
floods.

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Types of floods
There are three common types of floods that affect Australia:

Slow-onset floods

Inland rivers in the vast, flat areas of Western Australia, central/western New South Wales and
Queensland often flood. These floods may take days to build-up, but can last for weeks or even
months.

The damage caused by slow-onset floods includes:

• major loss of livestock
• rural towns being cut-off and isolated
• crop damage
• damage to roads and railways.

Rapid-onset floods

Rapid-onset flooding occurs more quickly than slow-onset flooding. Rapid-onset floods can be much
more damaging and pose a greater risk to loss of life and property because there is generally less
time to take preventative action from a faster, more dangerous flow of water. This type of flooding
can affect most of our major towns and cities.

Flash floods

Flash flooding results from relatively short, intense bursts of rainfall, often during thunderstorms. It
can occur in almost all parts of Australia and poses the greatest threat to life. People are often swept
away after entering floodwaters on foot or in vehicles. These floods can result in significant property
damage and major social disruption. They are a serious problem in urban areas where drainage
systems are often unable to cope with large amounts of water in a short time.

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Floods:
Be prepared

If your house is in a low-lying area or near a

watercourse (such as a lake, river, creek or drainage
system) it could be flooded. This guide lists simple
things that you and your family can do to stay safe
and protect your property.

Be prepared
Know your local flood history

Check with your local council or State and Territory Emergency Service about the following:

• What the terms major, moderate and minor flooding mean for your area.
• At what official river height would your home become isolated or inundated?
• Know your local flood plans and understand when you may need to evacuate and how to find
the nearest safe location.

When you hear a flood warning or if flooding appears likely

• Tune in to your local radio station and listen for warnings and advice.
• Check that your neighbours also know of the flood warning.

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 • Prepare to move vehicles, outdoor equipment, rubbish, chemicals and poisons to higher
ground.
• Plan which indoor items you will raise if water threatens to enter your home.
• Check your Emergency Survival Kit and remember your pets.

Act on flood warnings

When you hear a flood warning, you should:

• Stack your furniture and possessions above the likely flood-level. Make sure you have your
electrical equipment on top.
• Secure objects that could float in the flood water and cause damage.
• Move rubbish and chemicals (such as poisons or fuel) to a high and secure place.
• If you have a shop or commercial property, relocate stock and equipment to a higher position
away from the water.
• If you live on a farm, move livestock to high ground.
• Check your car and fill it with fuel.
• Check your emergency pantry list https://www.qld.gov.au/emergency/dealing-
disasters/emergency-pantry-list and prepare an emergency kit
https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/documents/112015/135368/Emergency+Toolkit-pdf/4f569017-
36e6-4cb1-982a-67003016699b
• Make sure you have plenty of fresh water.

During a flood
If you need to evacuate
You may be asked to evacuate, but if you plan to leave early make sure you tell the police or State
and Territory Emergency Service and your neighbours. In either case, you should take these actions:

• Pack warm clothing, essential medication, valuables, personal papers, photos and mementos
in waterproof bags, to be taken with your Emergency Survival Kit.
• Raise furniture, clothing and valuables onto beds, tables and into roof space (electrical items
highest).
• Empty freezers and refrigerators, leaving doors open (to avoid damage or loss if they float
about).
• Turn off electricity, water and gas.
• Take your mobile phone.
• Put sandbags in the toilet bowl and over all laundry/bathroom drain-holes to prevent sewage
back-flow.
• r pets.
• Lock your home and take the recommended evacuation routes for your area.

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 • Never drive into water of unknown depth and current.

If you need to stay

If you remain in your home or when you return take these precautions:

• Keep your Emergency Survival Kit safe and dry.

• Do not eat food which has been in contact with floodwater and boil all water until supplies
have been declared safe.
• Don't use gas or electrical appliances which have been flood affected until they have been
safety checked.
• Beware of snakes and spiders which may move to drier areas in your house.
• Avoid wading, even in shallow water as it may be contaminated.
• If you must enter shallow floodwater, wear solid shoes.
• Check with police for safe routes before driving anywhere and don't enter water without
checking depth and current.
• Keep listening to your local radio or TV station and follow all warnings and advice.

After a flood
Flood water can be extremely polluted. Follow these tips to reduce risk of injury, sickness or infection:

• Do not eat food which has been in contact with flood water.
• Boil all water until supplies have been declared safe.
• Do not handle wet electrical equipment.
• Avoid wading, even in shallow water as it may be contaminated.
• If you must enter shallow flood water, wear solid shoes or boots for protection.
• Beware of snakes and spiders which may move to drier areas in your house.

Check with police for safe routes before driving anywhere.

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 STUDENT ASSIGNMENT

Flood map
of Australia
Student name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date / /

Research to find out where major floods have

occurred from 1970 to the present day and mark
the locations on this map.

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 STUDENT ASSIGNMENT

Investigating floods
Student name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date / /

Use a variety of information sources to find out the

following about floods. Record your source/s.
How/why do floods occur?

Source/s:

Are there different types of floods? If so, how many and how do they differ?

Source/s:

Is there a difference in how much warning time we have for each type of flood?

Yes No

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What are the impacts of having varying warning times?

Source/s:

Apart from rainfall, what else can cause floods?

Source/s:

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 STUDENT ASSIGNMENT

My flood project

Your flood history

1 What is the flood history of your town or city? Use your library,
local council or the internet to find out.

2 Is there a flood plan for your community?

What is it?

3 should it include?

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Predicting and explaining floods
Visit the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/rain/index.jsp to
view examples of rainfall maps.

An example of this can

be seen in the image.

Make a chart of the monthly rainfall in your state/area for the last six months (you will find this in the

1
Check the rainfall deciles for your area. What sort of rainfall have you had over the
last six months (below average, average or above average)?

2
Use your chart, and a rainfall map for your area to explain how and when rainfall may
cause floods in your community.

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Real life
flood stories

Each year in Australia floods cause millions of

dollars damage.
Flooding affects buildings and critical infrastructure such as roads and railways as well as agricultural
land, livestock and crops.

Floods also cause major disruptions to business and can affect the health of communities.
Sometimes towns can be cut-off, resulting in people needing to be evacuated and emergency
services beginning relief efforts.

Community flood prevention and reduction

Many communities have flood prevention or reduction strategies such as:

• restricting the building of houses on floodplains

• use of dams
• building of levees and flood diversion devices
• flood-proofing homes
• raising homes and businesses in known flood areas.
• It is important to know your local flood history. Knowing your local flood plan, when you may
need to evacuate and how to get to your nearest safe location can save lives.

Flooding in Australia
Floodwaters can affect many Australian towns, areas and even cross borders. Here are some of

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 Queensland

🕐 DATE :
November 2010

In late November 2010, rain began falling in Queensland. On 25 December of the same year, Cyclone
Tasha crossed the northern Queensland coast and brought flooding to major river systems.

On 10 January 2011, a wall of water swept through Toowoomba, then travelled west, flooding the
towns of Oakey, Dalby, Chinchilla and Condamine for a second time, causing flooding through the
n, Grantham, Laidley, Lowood,
Fernvale and Forrest Hill. The floodwaters affected Brisbane River systems, reaching heights that
engulfed several towns and suburbs of Brisbane.

During January extensive flooding affected 75 per cent of the state and a disaster zone was
declared. Thirty-three people had lost their lives and approximately 3572 businesses were affected
by flood water.

There were 5900 people evacuated from 3600 homes. Commercial loss was approximately $4 billion
across the mining, agriculture and tourism sectors. Nineteen thousand kilometres of roads were
damaged. Three major ports were significantly affected. More than 28 per cent of the Queensland rail
network was left twisted and displaced. An estimated 28,000 homes needed to be rebuilt while vast
numbers of dwellings required extensive repairs.

A judicial inquiry into Queensland's floods started on 10 February 2011 and the final report was
published in March 2012.

The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 2011 damage at $2.38 billion.

Coffs Harbour, New South Wales

🕐 DATE :
25 November 1996

A devastating flash flood hit Coffs Harbour when 168mm of rain (and up to 300mm in the area) fell in
two hours on 25 November 1996.

Flash flooding

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The November 1996 flood caused widespread devastation to property located on low-lying land
beside the Coffs Creek. Around 260 residential homes and 200 commercial properties were flooded
above floor level during this flash flood.

Flood damage, injuries and deaths

One woman died when she was swept more than one kilometre from her home and into the sea. Over
500 homes and 100 businesses were damaged and 300 people were evacuated. The flood caused
extensive damage to roads and a natural disaster was declared with more than 800 properties flood
affected. Part of the local banana crop was also destroyed due to erosion and landslides. The damage
was estimated to be worth more than $140 million.

Mackay, Queensland

🕐 DATE :
February 2008

During the period 10 - 18 February 2008, a number of towns, including Townsville, Bundaberg,
Mackay, Rockhampton, Airlie Beach, Proserpine, Cooktown, Cairns and Ingham, were seriously
affected by severe weather. Heavy rainfall and flooding resulted in widespread damage. There was
damage to state infrastructure, buildings and houses, and in Mackay alone 4000 houses were
inundated with flood water. The agriculture and horticulture industries suffered heavy losses.

The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 2008 damage at $410 million.

The Great Floods New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria

🕐 DATE :
February 1990

The 1990 floods in eastern Australia were huge. The total area flooded was estimated to be more
than one million square kilometres. That

Rainfall, river systems and flooding

In central-northern New South Wales and central-southern Queensland, continual heavy rains partly
caused by cyclones, drenched the flat inland plains. Further torrential rainfall created almost instant
floods. Many rivers had already flooded once and were in flood again, this time at even higher levels.

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The flooded river systems around northern New South Wales and southern Queensland made flood
height prediction difficult. Residents of Nyngan, on the Bogan River, strengthened levee banks in
expectation of a record flood height, but the flood waters exceeded the levees. Nearly every building
in the town was flooded and almost 2500 people were evacuated, mainly by helicopters, under
emergency conditions as all town services were lost.

Flood damage, injuries and deaths

Across the three affected states, the Great Floods of 1990 claimed seven lives, caused 60 injuries
and left 5000 people temporarily homeless. The total estimated cost of these floods was $415 million
(1997 values). Most of this damage was insured.

Road and rail links were severed for a long time and many residents could not return to their home for
three weeks or more. A huge 'tent city' was established at the Charleville Airport after the hospital
was evacuated.

Brisbane, Queensland

🕐 DATE :
January 1974

This major flood was the result of heavy rains caused by Cyclone Wanda. Wanda crossed the
Queensland coast 150 kilometres north of Brisbane on 24 January 1974, and was weakening when
she caused minor wind damage, but five days of heavy rain in Brisbane.

Rainfall and record flooding

Before Cyclone Wanda came ashore, there was already some flooding in and around Brisbane.
Among the highest rainfall recordings were 1318mm (1.3 metres), whilst in Brisbane itself 819mm of
rain fell. Many houses that bordered rivers and creeks were washed away as rivers rose to their
highest levels since the disastrous 1893 floods.

Flood damage, injuries and deaths

During the 1974 floods, 16 people died, 300 people were injured, 8000 people were made homeless
and 56 homes were swept away. Approximately 1600 homes were submerged by the floodwaters.

At the height of the flood, ships were torn from their moorings. A large oil tanker on the Brisbane
River was damaged and the total damage bill was estimated to be around $980 million.

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Related links

http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/hazards/flood/basics/what

http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/hazards/flood

Bureau of Meteorology National Flood Warning

Services
http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/flood/

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 / End.
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience

ADDRESS CONTACT WEBSITE

370 Albert Street, East p : +61 3 9419 2388 www.aidr.org.au

Melbourne VIC 3002 e : [email protected]