Raafat Misak, Hamdy El-Gamily & Ali Al Dousari

International Workshop: Towards an Implementation Strategy for the HIMA Governance Systems

KISR, Kuwait, 3-5 Dec.2012

Managing Natural Hazards in HIMA ( The Case of Kuwait)

Outline

Natural Hazards in Kuwait.

Characterization and Prioritization of Natural Hazards in

Kuwait.

Case Study : Managing Flash Floods in Sabah Al Ahmad

Nature Reserve.

Conclusions & Recommendations.

Natural Hazards

Meteorological : Drought, Sand and Dust Storms (dust storm of 25 March 2011)

Hydrological : Flash Floods (1993, 1997, 2004,2007, 2009 & 2012)Geophysical : low magnitude seismic waves.Oceanographic : Fish kill (1999 & 2001)

Common Natural Hazards in Kuwait ( Feb., 1993 - Nov. , 2012)

Drought ( 2007/2008, 2008/2009 , 2009/2010 & 2010/2011 )Dust and sand storms (July- August 2007, 25 March 2011 & June 2012)Flash flooding ( February 1993, November 1997, January 2004, Jan. 2007, Dec.2009 & November 2012)

Wadi Al Batin, 2010 Raudtain , Nov. 2012

Floods of 26 November 2012 (Shuwaikh)

Abdaly Road, Friday, 30 Nov. 2012, 3 pm

Floods of 26 November 2012, Abdaly Road, 20 km from Iraqi Border Friday, 30 Nov. 2012, 3 pm

Prioritization of Weather- Related Hazards in Kuwait

First priority : Dust and sand storms.

Second priority : Droughts.

Third priority : Flash floods.

Frequency & Impact of Weather Related Hazards in Kuwait

Crises Frequency Impact Total score Remarks

Dust and sandstorms 5 4 9

last from few hours to more than 24 hours

Drought2 5 7 Several years

Flash floods 2 2 4 Last few hours

Details of score for frequency & impact of Weather Related Hazards

Score Frequency Impact Remarks

5 Very high (several days/ month)

Affect 100% of Kuwait

Severe dust storms affect the whole country

4 High (monthly) Affect 50- 75% of Kuwait

3 Moderate (at least once/year) Affect 25- 50 % of Kuwait

2 Low (every 5-7 years)

Affect less than 25% of Kuwait

1 Very low (decades) Affect small spots (5-10% of Kuwait)

Facts & Figures on floods in Kuwait

Destructive Floods occur during heavy rainstorms with rainfall amounting 30-40mm in one storm lasting 4-6 hours.

Parts of Kuwait were subjected to flash floods during 2nd February 1993 (40mm within 6-8 hours), 11th November 1997 (105 mm within 4-6 hours), January 2004, January 2007, April 2008, December 2009 and November 2012.

The flash floods cause intensive damage to the physical infrastructures such as roads, fences, water wells, oil facilities and others.

During floods traffic problems, ground collapses and death cases were reported, e.g., 11th November 1997.

Two Remarkable Flood Events

November 1997 : 105 mm within 4-6 hours (largest amount of rainfall in one day during 41 years (Al Sabah and Borbia, 1998)

2 February 1993 : 40 mm within 6-8 hours : Declaration of Jahra City as an area of Natural Disasters

Main Watershed Areas in Kuwait

Jal Az zour Dissected Hilly Terrain (about 145m above sea level)Al Rukham (100 m above sea level) Jal Al Liyah (about 100m above sea level)Ahmadi Ridge (about 137m above sea level) Hills of Wadi Al Batin (about 220m above sea level).Ritqa-Abdaly (80-100m above sea level)

Jal Az Zour Catchment

Jal Az Zour Watershed

Water Divide

Drainage Basins in Kuwait (Kwarteng, 2000 & Misak, 2011)

Kwarteng, 2000

Areas at Risk of Flash Floods in Kuwait

Urban Areas Parts of Al Jahra City. several areas in and around Kuwait City.Ahmady – Fahahel Stretch including Shouaiba Industrial Area.Umm Al Haiman settlement , south east Al Ahmadi (Ali Subah Al Salem City)

Desert Areas Wadi Al Batin , western part of Kuwait.Ritqa –Abdaly Stretch.Northern parts of Kuwait Bay.Other areas.

Flood Event : 26 Nov. 2012 Ritqa- Abdaly

High water mark

Managing Flash Floods in Sabah Al Ahmad Nature Reserve (SANR)

Why ??? How ???

Watersheds of SANR

Main : Jal Az zour Hilly Terrains (100-120 m above sea level)

Secondary : Terraces , cliffs and isolated hills (40-60 m above sea level )

Urban watershed (Human made): Roads and road embankments (10 – 20 m above sea level)

Urban Watershed

Hydrographic Basins of SANR

Exterior : Wadis (dry water courses)

Interior : closed basins (Playas)

Urban wadis : associated with human pressure and off road traffic.

Effective Wadis : headwaters start at Jal Az Zour main escarpment and the wadis drain in the coastal plain

Managing flash floods WHY ???

To control soil erosion by runoff.

To protect plant species such as Haloxylon salicornicum and wildlife habitats.

To minimize local sources of dust.

To protect infrastructures such as fences and roads.

Soil Erosion by runoff water (Western Part of Jal Azour water shed , March 1997)

At least 8 cubic meters of good soil was lost in one storm.

No soil recovery under the prevailing conditions.

Sole practical solution : water and soil conservation.

ا

Eastern Part of the Desert Sector of SANR, June 2012

Flood Deposits

Flood Direction

Cut in the fence of Sabah Al Ahmad Nature Reserve (30 Nov.2012)

فيضي مخروطAlluvial Cone

السيول جرفتها رمالOut-washed Sands

سم 50

Micro-catchment

Cone

Rills

Umm Al Rimmam Depression

11 November 1997

Managing flash floods HOW ???

Applying passive water harvesting with minor active harvesting techniques.

Passive water harvesting : Cost effective & environmentally sound.

Approaches of water harvesting

Passive Systems that slow flood water, allowing it to seep into the soils.

Active

Storing water in aboveground or belowground tanks. Dams & cisterns. Ribbing & Pitting

Treated Water Reservoir

Playa

Proposed Passive Measures

`

Dry water pond

Falling Dunes

Rill

Falling Dunes

Cliff

Watershed

Water Divide

Proposed Passive Measures

Dust and sand storms, droughts and flash floods are the most significant natural hazards in Kuwait.

Contingency plans for managing natural hazards are not yet completed.

Managing flash floods is essential. It starts with delineation of drainage basins using Arc GIS/high resolution satellite images and ends with contingency plan .In between there is an early warning system.

Passive measures of water harvesting is proposed .it is cost effective and environmentally friendly.

Conclusions & Recommendations

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Thank You for Attention