Rain and Flood

It had been such a great frizzling hot topic on flood in Kuching recently. Seeing all are blogging on the flood how could I being left behind.. I grabbed the opportunity to get some analytical data from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) analyzed it and come out with a proper and yet easily understood data to share with all my readers since I could not proceed with my own things so I had been busy body to discuss on something regarding the hydrology. ‘I had been in a wrong field.. OMG!!!’ I could do better in other field but just not with anything to do with that little creature!!! Programming !!! &^%&#%$*#%.. Arrrrggg.. I’m an idiot in programming!!!

Ok start with proper information.

Oh well, it is really interesting when you read others blog where they start scolding and cursing the so call ‘big title man!’

Ermm.. I’m not siding anybody. Just sharing my point of view and exposing who are the culprits behind all those happenings!

Oh well, for all the Sarawakians, for your information, Sarawak experiences 2 monsoons yearly. The famous one is the North East Monsoon which occurs in between November and February and thus together bringing the blessing of the heaven – heavy rain! Thus cause flooding to the low-lying areas and natural floodplains along many rivers and even some urban areas. (As most of you had experienced recently!) That is the effects of the North East Monsoon. The ‘darling’ that brought all the water here..

According to the Hydrological year book, the annual average rainfall could achieve above 3,000 millimeters! Could you imagine the amount of rainfall? Think of you earning RM 250 per day (10cent coins) for a year!!! How rich you would be!!! ** haha.. that is the amount of water that Sarawak receives each year.

Then due to the vast development.. bla.. bla.. bla.. (general knowledge!) I suppose all of you know! The reduction of the size of catchment area causing the water to flow directly into the river thus overflowing it! Besides the impervious surfaces (road surface, building… things that waters could not infiltrate through it) of the city also causes reduction in the water infiltration into the ground. The high velocity of the water flow washes into the drain together with all the dirt. Imagine, before you swallowed the food in your mouth, you were stuffed another 2-3 big scoops of rice again! Wouldn’t you get choke? The same theories apply to the river! Though barrage was build years ago, barrage is supposed to control the flow of the water. It is good news especially for those villagers whom experienced flood during every full moon. Is not for the purpose to STOP flooding! I repeat is to mitigate flooding NOT to stop flooding!

Back to serious business..

I grab some of the data from the DID website the amount of the rainfall and also the water level in some of the stations dated from the 10^th to the 13^th Jan 2009. I personally felt that DID had done a good job in providing the data to acknowledge the citizen to realize the rainfall and water level condition so that they could be prepared if there were greater ‘event’ that were yet to come.

10th Jan

11th Jan

12th Jan

13th Jan

From the 10^th of Jan, we could see the amount of rainfall which is in alarming condition. However is not for the water level. This is because the rainfall took time to flow as well.. Heavy downpour from the 10^th to 11^th caused the water level to rise tremendously on the 11^th and the 12^th of Jan in few locations. As most of the bloggers discussed the flood is serious in Buan Bidi, Bogak, Belimbing, Batu Kitang, Sg. Maong, Satok, Batu Kawa, Sadong, Siniawan, Siburuh, Segubang, Krusin, Serian and Bau.

Thank God that the rain ceased on the 12^th and the 13^th of Jan. Eventually, the water level dropped.

I wonder would the condition of the flood be better? This is because rain starts again! Chinese New Year in rain!!! Water, ‘Shui’.. ‘Money’ in Hokkien.. haha.. Oh well, Kuching bloggers.. Cheers for the day!

*Sorry the images is too small. I don't know how to make it larger and clearer..