Causes of floods in the Far East

In the middle of summer of 2013, the Far East suffered catastrophically terrible floods. At this time, the floods in the Far East led to a flow of water in the Amur at a rate of 46 thousand m3 / s. For comparison, the norm is the consumption in the range of 18-20 thousand m3 / s. This phenomenon broke all records and became the largest for 115 years of observations. The main reason for the flood is considered to be intense rainfall over a long period of time.

Flooded Russian Amur Region

Floods in the Far East of Russia were mainly affected by three regions: the Amur Region, the Khabarovsk Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region. In these areas, a huge number of agricultural land, a total of ten billion rubles. Surplus water completely flooded reservoirs belonging to Bureyskaya and Zeyskaya HPP. The floods began in late August, and on August 30 the region was visited by Russian President Vladimir Putin. During his visit, he personally inspected the flooded area from the helicopter and examined the reports of the heads of the affected regions. Based on the results of the information received, Vladimir Vladimirovich freed from all powers Viktor Ishayev, the president's representative in the Far Eastern District. August 7 emergency mode was introduced in five regions of the Far East: Yakutia, the Amur Region, Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Republic.

Consequences in the Amur Region

One hundred and twenty-six settlements populated the Amur region. Eight thousand houses were flooded, leaving 36,339 people homeless, ten thousand of whom were children. Twenty thousand vegetable gardens and suburban areas were also flooded. The emergency regime was held in the Amur Region for more than a year, from July 23, 2013 to October 1, 2014. After the start of measures to evacuate the victims, more than one hundred and twenty thousand people received help.

The Suffering of Khabarovsk

The year of floods in the Far East stretched like an eternity. The life of the residents of the Khabarovsk Territory became agonizing. On September 14, 77 flooded settlements were registered here. Including three thousand apartment houses, in which lived 35 thousand people. In Khabarovsk, the water level rose for thirteen days without stopping. Initially, it was 716 cm, which is 116 cm above the critical mark and 74 cm above the record level. By August 31, the level was fixed at 784 cm, September 1 792 cm, and 4 already 80 cm. The decrease was noticed only on September 5.

The first reason is the blocking anticyclone

The first most important and significant cause of flooding in the Far East was the anomalous changes in the circulation process in the air masses in the southern part of Siberia and the Far East. This imbalance has led to the formation of protracted cyclones with high power. For a better understanding of the situation, it is important to consider the humidity and temperature parameters in the flooded regions. So before the flood in the summer period over the northern territory of China, there was a high temperature regime accompanied by high humidity. At the same time over Yakutia was a low temperature with dry air. This situation arose because of the blocking anticyclone that appeared over the Pacific Ocean. This wave stopped a powerful cyclone above the Amulet. It was the blocking anticyclone that did not allow the cyclone to escape to the Sea of Okhotsk with the necessary speed. As a result, by July 2013, a fixed frontal zone was hanging over the Amur region. It was along it for two months alternately moved cyclones saturated with tropical moisture. This was the reason for the fall of the annual rainfall norm over the Amur and Jewish autonomous regions. As a result, there was a simultaneous activation of all flood areas, which led to a flood in the Far East. Earlier synchronous activation of all zones was not observed at once. In order to avoid flooding in the Far East, it is necessary first to flood the upper Amur and Burei, and later, around the end of August, to the Sungari and Ussuri.

The second reason is snowy winter

Within the Amur basin, there was an excessively snowy winter and a belated spring that triggered a flood in the Far East. These reasons do not seem so significant in their name, but their form has led to irreversible consequences. It was these factors that led to the flood in early July 2013, provided the soil is saturated enough with water in the range of 70-80%. There is a threat that this situation can take a permanent basis. A significant role was played by forest fires with deforestation. After all, it is the forest that is entrusted with the nature protection function, but, unfortunately, the Far East could count on this protective mechanism.

A terrible flood trail

In fact, six regions were affected by the flood, including the Amur and Magadan regions, the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, the Jewish Autonomous Region and the Republic of Sakha. The strongest blow fell on the Amur region. According to the Ministry of Emergencies, as a result, more than 8 million km2 of the total territory was flooded in the Far East. Water has flooded thirteen and a half thousand houses, one in five of them has become absolutely unfit for further living. One hundred and thirty-five thousand inhabitants of the Far East touched the disaster, thirty-two thousand were evacuated. The floods affected roads (1,600 km), bridges (174 pcs.) And social facilities (825 pcs.). For agricultural enterprises, the year was particularly unprofitable. The lack of the opportunity to procure a sufficient food base led to a hungry winter for cows and the lack of milk. Until 2013, floods in the Far East with such consequences were not observed.

Assistance in a difficult situation

Flooding in the Far East, a photo of which shocked millions of people, made us worried. The disaster can not be prepared, so flooding scared absolutely all the locals. Many people hastened to support the victims and help them. Flooding (the Far East) has left without a residence and means for existence a huge number of people. Humanitarian aid and funds for people affected by the floods were collected, it can be said, by the whole world. In this process, various enterprises, organizations, ordinary people from different regions of Russia, as well as foreign countries took part. At the beginning of September 2013, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus provided 43 tons of various canned food and baby food to the victims. A month later another delivery came from Belarus with the help of 100 tons of flour and 50 tons of stew. From St. Petersburg in late September, came 35 tons of food, clothing and bedding. Employees of UMMC of Sverdlovsk region collected 45 tons of humanitarian aid. Astrakhan policemen also did not remain indifferent and helped the affected money in the amount of 5.5 million rubles. Also 11 million rubles. Came from the Volgograd policemen. From the leadership of Niagara received a million yen to help flood victims in the Khabarovsk Territory. This, of course, is not all examples, at that time virtually everything was ready to help.