1931 China Flood: Overuse of the Land and Nature's Rage

Personal Interest

This topic is interested to me because I heard about this disaster from my grandmother since I was little, but because of the lack of technology back then, I did not get to the bottom of it.

Justification

"How does your topic relate to the course"?

The 1931 China Flood is related to this course because at that time, many people of china were living next to rivers, and this was a huge issue because they are highly susceptible to rising sea levels. Many parts of the world are vulnerable to floods. This is partly due to outdated drainage system and aggressive weathers. When flood occurs, it almost always results in both population and economic damage.

"How does your research examine risk and vulnerability specifically"?

In order to do so, one can look at events that occurred recently and compare the population damage and economic damage between developed and under-developed countries. In doing so, risks can be evaluated and vulnerability can be estimated by the measures to prevent floods.

Cause of the Flood

One cause of this disaster was because the agriculture advanced in China in the 1930s caused farmers to overuse the land and cut down forests, which was used to regulate rivers. This, combined with the heavy snow in the winter and heavy rain in the spring, brought the disaster to the people. Moreover, back then, China was going through rebellions after rebellions, which caused a lack in monitoring the rivers. In addition, people in China then had lived next to rivers, such as the yangtze river, for centuries due to the easy access to water, which amplifies the damage it otherwise would have done. Because of this damage, an estimate of 37 million people were killed and China suffered over 100 billion dollars.

Research Questions

• What are the factors that cause floods to occur?
• What are the aftermaths?
• How does the economic damage caused by floods compared to the cost of investing in research about climate change?

Annotation Source One:

Although Guangzhou's economy is growing at a fast pace, and it's becoming a place that attracts tourists, its vulnerability to floods is still relatively high. This is because they are vulnerable to the sea and the rising sea level as they are relying on the Pearl River Delta. Furthermore, because of their incredible growth, they are more vulnerable to climate change as a result of deforestation and heavy CO2 emission. This results in them being extremely vulnerable to heavy rains.

This contributes to my overall understanding of the topic because it shows that even developed cities are vulnerable to floods. Also, as we humans do more damage to the nature, it will strike back.

Citation:

Web@tourism-review.org, T. (n.d.). Guangzhou facing the danger of RISING WATER: .TR. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://www.tourism-review.com/travel-tourism-magazine-guangzhou-facing-the-danger-of-rising-water-article2678

Annotation Source Two:

Mumbai suffered a heavy rain fall between the month of July and August during the pandemic year, 2020. The recorded rain fell during that time was 82.5 inches, with the highest recorded rain fell in a single day at more than 13 inches. This was only second to the record since July 5, 1974. This unfortunate event occurred because of the city's 140 years old drainage system. Moreover, this was designed when the expected population was way less than what it is today; thus, it further increases the vulnerability to floods.

This contributes to my overall understanding of the topic because an outdated system cannot help much against hazards.

Citation:

Cappucci, M. (2020, August 08). Devastating monsoon Flooding strikes mumbai, a City gripped by the coronavirus pandemic. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/08/07/mumbai-india-monsoon/

Annotation Source Three:

Due to climate change, the $1 trillion economy in Florida can be in danger. According to new model from Resources for the Future, 100 years floods can now occur as often as every few years, and Miami will become "the most vulnerable major coastal city in the world". This is shocking because the $1 trillion economy will be attacked by coastal flooding and sea levels. This is a direct effect of climate change. While it does cost a lot to address climate change, not addressing it costs even more as in the end, it will be more than money as cost, but the future of humanity.

This contributes to my overall understanding of the topic because there are many ways to increase our vulnerability to floods. If climate change is not addressed, the vulnerability of not just floods, but also many hazards will likely increase, and the cost to fix all of these will be way more expensive than climate change.

Citation:

Cusick, D. (2020, February 04). Miami is the "Most vulnerable" coastal city worldwide. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/miami-is-the-most-vulnerable-coastal-city-worldwide/

Annotation Source Four:

This year, according to First Street Foundation, the economic damage caused by floods can reach 20 billion dollars, and by 2051, it can cost up to an estimate of 32 billion dollars. In addition to the damage due to destruction, high vulnerability to floods can also decrease the demand for housing in certain areas, which will hurt the real estate market. For instance, approximately 4.3 million houses from Florida, California, South Carolina, and Texas are vulnerable to or have suffered from flood damage. Flood insurance for such houses are ought to be more expensive due to the fact that they are highly vulnerable.

This contributed to my overall understanding of the topic because it helps me understand that floods can cause more than just physical damage or property damage. With the higher insurance on the house and the high vulnerability to floods, it will be difficult to live in or to sell it.

Duguid, K. (2021, February 22). Cost of flood damage to U.S. homes will increase by 61% in 30 years. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/cost-flood-damage-us-homes-will-increase-by-61-30-years-2021-02-22/. 

Annotation Source Five:

In addition to economic damage and property damage, there is also emotional damage. The traumatic experience that one suffered could very well change the rest of the their life, such as developing PTSD or losing a loved one. There could also be permanent damage left from poisoning or lack of care after the flood. These damages, unlike economic damage, may never recover.

This contributed to my overall understanding of the topic because the floods can take away more than just one's property; it can take away one's loved ones, spirit, or even the will to live.

Smith, F. (2019, November 22). How Are People Affected by Floods? Sciencing. https://sciencing.com/how-are-people-affected-by-floods-12510012.html. 

Annotation Source Six:

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck, an author that was in China during the 1931 floods, reveals some horrifying stories about the aftermath of the flood. One story is about a family where the mother barely sleeps because she wakes up frequently to check on her five children. The reason for that is not because of the dangerous environment, but it's because the father would leave with two of their children and come back alone. The implication of this story is obvious enough, but it is still heart-breaking to hear it. Another story, by missionary Reverend Bostock, claims that he have witnessed an elderly woman killing and consuming her own son, and when this act was discovered, the only remaining parts of her son were just the legs. Both of these stories shows that the horror of a disaster.

This contributed to my overall understanding of the topic because we can't say we truly understand a disaster without understanding the aftermath. I learn from this article shows that in difficult times, we cannot think rationally and will behave like animals, which adds severity to the already deadly disaster.

1931 China Floods. Great Disasters. (n.d.). http://www.greatdisasters.co.uk/1931-china-floods/. 

Annotation Source Seven:

During the first wave of the 1931 China flood, approximately 150,000 people drowned. The survivors, however, did not do much better as what awaits for them was more sufferings. The economic damage by the flood were equal to one and a half year's net income per family, and not only that, the flood also washed away most of the stored food, leaving the survivors with no belongings and no food to feed themselves. As a result, famine and malnutrition were eating away the survivors' health. The disease arise from the floods due to the destruction of any sanitation systems, as well as a concentrated population density, continued the horrible deeds of the flood.

This contributed to my overall understanding of the topic because it elaborates on why exactly floods are identified as a disaster. Even after fulfilling its purpose, the aftermath floods leave behind can still continues to haunt those who survived.

The 1931 Central China Floods. Chris Courtney. (2018, August 29). https://chriscourtneyhistory.wordpress.com/publications-2/gallery/. 

Annotation Source Eight:

In 1931, in addition to the flood destroying most of the communication devices and infrastructures, China was also in midst of domestic and international wars. Any help and donations that the Chinese government tried to ship had to first go through the Japanese Navy. This wasted a lot of time. As that wasn't troubling enough, even after they finished negotiating with the Japanese Navy, the food had to be shipped upstream where it could be attacked by bandits and/or communists. This delay caused much more unnecessary damage.

This contributed to my overall understanding of the topic because it shows how important support can be in times of crisis. If there weren't so much delay in the transportation of food, many lives could have been saved and many tragedies would just be stories.

Courtney, C. (n.d.). Contents. Disaster History. https://disasterhistory.org/central-china-flood-1931. 

Annotation Source Nine:

The 1931 China flood have impacted an estimate of 50 million people; this marks it as one of the greatest natural disaster of the twentieth century. However, most of the damage could have been preventing if it was monitored closely and practice flood-control measures. Sediments were accumulated in many areas of the Yangtze river, which is hazardous if not cleared often. However, China was at wars domestically and internationally. This made it difficult for China to relocate its sources.

This contributed to my overall understanding of the topic because sometimes we have to realize that a disaster is meant to happen. For instance, while it does seem that the Chinese government could have lessen the damage, the Chinese government really don't have the option too since they are facing not only domestic wars but also international wars. Whether if that justifies their option is up for interpretation.

A&E Television Networks. (2009, November 13). Yangtze River peaks in China. History.com. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yangtze-river-peaks-in-china. 

Annotation Source Ten:

The best way to control a disaster is to prevent it from happening. One preventative approach that can reduce the risk of flood are to take small measures to reduce the water flow. This will keep the sea level at check. Another approach is to not overwhelm the drainage system, and instead, let the ground absorb the water from the rooftop/driveway. England, after experiencing major damage in the Midlands, Wales and South Yorkshire by floods, decided to spend approximately $5.2 billion on flood defense over the next 5 years.

This contributed to my overall understanding of the topic because understanding how to prevent a disaster is, in my opinion, by far the most important theme in studying hazards and disasters. This is because any disaster can be a life-changing experience for one (mostly negative), no matter how easy it is to get out of it, and should therefore be prevented.

BBC. (2021, January 21). What's the best way to prevent flooding? BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-25929644.