İbrahim GURER Professor, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey Hamza OZGULER

1. BALWOIS CONFERENCE ON WATER AND INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR DECISION SUPPORT 25-29 May 2004 Ohrid, Macedonia FLOOD DISASTERS IN TURKEY A Case Study: RECENT FLOOD DISASTERS AT NORTH WESTERN BLACK SEA REGION OF TURKEY İbrahim GURER Professor, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey Hamza OZGULER Hydrological Expert, State Hydraulic Works (DSI), Ankara, Turkey

2. representation of flood causes Source: TEFER Project Document damage level

3. Meteorological causes of floods in Turkey heavy rainfall on the costal areas of the northern, southern and western parts of Anatolia a sudden increase in air temperature, resulting in snow melt in the eastern and mountainous part of southeastern Anatolia 22 floods and 19 deaths per year on average

4. Social causes of floods • unsuitable planning and mismanagement practice. • selection of flood-exposed sites for industrial and settlement purposes deforestation has left many steep hillsides bare, causing landslides growing population pressures have led many people to settle on vulnerable flood plains and hillsides. Bartin, 1998

5. Flood management measures in Turkey • Structural protection measures against flood control: • reforestation; land improvement • multi-purpose reservoirs • dikes • levees • channel improvements • other river training structures • As non-structural measures: • real time data collection • early flood warning systems • education and information transfer

6. Administrative structure in flood management

7. The case study:flood in Black Sea region (19-21 May 1998) life loss (30 people), damage to major infrastructures a lot of settlements, many buildings (500 houses) and substructures (1900 kms of highways and the 103 bridges, 6900 culverts, 13800 m retaining wall) agricultural land areas (35000 km2) were flooded.

8. the hydro-meteorological characteristics of flood, 19-21 May 1998 av : 60 mm rainfall June April May flood of 19-21 May 1998 duration: 3 days total : 160 mm 460 m3/s Run-off

9. Physical features of the flood prone region • Most of the drainage areas of the rivers in the project area • are featured by short main courses, • their steep slopes • the tributaries have river bed slope bigger than % 2 at upper reaches. • the large amount of erosion and debris materails dragged by the flowing water and deposited in the flatter low lying areas. • the main use of the water in the region is for irrigation. At the outlet of the rivers to the Black Sea, there is limited navigational use.

10. Non-structural solution for the case study area: TEFER (Turkey Emergency Flood and Earthquake Recovery) real time hydrometric data hydrologic organization (DSI) flood warning radar weather data meteorological organization (DMI)

11. System components of TEFER 129 automatic real-time hydrometric, 206 automatic real-time meteorological and 3 radar stations (Doppler)

12. Flood management coverage areas in TEFER (I. Phase: 1999 - 2004) (II. Phase: 2004 - 2008)

13. Conclusions • Experiences gained show that structural measures are effective but too costly in reducing the risk of flood damages. • More importance should be given to non-structural measures, • modification of traditional land use, • updating building code guidelines and design standards, • early flood warning system based on real time data collection, • insurance and re-insurance in flood disasters • timely and effective emergency management supported by scientific and technical information needed for lowering the life and property losses; • to support research activities in this area • to disseminate the existing experiences and new techniques among the related people, so creation of public awareness

14. Thank you for your attention.