“Many people have described flooding as a kind of bereavement … recent decorations and improvements, wedding photos, treasured family heirlooms or mementos, school projects – all washed away forever and sometimes in a matter of minutes.”
This natural phenomenon is becoming an ever more common occurrence these days, devastating not only communities but also severely damaging and straining their economies. Flooding has a wide range of intricate economic repercussions in several economic sectors. Therefore, concerted national and local efforts are required to help lessen the effects of the floods and prevent future flooding.
First and foremost, the primary economic concern is property damage. Flash floods and floodwater can destroy homes, businesses, and local infrastructure leading to financial setbacks. Apart from the costs of repairs and reconstruction, there are long-term implications such as decreased property values and internal immigration. “The water and debris broke windows all along the main part of downtown, in shops, the town dental office, churches – nothing was spared. Like many other communities in the region, there isn’t any clean, running water,” CNN reporters commented on the Letcher County, Kentucky August 2022 flood.
The disruption of business can have a negative spiraling effect on the economy. Small businesses may find it hard to overcome this obstacle resulting in job losses and reduced consumer spending. Agricultural areas suffer crop destruction and livestock casualties impacting both local and global food production. “I don’t think we have realized the magnitude of this disaster yet,” said Prof Efthymios Lekkas, Greece’s leading natural disaster expert, told state-run TV about the Thessaly 2023 flood, “the agricultural production isn’t destroyed just for this year. The thick coat of silt means the land is no longer fertile,” he said of a region famed for being one of Greece’s main breadbaskets.
Additionally, another sector which often suffers from the consequences of flooding is tourism with major landmarks and attractions impaired and/or with limited access. This can lead to reduced income for businesses and governments exacerbating the economic strain bilaterally. “Tourism enterprises in Thessaly, hit by Storm Daniel, will need more than a year to recover losses and restore damage. The businesses are in an extremely unfavorable situation as the disasters caused by the bad weather have resulted in zero tourism. The viability of local businesses is particularly serious and urgent,” said the Federation of Hellenic Associations of Tourist & Travel Agencies (FedHATTA) President Lysandros Tsilidis.
Investments are required to repair infrastructure, implement flood prevention measures, and provide support to affected businesses and individuals. Collaboration among government entities, private businesses, non-profit organizations, and communities is crucial to facilitate recovery efforts and enhance resilience against flood occurrences.
The economic impact of a flooded region is, without a doubt, a far-reaching and complex issue calling for national and regional plans to reduce damages and facilitate recovery. In hard times, societies can rebuild healthy economies by understanding the ramifications of flooding and working together. “The unprecedented and devastating flooding has unveiled the harsh realities of climate change, claiming lives and displacing communities. As these individuals face the daunting task of rebuilding, their vulnerability only deepens,” said Rana Jaber, Regional Director, of East and Horn of Africa.
In closing, as Desmond Tutu so poignantly stated, “We must act now and wake up to our moral obligations. The poor and vulnerable are members of God’s family and are the most severely affected by droughts, high temperatures, the flooding of coastal cities, and more severe and unpredictable weather events resulting from climate change. We, who should have been responsible stewards preserving our vulnerable, fragile planet home, have been wantonly wasteful through our reckless consumerism, devouring irreplaceable natural resources.”
It’s therefore time to act. For this reason, we are glad to be part of this Flood Stopping project, striving to make our small but essential contribution to adapting and mitigating the climate crisis that affects us all, especially future generations that need to be equipped with all the possible instruments for facing these challenges. Schools play a pivotal role in this effort, and we are proud not to be alone in this complex fight that needs to be faced collectively, all together.
St. Joseph Greek French High School, Athens
Eleni Samiou, Melpomeni Tagiou