Here will be more oods. Be prepared

he number of people exposed to floods worldwide has increased by almost a quarter over the last two decades, according to an analysis of llite-based data by Columbia University’s Earth itute. The report, published in last week, three main findings. One, nearly 86 million ple, driven by economic necessity, moved to d-prone regions between 2000 and 2015. Two, majority of flood-prone countries are in South Southeast Asia. Three, most flood events were sed by excess rainfall. oods happen due to both heavier than normal fall, and the limited capacity of rivers, drainage water harvesting structures to discharge excess water. The climate crisis is causing disruptions onsoon patterns, and scientists warn that floods only become more frequent and powerful. To imise loss, planners need to combine traditional wledge (which saw floods as a natural process had to find ways to live with), robust data, and ovative strategies. onventionally, hard infrastructural solutions — h as embankments and dams — have been ular to reduce the impact of flooding. But there is a shift towards nature-based solutions due to r co-benefits. For example, while mangroves tect coasts, they also support fisheries and food urity, and act as a carbon sink. Cities are also ng out new methods such as developing a work of green areas, which can absorb excess er, and porous pavements to tackle urban ding. To reduce the impact of flooding, it is also ical to go back to basic practices: Plant more s, restore water bodies, improve soil cover with nts, and stop destroying and encroaching upon