Back to table of contents 3.7 Environmental
impacts of floods
People interviewed in both NAO and Kamchatka flagged floods as a rather common and serious disaster. However, some thought that there were no serious impacts of floods because it was a natural phenomenon happening at the same time every year. A Nenets hunter from Bugrino said: �The bank always washes away. But it�s not caused by natural disasters. It happens all the time, water rises up to the bank�. A Koryak woman from Palana explained, �The landscape changes after the bad weather, especially after rains and stormy winds. I saw in Rekinniki the river change its bed. It either gets full during heavy rains or dries out. They usually change their beds every year. Also, landslides occur. When we lived in Rekinniki, I saw small landslides � everything being ruined, trees, flowers, grass, living creatures. River banks are washed away, the soil is washes away. The same during rains and snowfalls�.
Another Koryak woman, also from Palana, shared her experience:
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Respondent:
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�In former times I and my family were
living on the eastern coast, in Karaginsky district, in small village, Ilpir.
The village is located on narrow bar, from one side there was the sea, and
from other � the lagoon. Every year that bar becomes narrower and narrower,
because it is affected by storm winds and wave flows. There was a big flood
in 1977. Our houses were flooded, the water went through windows inside
houses, and we were so scared! There was a strong eastern wind, and the waves
from the sea side covered the village and reached the lagoon.�
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Interviewer:
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�What happened with plants?�
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Respondent:
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�All plants were washed away by water,
and a lot of shells were lying all around after the flood. The only thing
that stops the wave is the Verkhoturov Island. In former times there were
berries, grass, and plants in the village, and now only sand. Sometime the
bar will be washed out by the flood, because it has become very narrow.�
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An Even man from Ichinsky farm talked about the flood in 1987: �All the rivers changed their beds then. We came to the Oblukovina. There used to be an island, 190 meter long and about 5 meters wide, it was washed away within 15 minutes. We saw it disappear with our own eyes. There used to be five islands and all disappeared within 45 minutes. And the river kept flowing. (�) It showered heavily for four days. Fish exploded under this stream pressure and were pushed out of the river with the soaked wood. Lots of fish died. All the bushes along the river were covered with fish. The tundra was flooded and wet. It was a terrifying view. 50 meters before Babava there was a landslide. A block of soil, about 30 meters wide, fell down and blocked the road. We had to stay there for three days until it cleared a little�.
A Nenets man from Nes� described the impact of floods:
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Interviewer:
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�Please, describe your experience of
being confronted by a natural disaster.�
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Respondent:
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�Floods occur annually here. Every
spring. The house is situated on the bank, and during a flood, blocks of ice
almost drive into the house. Spring floods destroy the bank system of the
river. That�s why the river-bed can change, and the river will flow in a
different place. And some houses and even villages can be washed away. People
have to migrate to safer places. I think, for our village, floods are most
crucial. I faced it in 2005. The water was high. It rose for about 10 meters. Ten meters is considered to be high water.�
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Interviewer:
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�What were the consequences?�
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Respondent:
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�There were none. But there is a possibility
that the house would fall into the river. Annually, one meter of soil slid
down. There are 4-5 meters left.�
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