Who is Agent Plan-It?
Agent Plan-It is a town planning superhero!
She knows all there is to know about town planning and is helping us learn all about how to plan a town!
Watch this video about houses why some houses can flood…
You should have a better idea of why some houses flood and what town planners need to think about when planning a town t make sure people’s homes don’t get ruined by floods.
Which houses can flood?
Houses on a flood plain are at risk of flooding.
A flood plain is the area of land next to something like a river that is at risk of flooding.
What makes a flood happen?
A flood usually happens when it rains… A LOT!
The rain means that a river has a lot more water in it then usual and it breaks it’s banks and floods the flood plain around it.
Why would anyone build a town on a flood plain?
Some towns were built a long time ago when the river was a lot smaller and so wouldn’t have been a flood risk.
Sometimes the risk of flooding can be very low and so worth the risk to live there.
Sometimes the benefits of living in a certain place outweigh the risk of living on the flood plain.
What can people do to stop flooding?
If you live on a flood plain then it is important to be prepared for a flooding as it is always a risk (even if if the risk is only small).
You can plant vegetation along the river banks, this acts as a barrier between the flood water and houses.
Some houses are built to be protected against flooding. For example, some houses are built on stilts so that the are higher in the and so flood water wont touch them. Some houses can float so that they raise and fall with flooding water.
Find out more about flooding:
Your mission is to complete this quiz about flooding houses…
What is a flood plain?
- Land next to a river that can flood
- A flat mountain top
- A type of cloud
- A machine that stops rain
What usually causes a river to flood?
- Lots and lots of rain
- Too many sunny days
- Strong winds only
- Snow melting in winter
Why might a town be built on a flood plain?
- It was built long ago when the river was smaller
- People like living near water
- The land is always dry
- There are no other places to build
What can people plant along river banks to help stop flooding?
- Vegetation like trees and bushes
- Concrete walls
- Plastic fences
- Metal barriers
How can some houses be protected from floods?
- By being built on stilts
- By having very tall chimneys
- By being painted blue
- By having big windows
What is a flood plain made of?
- Flat land
- Steep hills
- Deep valleys
- Rocky cliffs
What happens when a river 'breaks its banks'?
- Water spills over the sides onto the land
- The river gets narrower
- The river dries up
- The river changes direction
Why is it important to be prepared for flooding if you live on a flood plain?
- Because flooding is always a risk
- Because it never floods there
- Because floods are fun
- Because it rains every day
What might town planners do to reduce flood risk?
- Avoid building on flood plains
- Build more houses on flood plains
- Remove all trees
- Pave over green spaces
Which of these is a benefit of living near a river?
- Easy access to water and travel
- No risk of flooding
- Always sunny weather
- No need for bridges
