Update: Monsoon Kills Nearly 500 People

September 15, 2014 nearly 500 people have been killed across Northern India and Pakistan. Flooding in a village south of Srinagar, India leaves women and children scavenging through their destroyed homes while thousands are stranded.

“Massive de-watering operations have been launched in flood-hit areas of the city as military and civilian rescuers have been using helicopters and boats to evacuate people since Sept. 3, when monsoon rains triggered flooding in the disputed region of Kashmir and Pakistan’s Punjab.” (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

What is a monsoon?

According to MSN.com, in world climates that commonly have a wet season and a dry season, a “monsoon” refers to the shift in wind direction that brings the rain. When temperatures increase over dry regions, the heat causes a drop in surface air pressure over the land. Because nearby bodies of water aren’t warmed as quickly, the air pressure there stays high, cool and humid; as this air is drawn toward the heated, low-pressure air, it causes a reversal in wind direction. The humid sea air becomes unstable and develops into thunderstorms that have the potential to bring massive amounts of rain to these dry areas.

The good news is that Pakistani Soldiers are dropping relief goods to cities such as Multan, Pakistan and charities are pulling together to fill truckloads of aid to people that are homeless due to the horrific floods.

Monsoons are responsible for a substantial percentage of the rainfall in the areas where they happen — up to 80 percent in India and Bangladesh and 70 percent in the American Southwest and northern Mexico.

Military trucks and rescue boats are helping to get people to safer grounds and relief camps have been built in locations where help is needed. People from all over are helping to get people to safety and provide necessities to men, women and children all over.

The truth is that we can prepare as much as possible for all sorts of disasters, but there are some things that can’t be saved. If mother nature decided to wipe out a town then that is what she will do. However, having an evacuation plan in place could mean the difference between victim and survivor.

Source photos on this Disaster

Do we have monsoons in America? You bet we do! They might not be as severe as this, but on Sept. 8, 2014 one hit Phoenix, Arizona. By the rushing waters in this video you can see how fast a flash flood like this could get out of control and the need to be prepared.

Below are a few articles that might help you to create an evacuation plan and some things you will need to consider. There are also links for ways to prepare if evacuation isn’t an option.