Socio-Demographic Aspects of Floods in the Russian Far East in 2013–2023

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of floods in the southern regions of the Russian Far East. The analysis is based on the search for options for flood prevention, as well as better management of the consequences of floods to improve the quality of life of the population. The data on damage from floods in the period from 2013 to 2023 in certain Far Eastern regions are analyzed. On the example of the 2021 flood, it is shown that protective measures in the Amur Region after the catastrophic flood of 2013 helped reduce damage. However, there is still a high probability of recurrence of floods. Floods lead to the loss of personal property of the population, damage to transport infrastructure, agriculture in the regions, which reduces the quality of life of the population in the Far Eastern regions. Based on open damage data for 2021, it is shown that higher flood damage per capita is observed in regions with lower population density. The natural and social aspects of floods are reflected in their causes and consequences. It is shown that the anthropogenic causes of floods are largely associated with the expansion of economic activity. Despite the wide range and volume of financial support for the regions, for the population, the total amount of compensation in case of damage cannot compensate for all their financial losses. One of the options for reducing damage is considered the possibility of developing a program for the resettlement of the population from areas located in the flood zone.