Teacher’snotes
FloodingintheKrugerNationalPark***
Aims
█Pupilsareabletomakea3-Drainfallmap
█PupilsknowacasestudyoftheKrugerNationalParkinSouthAfrica
█Pupilsunderstandhowindividualsandcommunitiesrespondtothefloodhazard
█Pupilsareabletomakeandjustifydecisionsbasedondata
█Pupilsareabletoworkasagroupandmakeandjustifydecisions
Introduction
Thisactivityprovidesextensionmaterialforchapter7‘Floods’ingeog.1.
Itaddressestheconceptof‘Physicalandhumanprocesses’.
Theactivityisintwoparts.Pupilscanworkingroupsof3-4.Inpartone,pupilswillmake
a3-Drainfallmapusingstraws.Parttwoisasimulation.Pupilswilltakeontherolesof theSeniorManagementTeamoftheKrugerNationalPark.Itistheirjobtomanagethe floodhazard.
ICT
TherearevariouspossibilitiesforusingICT:
█spreadsheetscouldbeusedtocreaterainfallmaps
█thee-mailscouldbesentandreceivedelectronically
█pupilscouldusetheInternettofindoutmoreinformation.Themostappropriate websitesare
Activity
Partone:3-Drainfallmap(pageS1)
Pupilswillneed:maptacks,aruler,scissors,straws(blueifpossible!),blu-tack,andthree copiesoftheKrugerNationalParkbasemap(pageS5).
PupilsshouldusetheinstructionsonpageS1tocompletea3-Drainfallmap.
Parttwo:TheKrugerNationalParkfloodsimulation(pageS2)
Pupilsshouldreadthee-mailsentbytheDirectoroftheKrugerNationalParktothe SeniorManagementTeam(pageS2).Itoutlinesthesituation.Eachgroupwillneed anotherbasemap,somecolouringpens,andfourcopiesofthee-mailreplyform (pageS3).Thegroupshavetomakedecisionsatfivepoints:Fridaymorning,Friday lunchtime,Fridayafternoon,Saturdaymorning,Saturdayafternoon.
Thegroupsshouldmaketheirdecisionsbasedonthee-mailswhichtheyreceive.You shouldgivethemthee-mailsatappropriateintervals.Ifthereisaccesstocomputers,the
e-mailscouldbesentelectronically.Makesurethegroupsdon’tgetoverwhelmedbythe information.Thee-mailsareprovidedonTeacher’snotespagesT2–T3.
PupilscouldthenreadtheactualpressreleaseissuedbytheKrugerNationalParkSenior ManagementTeam(pageS4);alternatively,youcouldgothroughitwiththem.Theywill scoreapointforeveryboldprintitemthattheyhavementionedintheire-mails.
Attheendofthesimulation,discusswiththegroupshowwelltheycopedwiththecrisis, andhowtheirstrategiesdifferedfromtheactualresponseintheKNP.
1Tgeog.1:7Floods
Teacher’snotes
FloodingintheKrugerNationalPark
Thee-mailstobesentorgiventogroupsofpupilsasmembersoftheSenior
ManagementTeam:
DECISIONONE:Fridaymorning
SeerequestforinformationinDirector’se-mail.
Fromnowon,thestaffintherest-campsandatthegatessende-mailsto
theSeniorManagementTeamtokeepituptodatewitheventsinthepark. Thesearethee-mails:
DECISIONTWO:Fridaylunchtime
PhalaborwaGate12:2007/02/2000Thegateisstillopenandvisitorscantravelto Letaba.TheLetabalow-levelbridgeisnotaccessible,however,andvisitorstoMopani musttaketheBouldersRoad.
CrocodileBridge12:4507/02/2000Thisgatewasclosedearlythismorning. NgwenyaLodgeandthehousesclosesttotheCrocodileRiverhadtobeevacuated. Thereisapowerfailureandthepumpingstationisunderwater.
PafuriGate12:4507/02/2000TheLevuvhuRiverstartedtoriseagainat12:00.All
theriversintheareaareflowingstrongly–theMutele,Levuvhu,andLimpopo.Thestaff fromthepicnicsitewereevacuatedyesterday.Shouldtheriverrisefurther,theywillneed
tobeevacuatedfromtheranger’squartershere.
KrugerGate13:0007/02/2000TheriverisstillflowingoverthebridgeatKrugerGate.
Atpresentthehousesaresafebutshouldthesituationdeterioratetheywillneed evacuation.
Skukuzarest-camp13:2007/02/2000ThehutsclosesttotheSabieRiverwere evacuated–waterhasreachedtheleveloftheroofs.Reportsalsoindicatethatthe bomaandtherestauranthavebeenflooded.Waterhasalsoenteredtheshop.
Jakkalsbessie13.3007/02/2000Someofthehutsandtheconferencecentre,as wellasastaffhouse,havebeenflooded.Therearesixpeopleherebutstillsafe.
MalelaneGate13:30VisitorstotheKNPwereallowedinbutnoaccesswasallowed
tothebridge.
OrpenGate13:3007/02/200ThisgateisopentotouristsandSataracanbereached fromOrpenwithoutanyproblems.Talamaticamphasbeencutoffandthepeoplehave beenrequestedtostayput.
Skukuzarest-camp13.3007/02/2000Waterisreachingthesecondrowofhuts.
LowerSabieRoad13:4007/02/2000TheroadhasbeenfloodedbytheSabieRiverandisimpassable.
2Tgeog.1:7Floods
Teacher’snotes
FloodingintheKrugerNationalPark
DECISIONTHREE:Fridayafternoon
LowerSabieRoad15:0007/02/2000TheSabieRiverisflowingovertheroadbridge.
MalelaneGate16:0007/02/2000Informationhasbeensentthroughthatthe
MalelaneBridgeisstartingtogounderwater.
PundaMariaGate16:2007/02/2000Thegateisopentotouristsandsois
ShingwedziRest-camp.
Skukuzarest-camp16:4007/02/2000Thethirdrowofhutsisbeingevacuated. Personnelvillagehousesarebeingevacuated,includingthehousesoftheDirector,
generalmanagers…thewaterisinthestreetattheflatsanddoctor’sconsultingrooms.
NumbiGate17:0407/02/2000Itwasclosedtovisitorsinthemorningbecausethe bridgeovertheNoord-SandRiverwasdamaged.NumbiGateitselfisopenand accessibletostaffandtourists.
KrugerGate18:3007/02/2000Ithasbeenconfirmedthatthebridgeisstructurally damagedintwoplacesandpartsofthebridgehavebeenremoved.
DECISIONFOUR:Saturdaymorning
LowerSabie7:1008/02/2000FromtheAssistantCampManager:eighthutsinthe rest-campandoneguesthouseareflooded.Thereisnoelectricityorwaterattherest- camp.Touristsarenotallowedtoleavethecampuntilfurthernotice.
CrocodileBridge7:1508/02/2000Thepowerisstilloutandthepumpingstationis stillunderwater.Fivehutsintherest-campareunderwater.Thelivingquartershave
beenvacatedduetoflooding.Thetrainbridgewassweptawayinthenight.
LowerSabieRoad7:3008/02/2000ThehighwaterbridgeovertheRiverSabiehas beenstructurallydamaged–therampstothebridge.ThetarroadtoLowerSabieisalso damagedandflooded.
MalelaneGate8:0508/02/2000TheroadfromSkukuzatoMalelaneisopen,aswell
astheMalelaneGate.
DECISIONFIVE:Saturdayafternoon
LowerSabieRoad14:3008/02/2000Fourgroupsoftouristsarestrandedonthe roadbetweenLowerSabieandCrocodileBridge.
3Tgeog.1:7Floods
FloodingintheKrugerNationalPark***
NameClass
TheKrugerNationalParkisanenormoussafariparkin
SouthAfrica.Youcanseegiraffes,kudu,impala,elephants, hippos,leopards,rhinosandwarthogsinthepark.
YouworkontheSeniorManagementTeam.Youlook aftertheparkanditsthousandsofvisitors.
Itis7February2000.Therehasbeenheavyrain
andyourdirectorisworried.Thesituationcouldbe dangerous.It’sthejobofyourgrouptoprotectthepark.
Activity
Partone–3-Drainfallmap
Youaregoingtomakea3-Drainfallmap.Thiswillshow youwhichareasaremostindangerofflooding.
Yourgroupwillneed:
maptacksaruler
scissorsstraws(blueifpossible!)
blu-tack3copiesoftheKrugerNationalParkbasemap
1Lookattherainfallfiguresbelow:
Rainfallatrest-campsintheKrugerNationalPark,4-6February2000
Takeyourfirstbasemap.Usemaptackstomarkeachoftherest-camps.
Rainfall(inmillimetres)Rest-camp / 4February / 5February / 6February
PundaMaria / 0 / 0 / 111.6
Shingwedzi / 30 / 100 / 120
Letaba / 16 / 70 / 90
Olifants / 0 / 0 / 123.9
Satara / 0 / 0 / 119
Skukuza / 0 / 0 / 117.5
LowerSabie / 0 / 0 / 150
Pretoriuskop / 0 / 0 / 155
Malelane / 0 / 0 / 257.5
CrocodileBridge / 0 / 0 / 191.5
2Cutastraw30mmlong.StickthisbytheShingwedzirest-camp.Useblu-tacksothatthe
strawstandsupright.
3Cutastraw16mmlong.StickthisbytheLetabarest-camp.Youhavenowcompleteda3-D
rainfallmapfor4February.Giveyourmapatitle.
4Usingtheotheroutlinemapsmakearainfallmapfor5and6February.
Remembertogiveeachmapatitle.
1Sgeog.1:7Floods
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FloodingintheKrugerNationalPark
NameClass
Parttwo–floodsimulation
Readthise-mailfromtheDirectoroftheKrugerNationalParktoyouandthe restofyourSeniorManagementTeam.Ittellsyouwhatyouhavetodo.
To:Senior Management Team, KNP From:Director, KNP
Date:7 February 2000
Time:6:00
Subject:Heavy rainfall
------Good morning team.
As you know, there was a lot of rain yesterday and the day before. There was also a huge storm last night.
The rangers have reported to me that hippos have been seen leaving the rivers and heading inland. The last time this happened was just before the 1996 floods. Some of you may remem- ber those floods and the terrible damage that occurred. I am worried that we may be in dan-
ger now.
I need you to help me decide what to do. Here are some points we need to think about:
•We have 14 campsites filled with tourists. The tourists need to be safe and to have clean water and food.
•If the rains cause serious floods we may have to move the tourists to safety.
•Sending tourists home will lose us – and South Africa – hundreds of thousands of dollars.
•Many roads in the park are not tarred and some may flood. Moving people may be diffi- cult and dangerous along flooded mud tracks and across rivers.
•Bridges over the rivers may be at risk.
•The only safe routes are through the gates.
•We have two helicopters available.
I would like you to make a decision for me now (Friday morning). I will then contact you four more times during today and tomorrow, and I’ll want decisions each time.
I need this morning a map to show where flooding might be a problem:
1Use an outline map of the Kruger National Park.
2Colour in the areas which have had the most rainfall.
3Label the rivers which you think are most likely to flood.
4Label the rest-camps which you think are most likely to flood.
5Label any gates which you think should close.
6Label any rest-camps which you think we should evacuate. Where should we take the tourists? Label an escape route on your map.
During today and tomorrow you will receive e-mails from staff in the rest-camps, at the gates, and in the helicopters. Using the information they send you, please complete the attached
e-mail reply forms and send them to me as soon as possible. I am enclosing four forms. I will then instruct the people in the rest-camps, at the gates, and in the helicopters.
Thank you for all your hard work. Yours,
A worried director.
2Sgeog.1:7Floods
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FloodingintheKrugerNationalPark
NameClass
E-mail reply form
To:The Director
From:Senior Management Team
Date: Time: Subject:
------
We have received information from the gates, rest-camps, and helicopters. Here are our rec- ommendations:
The gates:
(Should they let in tourists or expect tourists to be bussed out?)
The rest-camps:
(Should the tourists stay or move? Where should they go? By which route?)
The helicopters:
(Where should they go? Do they need to rescue stranded people?)
Yours,
Senior Management Team, KNP
3Sgeog.1:7Floods
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FloodingintheKrugerNationalPark
NameClass
Afterthesimulation
HereistheactualpressreleasesentoutbytheSeniorManagementTeamto allmedia.Younowscoreapointforeveryboldprintitemwhichyoumentionedinyoure-mails.
PRESSRELEASE:FLOODSINSOUTHERNKRUGERNATIONALPARK
DuetotheheavyrainfallintheSouthernLowveldandEscarpment,themaincatchmentareafor the Crocodile and Sabie Rivers, there has been serious flooding in the Southern Kruger NationalPark.
Inplacesmorethan500mmofrainwasrecordedin24hours.TherainthatstartedonSunday causedwidespreadfloodinganddamagetobuildings,roads,andwaterandpowersuppliesinthe KNP.
AlldirtroadsintheareasouthoftheOlifantsRiverareclosed.EntrytotheKNPis possible through the Malelane GatewheretheN4roadhasbeenreopened.Althoughthe roadfromtheNumbiGateisopen,itisNOTarecommendedroute.
OrpenandPhalaborwaGatesareopen.Thehigh-levelbridgeovertheSabieRiver allowingjourneysbetweenNorthandSouthintheParkhasbeenclosed.Allothertarroads areaccessible.
InSkukuzathethreerowsofhutsclosesttotheriverwereevacuated.Seriousdam- age was caused to the restaurant which will only re-open in about three weeks. For now a temporary restaurant is open on the platform of the Selati railway station. The shop opened againonTuesdayafternoon.
The standby generators of the rest-camp supply power, although four mini substations were switched off before being submerged. At Malelane Gate, 28 poles carrying power cables have beensweptaway,leavingthisareawithapowerproblem.ThereisnopowerorwateratCrocodileBridge Camp. Lower Sabie has no power or water, but emergency generators are on the way. Waterpurificationisbeingrestored.AtPretoriuskoptherearepowerandwaterproblems.
Untilacceptableservicecanberestored,therewillbenobookingsforthenexttwoweeks atSkukuza,LowerSabieorPretoriuskop.
Allvisitorsandstaffaresafeandaccountedfor.Withbridges damagedandwashedaway
andaccessibilitytotheSouthernKNPseverelyrestricted,visitorstotheKNPshouldkeep
tothecentralandNorthernsectionsofthepark.
Although some carcasses of buffalo were spotted in the flood and some baboons were seen clingingtodebrisfloatingdownstream,animalstendtomovetohighergroundduringflooding.
Itisimpossibletoknowhowmanyanimalshavebeenkilled.
Rainfallstatisticsfor7Februaryandthetotalsfor4-7Februaryareshownbelow:
Rest-camps7FebruaryTOTAL
PundaMaria / 32mm / 143.6mmShingwedzi / 3mm / 253mm
Letaba6.6mm182.6mm
Olifants / 27mm / 150.9mmSatara / 49mm / 168mm
Skukuza / 78mm / 195.5mm
LowerSabie / 70mm / 220mm
Pretoriuskop / 191mm / 342mm
Malelane / 111.5mm / 368.9mm
CrocodileBridge / 125.7mm / 317.3mm
4Sgeog.1:7Floods
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FloodingintheKrugerNationalPark
NameClass
Pafuri
PundaMaria
Basemapforsimulation
Key
campsandlodges entrancegates tarredroads
050km
Shingwedzi
N
Boulders
Mopani
Letaba
Olifants
Phalaborwa
NAMIBIA
BOTSWANA
ZIMBABWE
Kruger
NNational
Park
Pretoria
Satara
Johannesburg
LESOTHO
SOUTHAFRICA
CapeTown
0
SWAZILAND
Durban
500km
Orpen
Kruger
Talamati
Jakkalsbessie
Skukuza
Numbi
LowerSabie
Pretoriuskop
Crocodile Bridge
Malelane
5Sgeog.1:7Floods
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