The land could not resist to the saturation caused by the winds and the heavy rain and it had not been long before the aftermath materialized into swollen mountain streams. This later resulted into cascades of mud mixed with water running down the slopes in serious amounts. In spite of the fact that the island had several drains and catch basins which could be very effective in case of a small flood, they had been no match for the one on the February 20. The three rivers crossing Funchal, apparently meant to prevent flood water from entering the city, had been one of the motives for the waters quickly moving towards the streets.
A state of panic overtook the area, as the authorities were practically powerless. The intervention of the military had been crucial, as engineers could repair some of the structures that had suffered minor damage, while military rescue teams assisted by dogs had started to look for victims among the debris.
Only...
Reports had mentioned a man standing helpless watching as his wife and son had been taken away by the flooding.
The Madeira flooding in February, 2010, had taken a great toll, leaving the once peaceful and calm island in great distress. There is little that people can do in order to prevent floods. However, even though one cannot stop floods from happening, people can get involved in diminishing the potential damage that a flood might have in their area. The authorities had also had a contribution to the size of the damage produced by allowing buildings to be made in areas where floods were likely to occur.
Works cited:
1. Elliot Larry & Tremlett Giles. "Madeira floods: death toll rises to 40." Retrieved April 27, 2010, from the Guardian Web site: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/21/madeira-floods-death-toll-rises
