Locating the Prone Areas to Flooding in the Northern Parts of the West Bank and Facing them by Employing GIS

The Palestinian territory is prone to various natural disasters such as floods and surges. Consequently, this study focused on the prone areas to flooding in the northern part of the West Bank due to the heavy rains in winter. Further, rains led to raising the levels of water on the streets that it wasn’t possible to prevent the occurrences and dangers of floods and surges. However, it was possible to alleviate their consequences and lessen their subsequent losses by locating the areas prone to flooding and conducting more studies about many themes such as enhancing the function of the sewage network, developing the early alarm system and establishing data bases. This study located the valleys’ channels which were prone to flooding and surges in the West Bank by employing the GIS technique which employed hydraulic analytical tools in order to establish an information locative database. The results of the study identified the morphometric characteristics of the valleys in the West Bank, and located the valleys prone to the dangers of flooding and surges especially the populated areas nearby. In addition, the results showed that Tulkrm governorate was the most affected by the dangers of flooding and surges due to the existence of two major valleys, namely: Zomer and Al-Tin, from which water discharges through the populated areas. The researcher recommended that the GIS should be activated in studying flooding and surges for its potentials. Besides, it contributes to the early prediction of the dangers of flooding and surges. This will lead to the best decisions which are clarified in the detailed procedures of water discharge in the northern part of the West Bank