"Being in a floodplain is like sitting down in a bathtub"
About this Quote
The quote "Remaining in a floodplain resembles sitting down in a bathtub" by Robert Hunter acts as a poignant metaphor, encapsulating the inherent threats and natural vulnerabilities connected with living in a floodplain location. This analogy is rich with imagery and meaning, using an expressive image of the coexistence between human habitation and nature's intrinsic characteristics.
At its core, the metaphor compares a floodplain, a low-lying location surrounding to a river vulnerable to flooding, to a bath tub, a confined space developed to hold water. Just as a bath tub is suggested to contain water, a floodplain is naturally designed by geology and hydrology to manage river overflow throughout periods of heavy rain or snowmelt. The metaphor suggests a sense of inevitability, highlighting the natural function of floodplains to periodically experience inundation, much like how a bathtub is expected to fill with water.
Furthermore, the image of 'taking a seat' in a tub includes another layer of significance, implying a sense of passivity or resignation. When one picks to sit in a bath tub, they know that it will fill with water. Similarly, homeowners of floodplains cope with the understanding that flooding is a possibility, often accepting this threat due to the farming advantages, fertile soil, and historic significance of such areas.
The metaphor also stimulates a feeling of vulnerability. An individual being in a bathtub has actually restricted control over the water streaming into it, simply as residents in floodplains might have restricted capability to avoid flooding regardless of modern-day interventions. This can function as a call for increased awareness and readiness for flood management and urban preparation to reduce the impacts of inevitable natural events.
Ultimately, Hunter's metaphor underscores the fragile balance in between human occupancy and respecting nature's processes. It reminds us of our need to adjust and exist side-by-side with nature's rhythms, understanding that while we can affect some results, we can not totally control the natural environment.
