Geography Assignment
Floods are large quantities of water which have been flowed onto what should have been dry land. There are three types of floods. Slow-onset floods, rapid-onset floods and flash floods. Slow-onset floods usually only occur in WA, NSW and QLD. On inland Rivers and around flat areas.They take days to build up and can last form 1 week up to months on end. It results in loss of crop, livestock, roads and railways. Rapid-onset floods effect most towns and cities across Australia. They are far more damaging compared to slow-onset, more lives and property are lost. This is because there is a faster rush of water and less time for people to help prevent more damage being done. Flash floods effect most of Australia's urban suburbs, they are caused from a short time of intense bursts of heavy rainfall (usually from thunderstorms), it floods because the drainage cannot cope with the amount of water being sucked through. More deaths are confirmed during flash floods because people just try to walk through the gushing water and get sucked into drains. Flooding is caused from heavy rain fall, s...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that floods are large quantities of water which have flowed onto what should have been dry land.
- Explains that rapid-onset floods affect most towns and cities across australia. they are far more damaging compared to slow onset, and more lives and property are lost.
- Explains that flash floods affect most of australia's urban suburbs because the drainage cannot cope with the amount of water being sucked through.
- Explains that flooding is caused by heavy rain fall, severe storms and tropical cyclones. global warming is responsible for some flooding because warmer air holds more moisture, which means heavier precipitation.
- Explains that floods affect the environment, people, and the economy. the environment is effected by harsh and hazardous chemicals and pollution getting contaminated through the water.
- Explains that the economy suffers from floods because buildings, roads, bridges, and homes are ruined. this all comes at an enormous cost for the government and people.
- Describes actions that can help prevent flooding having such an impact on homes and communities.
- Explains that the 1852 gundagai floods were the worst ever to hit the country. the actual cause for the flood is unknown.
- Explains that gundagai was rebuilt on higher grounds to help prevent flooding to be so impactful.
- explanatory
- argumentative
- Analyzes how barry's rising tide: the great mississippi flood of 1927 and how it changed america, takes us back 70 years to a society that most of us would hardly recognize.
- Analyzes how the great mississippi flood created and destroyed leaders, such as herbert hoover, and leroy percy, who fought the ku klux klan.
- Explains that the mississippi river flood of 1927 was a long-term event and one where human influence exerted "control" over the river.
- Recommends rising tide: the great mississippi flood of 1927 and how it changed america by john m. barry.
- Explains that the united states was faced with the most devastating flood that has ever occurred. the mississippi river was above flood stage for 144 days between april and september.
- Explains that the region received higher than normal precipitation during the first half of 1993.
- Explains that individual storms dumped large volumes of precipitation that could not be accommodated by local streams.
- Explains that the ground was saturated due to cooler than normal conditions during the previous year which meant less evaporation so rainfall was absorbed by soils and more ran-off into streams.
- Explains that the mississippi river system was altered by the draining of riverine wetlands and the construction of levees.
- Argues that the levees, damns and diversion channels aggravated the 1993 flood. the united states is an emdc and can afford the costs of the damage.
- Describes hurricane katrina as one of the worst natural disasters in u.s history.
- Describes how katrina moved toward the gulf of mexico and started to move north. it then slowed down because of dry air.
- Explains that eighty percent of new orleans was flooded with around twenty feet of water. the pump stations used to get rid of rainwater were unable to use.
- Explains that hurricane katrina is the most costliest hurricane in the united states and the deadliest to strike since 1928.
- Explains that hurricane katrina caused lots of flooding along with very high wind speeds. it also caused damage to the sewage, drainage, and power generation systems.
- Explains that hurricane katrina was formed by an interaction between a tropical wave and small parts of the tropical depression. the 11th tropical storm in 2005 during the hurricane season.
- Explains that katrina had moved west moving near florida on the 25th. it was a hurricane 2 hours before it had reached florida.
- Explains that katrina was a category 3 hurricane and had 115 mile per hour winds at the time.
- Explains that water is the most relied upon resource on earth and if it disappeared life could not exist on this planet. this report investigates on salinity in the murray darling-basin.
- Describes how they used various sources and methods to collect their information, including email, personal observation, and online research.
- Narrates how they received responses from mdba, save the murray group, and the csiro scientist riasat ali.
- Explains that salinity is the concentration of salts dissolved in water in the murray. it is measured in milligrams per litre but is usually measured with ec units.
- Explains that when groundwater touches the soil surface it in turn carries salt up into it, causing the land to become saline.
- Explains that clearing and replacing deep rooted native trees is an issue as plants absorb water as it is soaked through the soil, causing the groundwater to stay under the salt level.
- Explains that when salinity increases, warning signs appear in the landscapes of the affected areas, such as dying trees, declining vegetation, colonisation of tolerant weed-like plants, bare patches where vegetation has died, and saline pools in creek beds.
- Explains that salinity affects many things in the murray-darling basin. if it continues to rise, the consequences could be grave and long lasting.
- Explains that saline soil and water affects the health of the murray and makes it too salty for animals and humans to drink.
- Describes how the salinity increase has affected the murray, and how it made them feel bothered.
- Explains that salinity can affect the rest of australia, as the murray water gets saltier the less it can be used. south australia isn't the only state that uses this water.
- Explains that salinity costs the murray $47 million per year and that will keep on increasing if nothing is done.
- Opines that if the salinity in the murray continues to increase and the water becomes unusable, it would leave australia with a large hole to fill.
- Explains that a number of projects and groups have been created to help counteract or at least lessen the effects of salinity. the murray-darling basin authority is one of those groups.
- Explains how bores have been sunk deep into a few suitable sites on the river to catch the groundwater as it moves towards the floodplain.
- Explains improvements in water distribution, such as earth ditches and pipes, and the use of stored water for dilution.
- Explains that replanting and protection of scrubs immediately helps prevent the movement of water and salt minimising the effects of salinity.
- Opines that management strategies, time and money invested in the murray's salinity problem will minimise the problem and bring it under control. since acknowledgement and implementation of strategies for this issue, there have been significant improvements made.
- Opines that the salinity problem will get under control as time and strategies have already made this much difference.
- Concludes that salinity is a chronic issue and will require strategies to fix the effects it has caused. government and communities have implemented strategies that counteract these effects.
- Explains authority, m. d. b., 2001. basin salinity management strategy 2001-2015.
- Citesauthority, m. d. b., and sa department of water, l. a.
- Describes csiro's land and water, salinity, and the australian regolith and clays conference.
- Explains that scientists expected the storm to dissipate over the ocean and cause little to no harm. the government issued precautionary warnings to people in low-lying regions.
- Explains that hurricane andrew destroyed many small businesses and ruined the economies of multiple small towns.
- Concludes that even though hurricane andrew was destructive and horrific, there are many lessons we can learn from a hurricane of that size.
- Explains that hurricane andrew was the second most expensive storm in history that destroyed over 250,000 homes in florida and louisiana alone.
- Analyzes the damage caused by hurricane andrew in florida and louisiana.
- Explains how hurricane andrew devastated the everglade national park, destroying mangroves, royal palms and pine trees. the atchafalaya river basin's 182 million fish died due to hazards caused by hurricane andrew.
- Explains that a flood occurs when water is poured over the land and the ground and rivers cannot cope with it.
- Explains that a dam is made to make pools at least 9 ft. deep so that barge traffic can navigate freely through out the river. between st. anthony falls, mn, and granite city, il there are 29 lock and dam systems.
- Explains that a dike is an embankment built to control or hold back the water of the river, stream, sea, etc. in the netherlands farmers have used dikes to protect their farms from floods for hundreds of years
- Explains that the cost of flooding in the u.s. has been on the rise since 1993. the army corps of engineers has saved $387,000,000,000 in damages to towns and cities since 1928.
- Describes cristen, kris, recent floods compel harder look at
- Explains that when flood waters from the mississippi river and its tributaries surge down the river, the volume of water is physically impossible to contain.
- Opines that when the flow of a river is disrupted, so flourishes.
- Explains that the flow of the water slows down, and the amount of sediment a river is carrying generally gives.
- Explains that dams stop or slow down the natural flow of a river, such as in the grand canyon. flood waters raged through the canyon for the first time in thirty years.
- Explains that dams have been on the grand canyon for nearly a century, but none were upstream until this one was built.
- Explains that when the water is stopped at this dam, over 90 percent of its sediment is dropped. beach erosion occurs because the beaches depended on the annual floods to bring them a continuous supply of fresh, fine sand.
- Narrates how a task force from washington d.c. was sent into the canyon in 1989.
- Explains that the canyon was returned to a nearly pristine state after the floodgates opened in 1995, which allowed 0.7 trillion liters of water to bypass the turbines.
- Cites ewald, felecia s. the may 2007 tornado outbreak.
- Explains that floods cost australia $3b in lost farming, coal.
- Explains that natural disasters can be fatal, destroy homes, businesses, and roads, or occur when you aren't prepared.
- Cites tate, karl, and the u.s. geological survey's worldwide overview of large landslides of the 20th and 21st century.
- Opines that hurricanes are one of the most damaging forces of nature, with winds speeds of over eighty miles per hour, which have the potential to destroy millions.
- Advises that every person living in southern florida should look into flood insurance. it is called murphy's law and states that whatever happens will happen.
- Opines that hurricanes have torn families and homes apart. if you clean your house and yard, make plans for evacuation of family members, and get flood insurance, you will not suffer tribulations accompanied by these formidable forces.
- Recommends cleaning around your house and making evacuation plans for your family members. pets may not be allowed into emergency shelters for health and space reasons.
- Opines that coastal cities are at an increasing risk of dangerous (economically and physically) flooding due to climate change.
- Explains that the u.s. grew most rapidly near the coasts and around large cities during the 20th century. large cities continue to expand in size, density, and population.
- Explains that new york's land rises quickly away from the coast so the city can put all their concentration and effort towards protecting and preparing that area for future climate change.
- Opines that new technologies can reduce energy consumption while providing the same level of comfort and service. engineers and architects will have to revise their practices to take in account for the rise of the sea level.
- Opines that climate change is becoming one of the most important issues facing coastal communities. by taking action now, we can work towards preventing the destruction of cities and the economic downfall.
- Explains that global climate change affects temperature, precipitation patterns, oceanic and atmospheric circulation, rate of rising sea level, and occurrence and intensity of hurricanes.
- Explains that the portland society of architects is looking at the issues caused by the rise of sea levels by examining the likely effects in portland and south portland. charleston is another area that if no action is taken for the sea level rise, it could permanently flood.
- Cites david simon, william k. michener, elizabeth r. blood, keith l. bildstein, mark m. brinson, and leonard gardner.
Related Topics
- Tropical cyclone
- New South Wales
- Storm surge
Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.
Fresh Water Environments
Floods , an overflow of water in one place, are a natural part of the water cycle, but they can be terrifying forces of destruction. Floods can occur for a variety of reasons, and their effects can be minimized in several ways. Perhaps unsurprisingly, floods tend to affect low-lying areas most severely. Floods usually occur when precipitation falls more quickly than that water can be absorbed into the ground or carried away by rivers or streams. Waters may build up gradually throughout weeks when an extended period of rainfall or snowmelt fills the ground with water and raises stream levels.
Flash floods are sudden and unexpected, taking place when very heavy rains fall over a very brief period. A flash flood may do its damage miles from where the rain falls if the water travels far down a dry streambed so that the flash flood occurs far from the location of the original storm.
Densely vegetated lands are less likely to experience flooding. Plants slow down water as it runs over the land, giving it time to enter the ground. Even if the ground is too wet to absorb more water, plants still slow the water’s passage and increase the time between rainfall and the water’s arrival in a stream; this could keep all the water falling over a region to hit the stream at once. Wetlands function as a buffer between land and high-water levels and play a key role in minimizing the impacts of floods. Flooding is often more severe in areas that have been recently logged.
When a dam breaks along a reservoir, flooding can be catastrophic. High water levels have also caused small dams to break, wreaking havoc downstream. People try to protect areas that might flood with dams, and dams are remarkably effective. People may also line a riverbank with levees , high walls that keep the stream within its banks during floods. A levee in one location may force the high water up or downstream and cause flooding there. The New Madrid Overflow in the image above was created with the recognition that the Mississippi River sometimes cannot be contained by levees and must be allowed to flood.
Not all the consequences of flooding are negative. Rivers deposit new nutrient-rich sediments when they flood, and so floodplains have traditionally been suitable for farming. Flooding as a source of nutrients was essential to Egyptians along the Nile River until the Aswan Dam was built in the 1960s. Although the dam protects crops and settlements from the annual floods, farmers must now use fertilizers to feed their crops.
Floods are also responsible for moving substantial amounts of sediments about within streams. These sediments provide habitats for animals, and the periodic movement of sediment is crucial to the lives of several types of organisms. Plants and fish along the Colorado River, for example, depend on seasonal flooding to rearrange sand bars.
Physical Geography and Natural Disasters by R. Adam Dastrup, MA, GISP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Share This Book
A flood happens when water overflows or soaks land that is normally dry. There are few places on Earth where people don’t need to be concerned about flooding.
Ecology, Earth Science, Geology, Engineering, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography, World History
Loading ...
A flood happens when water overflows or soaks land that is normally dry. There are few places on Earth where people don’t need to be concerned about flooding. Generally, floods take hours or even days to develop, giving residents time to prepare or evacuate . Sometimes, floods develop quickly and with little warning. A flood can develop in a many ways. The most common is when rivers or streams overflow their banks . These floods are called riverine floods . Heavy rain , a broken dam or levee , rapid icemelt in the mountains, or even a beaver dam in a vulnerable spot can overwhelm a river and send it spreading over nearby land. The land surrounding a river is called a flood plain . Coastal flooding , also called estuarine flooding , happens when a large storm or tsunami causes the sea to rush inland . Floods are the second-most widespread natural disaster on Earth, after wildfires . All 50 states of the United States are vulnerable to flooding. Effects of Floods When floodwaters recede , affected areas are often blanketed in silt and mud. This sediment can be full of nutrients , benefiting farmers and agribusinesses in the area. Famously fertile flood plains like the Mississippi River valley in the American Midwest, the Nile River valley in Egypt, and the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East have supported agriculture for thou sands of years. Yearly flooding has left millions of tons of nutrient-rich soil behind. However, floods have enormous destructive power. When a river overflows its banks or the sea moves inland, many structures are unable to withstand the force of the water. Bridges, houses, trees, and cars can be picked up and carried off. Floods erode soil, taking it from under a building's foundation , causing the building to crack and tumble. Severe flooding in Bangladesh in July 2007 led to more than a million homes being damaged or destroyed. Floods can cause even more damage when their waters recede. The water and landscape can be contaminated with hazardous materials, such as sharp debris , pesticides , fuel , and untreated sewage . Potentially dangerous mold can quickly overwhelm water-soaked structures. As flood water spreads, it carries disease . Flood victims can be left for weeks without clean water for drinking or hygiene . This can lead to outbreaks of deadly diseases like typhoid , malaria , hepatitis A, and cholera . This happened in 2000, as hundreds of people in Mozambique fled to refugee camps after the Limpopo River flooded their homes. They soon fell ill and died from cholera, which is spread by unsanitary conditions, and malaria, spread by mosquitoes that thrived on the swollen river banks. In the United States, floods are responsible for an average of nearly 100 deaths every year, and cause about $7.5 billion in damage. China's Yellow River valley has seen some of the world's worst floods in the past 100 years. The 1931 Yellow River flood is one of the most devastating natural disasters ever recorded—almost a million people drowned, and even more were left homeless. Natural Causes of Floods Floods occur naturally. They are part of the water cycle , and the environment is adapted to flooding. Wetlands along river banks, lakes , and estuaries absorb flood waters. Wetland vegetation , such as trees, grasses, and sedges , slow the speed of flood waters and more evenly distribute their energy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , the wetlands along the Mississippi River once stored at least 60 days of flood water. (Today, Mississippi wetlands store only 12 days of flood water. Most wetlands have been filled or drained.) Floods can also devastate an environment. The most vulnerable regions are those that experience frequent floods and those that have not flooded for many years. In the first case, the environment does not have time to recover between floods. In the second case, the environment may not be able to adapt to flood conditions. In August 2010, Pakistan experienced some of the worst floods of the century . The annual monsoon , on which Pakistani farmers and consumers rely, was unusually strong. Tons of water drenched the nation. The Indus River burst its banks. Because the river flows almost directly through the narrow country, almost all of Pakistan was affected by flooding. Millions of Pakistanis lost their homes, and almost 2,000 died in the floods. The province of Punjab, the country’s agricultural center, was particularly devastated. Rice, wheat, and corn crops were destroyed. The impact of the floods continued long after the monsoon dwindled and the Indus subsided . Pakistanis experienced food shortages, power outages, and loss of infrastructure . Outbreaks of cholera and malaria developed near resettlement camps. Experts estimated that the rebuilding effort would cost up to $15 billion. Sometimes, floods are triggered by other natural disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis. In January 2011, a major earthquake struck off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The quake triggered a massive tsunami, its crest reaching as high as 40 meters (131 feet). The tsunami crashed more than 10 kilometers (six miles) inland, flooding homes, businesses, schools, parks, hospitals, and the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant . A dam holding a reservoir burst, triggering another flood that destroyed homes. Rain that accompanies hurricanes and cyclones can quickly flood coastal areas. The rise in sea level that occurs during these storms is called a storm surge . A storm surge is a type of coastal flood. They can be devastating. The storm surge that accompanied the 1970 Bhola cyclone flooded the low-lying islands of the Ganges Delta in India and Bangladesh. More than 500,000 people were killed, and twice that number were left homeless. The strong winds associated with hurricanes and cyclones can also whip up and move huge amounts of water, forcing a storm surge far inland. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina brought huge amounts of wind and rain to the Gulf Coast of the United States. The city of New Orleans, Louisiana, was particularly hard-hit. The storm surge from Hurricane Katrina caused some of the city’s levees to break. Levees protect New Orleans from the Mississippi River. The river rushed in and flooded entire neighborhoods . Hundreds of people drowned, and the storm did more than $100 billion in damage. Artificial Causes of Floods Floods can also have artificial sources. Many man-made floods are intentional and controlled. Rice farmers, for instance, rely on flooded fields. Rice is a semi-aquatic crop—it grows in water. After rice seedlings are planted, farmers flood their fields, called rice paddies, in about 15 to 25 centimeters (six to 10 inches) of water. Rice paddies must be carefully engineered to allow controlled flooding. Strong dikes or levees, as well as regulated channels for irrigation , are required. Sometimes, engineers flood an area to restore an ecosystem . In 2008, the U.S.'s Grand Canyon was deliberately flooded. Water was released from dams on the Colorado River , which runs through the Grand Canyon. In 20 minutes, enough water was released from a dam at Lake Powell, Utah, to fill up the Empire State Building. Hydrologists , engineers, and environmentalists hoped that flooding the canyon would help redistribute sediment—which had been blocked up by dams—and create sandbars . Sandbars provide a wildlife habitat , often serving as a shallow bridge for animals such as beavers and bighorn sheep to cross from one side of the river to the other. Dams control the natural flood plains of lakes and rivers. Hydrologists may intentionally flood areas to prevent damage to the dam or increase the water supply for agriculture, industry , or consumer use. Engineers may also intentionally flood areas to prevent the possibility of worse flooding. When heavy rains caused the Souris River to flood in 2011, for example, the water level nearly reached the top of the Alameda Reservoir in Oxbow, Saskatchewan, Canada. Faced with the prospect of catastrophic flooding if the entire dam broke, engineers chose to release huge amounts of water. The reservoir remained intact , but the release contributed to massive floods in both Saskatchewan and the U.S. city of Minot, North Dakota. Not all man-made floods are intentional, however. The natural banks of rivers and streams shrink as people develop land nearby. River banks are valuable real estate for housing, businesses, and industry. From Shanghai, China, to San Antonio, Texas, U.S., rivers are the sites of busy urban areas . In rural areas, factories use river currents to distribute runoff . To accommodate such development , river banks are paved with hard, non-porous materials. Soils and plants are replaced with concrete and asphalt , which can’t absorb water. An unusual amount of rain can cause these rivers to quickly overrun their concrete banks. Australia is conducting an investigation of Brisbane’s development decisions after the Brisbane River overran its banks and flooded the country’s capital in 2011. Streets, downtown business districts, and bridges were destroyed. Water reached the third row of seats in the city’s rugby stadium. The flood waters were high enough at two meters (six feet) that bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) were spotted swimming up major streets. Concrete banks also increase the amount of runoff flowing to nearby bodies of water. This increases the risk of coastal flooding. Venice, Italy, for instance, is frequently flooded as tides from the Adriatic Sea seep into the heavily developed islands on which the city rests.
Hydrologists, engineers, and city planners constantly work to reduce flood damage. Shrubs and plants create buffers to prevent runoff from seeping into flood plains, urban areas, or other bodies of water. The thick vegetation between a river and a flood plain is called a riparian zone . Despite their efforts, people can also radically fail to control floods. The most famous flood in American history, the Johnstown Flood , was an artificial disaster. The tragedy killed 2,209 people and made headlines around the country. Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S., was on a floodplain at the meeting of the Stony Creek and Little Conemaugh rivers. As more people moved to the city, the banks of the rivers were paved and narrowed, causing yearly flooding. Residents were prepared for this. They watched the river and moved their belongings upstairs or onto rooftops as the city flooded. However, residents were not prepared for the additional flood from an entire lake. Located in nearby mountains, Lake Conemaugh was a reservoir created by the South Fork Dam. The lake was an exclusive retreat for members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, which owned the dam. Lake Conemaugh contained 20 million tons of water. On May 31, 1889, the dam broke and the water rushed down the river at 64 kilometers (40 miles) per hour. Johnstown’s leading industry was steel production, and the flood waters quickly became choked with industrial debris—steel cables , chemical solvents , glass, rail cars. The flood destroyed a wire factory, filling the water with tons of barbed wire . About 80 people died when floating wreckage caught fire. Rebuilding Johnstown took years—the bodies of some victims were not found until 20 years later. Although the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club failed to maintain the dam, members of the club successfully argued that the disaster was an “ act of God .” Flood Classification Disaster experts classify floods according to their likelihood of occurring in a given time period. The most common classifications are a 10-year flood, a 50-year flood, and a 100-year flood . A 100-year flood, for example, is an extremely large, destructive event that would be expected to happen only once every century. But this is only an estimate. What “100-year flood” actually means is that there is a 1 percent chance that such a flood could happen in any given year. In recent decades, 100-year floods have occurred more frequently. This may be due to global warming , the current period of climate change . The Red River, which flows along the border of North Dakota and Minnesota, chronically floods. Anything over 8.5 meters (28 feet) is considered “ flood stage ” in the area. In 1997, the river crested at almost 12 meters (40 feet), a record level. In 2009, the record was beaten as the river flooded again, reaching a height of almost 12.5 meters (40.8 feet). The river flooded for 61 days. Flash floods can develop within hours of heavy rainfall. Flash floods can be extremely dangerous, instantly turning a babbling brook into a thundering wall of water that sweeps away everything in its path. Most deaths from flooding occur as a result of flash floods. Flash floods do not have a system for classifying their magnitude . Deserts are vulnerable to flash floods. Wadis and arroyos are dry river beds that only flow during heavy rains. Wadis can be dangerous during flash floods because they rarely have riparian zones to slow the flood’s energy. The city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, developed on the site of several wadis, and floods are frequent after heavy rains. More than 100 people died in flash floods in Jeddah in 2009. The floods developed so quickly that many victims drowned in their cars as streets became submerged . Predicting Floods Today, hydrologists study past flood patterns to help predict where and when floods will happen in the future. The predictions are only estimates, however. Weather , land, and climate can all change. An area’s soil and groundwater provide clues about flooding. Pedologists , or soil scientists, work with hydrologists to determine how much water a region’s earth can absorb. Agricultural soil, for instance, can absorb much more water than sand or bare rock . Groundwater is water already in the earth—in soil, underground reservoirs called aquifers , and even porous rocks. The type of soil and the amount of groundwater tells hydrologists how much more water the earth can absorb. Determining the amount of runoff in an area can also provide clues about the possibility of flooding. Runoff happens when there is more water than soil can absorb. Excess water overflows and runs on top of the land. Runoff can come from natural processes, such as icemelt. It can also come from human activity, such as excess irrigation, sewage, and industrial waste. Controlling runoff can help control floods. Hydrologists work with meteorologists to evaluate snowfall and snowpack . Melting snow contributes to runoff and increases groundwater levels. When snow melts quickly, the ground may not have time to absorb the water. Snowfall is one of the biggest contributors to flooding, and cannot always be predicted. Rapid snowmelt in the Andes Mountains, for example, creates mudslides and floods that disable railways and bridges. In 2010, snowmelt flooding trapped 4,000 tourists in towns near the remote historic site of Machu Picchu, Peru, for two days. Modern technology helps researchers predict floods. Doppler radar , for example, shows scientists where a storm is most severe. Doppler uses motion to detect weather patterns and create computerized images of rainfall. Automated gauges placed in rivers measure the height and speed of river currents, and the amount of rain received. Geographic information system (GIS) maps made with this information help scientists warn people if a river will overrun its banks and flood areas nearby. Preventing Floods For thousands of years, people have tried to prevent and control floods. Yu the Great , for example, is a legendary figure in Chinese history. Around 2100 B.C.E., Yu developed a way to control the devastating floods of the Yellow River. Yu studied data from previous Yellow River floods, noting where the flow was the strongest and flood plains were most vulnerable. Instead of damming the river, Yu dredged it—he and a team of engineers made river channels deeper to accommodate more water. Yu also oversaw the construction of numerous irrigation canals , which diverted the flow of the river’s mainstem during times of flooding. It’s not always possible to prevent floods, but it is often possible to minimize flood damage. Structures around rivers, lakes, and the sea can contain flood waters. Levees, runoff canals , and reservoirs can stop water from overflowing. Levees are usually made of earth. They are built by piling soil, sand, or rocks near a river’s banks. Levees may also be made of blocks of wood, plastic, or metal. They may even be reinforced by concrete. Levees in New Orleans, for example, use compacted earth, wooden beams, iron rebar , steel pilings, and concrete to hold back the mighty Mississippi River. Runoff canals are man-made channels. These structures are connected to rivers and direct excess water away from buildings and residences. One of the first canals in North America was constructed in about 200 B.C.E. to control the seasonal flood waters of Lake Okeechobee, Florida, U.S. Today, southern Florida is criss-crossed by runoff canals that redirect the flow of the Everglades , the “River of Grass” that runs from Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. These canals redirect flood water away from urban areas in southern Florida and toward irrigation canals primarily used for fields of sugar cane . Natural and artificial reservoirs help prevent flooding. Natural reservoirs are basins where freshwater collects. Man-made reservoirs collect water behind a dam. They can hold more water in times of heavy rainfall. In April 2011, the government of Ethiopia announced plans for a large dam on the Blue Nile River. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which would be the largest dam in Africa, would create a reservoir capable of holding 67 billion cubic meters (2.4 trillion cubic feet) of water. The dam would prevent flooding downstream and provide the nation with hydroelectric energy . Conserving wetlands also reduces the impact of floods. Wetlands provide a natural barrier, acting as a giant sponge for storm surges and flood plains. The swamps and bayous of America's southern Louisiana and Mississippi, for instance, protect inland areas from both coastal and riverine flooding. Wetlands absorb the storm surge from hurricanes that hit the area from the Gulf of Mexico. Wetland riparian zones that line the Mississippi River protect fertile flood plains as the river overflows its banks. Many governments mandate that residents of flood- prone areas purchase flood insurance and build flood-resistant structures. Massive efforts to mitigate and redirect floods have resulted in some of the most ambitious engineering efforts ever seen. The Thames Barrier is one of the largest flood-control projects in the world. The Thames Barrier protects the urban area of London, England, from floods from storm surges that rush up the River Thames from the Atlantic Ocean. A series of 10 steel gates span the river near London’s Woolrich district. Each gate can hold back 9,000 tons of water, and disappears into the river when the water is calm. Perhaps the most extensive and sophisticated flood-prevention program is the Zuiderzee Works in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is a low-lying nation that is plagued by coastal flooding from the North Sea. Beginning in the 1200s, the Dutch began to erect a series of massive dikes and levees on its coast. In the 1900s, Dutch engineers worked to isolate and dam an entire inlet of the North Sea, the Zuiderzee. The largest part of the Zuiderzee Works is the Afsluitdijk , a 32-kilometer (20-mile) dike that cuts off the Zuiderzee from the North Sea. In addition to protecting the Netherlands from flooding, the Zuiderzee Works has drained parts of the Zuiderzee for development.
Apres Moi, le Deluge "After me, the flood" (in French, " apres moi, le deluge ") is a phrase attributed to the French King Louis XV or his mistress, Madame de Pompadour. The phrase is a casual way of expressing irresponsibility, something like "When I leave a project, I don't care if a catastrophe happens. It no longer concerns me."
London Beer Flood In 1814, vats containing 1.47 million liters (388,333 gallons) of beer spilled in the St. Giles area of London, England. Several homes and businesses were destroyed, and seven people drowned.
Costliest U.S. Floods As of July 2011, according to the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA): Hurricane Katrina (2005) $16.2 billion Hurricane Ike (2008) $2.6 billion Hurricane Ivan (2004) $1.2 billion Tropical Storm Allison (1989) $1.1 billion Louisiana Flood (1995) $585 million
Flood Myths Stories about great, Earth-drowning floods are common throughout world cultures. Many stories are remarkably similar: A deity warns a virtuous man about a catastrophic flood. The man builds a large boat, saving himself, his family, animals, and plants from the flood, which destroys the rest of Earth. Eventually, the man releases two birds to see if they bring back vegetation (which can only grow in soil). A bird returns, and human civilization is saved. The most famous version of this flood myth is probably the story of Noah, recorded in the Torah, the Bible, and the Quran. Another version is the Mesopotamian legend of Utnapishtim, recorded in the Legend of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest works of literature, predating the Torah by more than a thousand years. The Maasai legend of Tumbainot, the Altai myth of Nama, and the Hawaiian myth of Nuu are all remarkably similar.
Flood as a War Tactic In 1937, the Chinese government destroyed the dike at Huayuankou, on the Yellow River, to stop the Japanese invasion. The invasion continued by a different route, but the environmental devastation of the flooding was immense. At least 800,000 people drowned, and more than a million were made homeless. More than a thousand square kilometers of farmland was underwater. Flooding changed the course of the Yellow River to such an extent that its mouth moved dozens of kilometers to the south. Ten years later, the dike at Huayuankou was rebuilt and the Yellow River resumed its previous course.
Boston Molasses Flood In 1919, an 8.7 million-liter (2.3 million-gallon) tank of molasses exploded in the North End area of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The wave of molasses crested as high as three meters (10 feet) and moved as quickly as 56 kilometers per hour (35 miles per hour). A train was lifted off its tracks, and 21 people died. Six months later, Boston Harbor remained brown with molasses.
"The Hero of Haarlem" A popular story concerns a young boy from the town of Haarlem, Netherlands, who notices a leak in the town's dike. The Spaarne River is flowing through a tiny hole in the barrier, threatening to flood the town. The young boy plugs the leak with his finger, and stays there all night. Adults find him the next morning and permanently repair the leak. Although first written about by an American (Mary Mapes Dodge, in her book Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates ), the story is from the Netherlands. The story has been changed and retold many times. In most versions, the dike is holding back the North Sea, not a river. In some versions of the story, the young boy freezes to death during his all-night stay at the dike.
Toxic Flood There are many examples of toxic materials, from pig manure to coal slurry, flooding communities. One of the most unusual was the 2010 rupture of a chemical storage tank at an aluminum factory in Ajka, Hungary. The bright-red sludge was responsible for at least four deaths, as well as the relocation of hundreds of Hungarians. The toxic sludge, which included lead and arsenic, was eventually diluted by the Danube River.
Articles & Profiles
Audio & video, media credits.
The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.
Illustrators
Educator reviewer, last updated.
November 29, 2022
User Permissions
For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service . If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact [email protected] for more information and to obtain a license. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. She or he will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.
If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.
Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service .
Interactives
Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.
Related Resources
Short on time?
Essay Service Examples Environment Flood
Causes of Flood Essay
- Topics: Flood
- This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples.
Floods are caused by many things. Many times it rains too much, other times a dam breaks; however, the effects of floods devastating. Floods can cause environmental losses as well and economical losses, land is washed away, homes are ruined, and people sometimes even die. This essay is about the causes and effects that flood have on our world.
Floods are caused by many things. One cause of a flood is when water exceeds the capacity of the area it is in; thus causing it to overflow outside the waters boundary. Another cause is the amount of rain that a certain area of land gets. When too much water has rained over a certain area, sewers start getting flooded, creating a backup and water starts to flow on streets. One more way of flooding is when dams break. Massive dams that hold water back prevent flooding. When the gate breaks, the water flows out of it and creates a flood.
Climates and environments have a lot to do with flooding also. A higher altitude might be exposed to more rain than a lower altitude. Also a damper, wetter climate creates it more susceptible for rain, which causes it to flood (flash flood) more frequently than a hot and dry climate. Hurricanes also effect floods to. When a hurricane reaches land, there is an enormous amount of water that is carried along with it. This water dumped on land and as water levels rise, flooding is created.
- Proper editing and formatting
- Free revision, title page, and bibliography
- Flexible prices and money-back guarantee
The effects of floods are devastating. Many times floods can destroy everything. Houses can be torn off their foundation because the water has made its structure weaker, tar can be been pulled off road causing major pot holes, earth can be sunken in creating a different landscape, tons of trees have the possibility of being ripped out. To see the effects after a flood is not a pretty site. Water has to be pumped out of flooded civilian areas.
Another thing that floods effect is the environmental and economical situations. When floods occur, there is a large amount of water that runs over the ground. Loose soil, rocks, and landscape can be dramatically altered, leaving behind a rugged, changed terrain. Loose soil can create mud slides, which create hazardous situations for living things nearby. The economy after the flood can be one of the greatest effected. Billions of dollars have been donated by a countries government to rebuild and payback what was lost. Many times these things include houses, roads, buildings, cars, schools, etc. Another thing that people loose in the event of floods is their jobs; consequently, after water damaging buildings and such, businesses can be run down, bankrupt and even, in existent. This causes lots of people to be jobless, which in effect, creates no way of paying for daily needs.
During floods, humans can lose so much. One of the most dangerous things a person could lose would be their life. If a person gets caught in a flood and is swept away, they have the risk of drowning in the water. Many times people die not only from the flood itself; but the effects after the flood such as starvation, hazardous objects floating in the water, and much more. Because of the water, it is harder for medical services to help civilians. The people rely on the aid workers to bring refugees food; consequently, if the aid workers have a hard time getting through the water, many families starve to death.
Floods are part of everyday lives. They are caused by too much rain, hurricanes, breaking of dams, etc. Many times the effects are devastating. The environment and economy are destroyed, land is washed away, houses are destroyed, and peoples lives are changed forever.
Our writers will provide you with an essay sample written from scratch: any topic, any deadline, any instructions.
Cite this Page
Get your paper done in as fast as 3 hours, 24/7.
Related essay Topics
Popular categories, most popular essays.
Introduction The state of Florida has 1,197 miles of coastline, and sand beaches cover more than 660 miles of this seashore (the State of Florida, 2017). These coastlines can be used for different purposes, and sand beaches can be public and private, as well as appropriate for recreational or residential use (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2015d). However, there are significant threats to these beaches and risks for flora and fauna, as well as for people who live near the...
Globally , flooding is one of the major natural disaster has been increasing as the frequency of flooding which causes from the combination natural hazards, human settlement induced factors and is held responsible for a huge number of damaging events than any other type of natural event have increased . in a minimum flood losses of one third of all due to nature’s that can be to the flooding , Flood harm has been very severe in current decades and...
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood is a Science Fiction novel that was written in 2010. The novel’s complexity and futuristic happenings make the read exceptional even at the surface level. With further analysis, this novel is extremely notable tieing together themes that are of the utmost relevance today. The themes observed throughout the novel are developed as the story furthers itself, watching the progression of these themes go from basic to profound makes for an intriguing read....
In the space of business alarm systems within the method industries had several open analysis topics. The common goal within the mitigation of the impact of alarm floods because of that the operator is lesser than the alarm rate will effectively manage. There are differing kinds of approaches that exist in follow, like rationalizing the device, rising the alarm style or providing on-line operator support. Alarm rationalization was acknowledged for removing terminated alarms that may ensure that the sole alarms...
Egypt and Mesopotamia were two civilizations that bore as many similarities as did differences. Mesopotamia was originally concentrated in Tigris and Euphrates rivers valleys though it gradually spread to other areas. The effects of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers largely impacted the Mesopotamian culture more so about its frequent and destructive floods. This is unlike the Egyptian scenarios where the Nile was predictable and its people’s civilization centered on its activities. It was viewed by Egyptians as an unending blessing...
Introduction History, research and the recent catastrophes of Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita and the more recent Midwest floods have determined that the United States of America is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirms that folds are undoubtedly, the most frequent and costly among all the naturally occurring disasters. The objective of the research proposal is to determine the vulnerability of the Hazardville community to flood disasters. The second objective is to examine how appropriate...
Analysis of the Issue Faced by the Leader in the Scenario In the Riverbend City scenario, I was chosen to work in charge of the Leadership Team that was created for the provision of the emergency response of a flood disaster in Riverbend City. The team is comprised of several people who have very different communication styles. As a result, as a team leader, I must quickly identify the communication styles used by my team members and establish effective communication....
The solar system is believed to have majorly contributed to the formation of the Earth when a cloud of massive swirling dust and gas condensed through a supercooling. Earth has evolved over 4.5 billion years, after such occurrences of massive cooling (Hill, 2016). The solid formed is the current core and the crust, on which the natural bodies sit. After the formation of the earth, several natural phenomena have occurred leading to the development of lakes, rivers, mountains valleys, craters...
The world is full of natural occurrences. Sometimes floods come when people are not aware. The Budalangi flood occurred when people believed that the dykes the government had constructed would protect them. When natural disasters occur, it is how people respond that determines the extent of the damage on human life. It was on a Monday, and people had woken up early to prepare their lands for planting (Birkmann 356). At 7 A.M in the morning, most of the parents...
- Get original paper written according to your instructions
- Save time for what matters most
Fair Use Policy
EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. Should you have any questions regarding our Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected]
We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours.
Coastal Flooding Essay
Coastal Flooding: 1953 Storm Surge Case Study The Storm was a major flood caused by a heavy storm that occurred on the night of Saturday, 31 January 1953 and morning of Sunday, 1 February 1953. The floods struck the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Scotland. A combination of a high spring tide and a sever European Windstorm over the North Sea caused a storm tide, which therefore overwhelmingly surpassed sea defences and causes rapid and wide flooding. A maximum gust was identified as 126mph at Costa Hill, Orkney. Furthermore, Global warming was another contribution due to the rising sea levels. In terms of the effects, the storm itself had resulted in multiple problems and disasters throughout those countries I mentioned before. Firstly, Flood defences were broken through as sea water swept up to two miles inland, inundating low lying areas and flooding thousands of homes. Furthermore, Coastal towns in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent were battered as sea water surged into the streets. To add to this, 307 people in English coastal and villages had lost their lives for example, more than 60 people died between King’s Lynn and Nearby Hunstanton. More than 177 people affected by the storm were lost at sea although on the other hand, more than 30,000 were moved to safety and about 13,000 people evacuated from Canvey Island, Essex. Many died in capsized fishing boats and more than 130 people were killed when the Irish Channel ferry Princess Victoria had sank. In terms of problems in other areas, the death toll did exceed 1,800 In the Netherlands mostly in the South – western province of Zeeland. Also a 1,000 mile stretch of the British coast, from Shetland to Kent was affected. Not only was the storm causing Social problems, but also economic problems for example the estimated damage repair was £50 million. In terms of the Economic effects, firstly estimated damage ran to £50 million at 1953 prices, approximately £1.2 billion at today's prices and to add to this, Infrastructure including power stations, gasworks, roads, railways, sewage services and water services were put Show More
Related Documents: Coastal Flooding Essay
GEOGRAPHY REVISION Essay
Coastal Weathering and Erosion Weathering is the breakdown of rocks where they are. Erosion is when the rocks are broken down and carried away by something e.g. seawater. Mechanical weathering: breakdown of rock without changing its chemical composition. There’s one main type affecting coasts = freeze-thaw weathering. Happens when temperature alternates above and below 0 degrees (freezing point of water) Water goes into rock that has cracks e.g. granite When the water freezes it expands, putting…
Words 3015 - Pages 13
The Rising Seas Essays
Global warming will be felt the most in cities in coastal areas. Global Warming and the rising sea levels will affect coastal cities sooner and with different effects than originally anticipated. These cities will experience trouble with their fresh water sources and damage to their underground infrastructure long before the seas rise high enough to affect the actual buildings. The rising sea levels will affect the way the people that live in coastal areas live their lives and will do so much earlier…
Words 2029 - Pages 9
Mr Adrian Nevuukke Essay example
Using examples explain why methods of coastal management vary from place to place. Coastal management is when you protect the coastline from flooding or erosion, to try and protect the coastline there are various techniques used to protect the coastline, for example: soft engineering and hard engineering. * Soft engineering- Soft engineering uses natural systems for coastal defence such as beaches and dunes which can absorb and adjust to wave and tide energy. * Hard engineering- hard…
Words 1277 - Pages 6
Sea Level Rise In Vancouver
Sea level rise is projected to be an issue for Vancouver as increasing average temperatures melt glaciers and polar ice caps (Hansen 2015). This is putting the city at a greater risk of sea level rise and flooding (ibid). Particularly, the impacts on land use and housing due to the flooding of property of the rich and poor (Sandwell, 2013). As well, due to more intense precipitation, sea level rise, and storm sewer overflow, there is significant impact on a the tourism industry (Sandwell, 2013).…
Words 1664 - Pages 7
Climate Change Essay
changes. In addition, the glaciers and land ice is melting resulting in a increase of sea levels this is thus causing flooding in many low level islands such as the Maldives. It is predicted that in the next few decades such islands will completely be covered in water. Many of the world’s major cities are coastal therefore, when sea levels do rise it will destroy or cause mass flooding with this there will be more disease as the sewers will overflow, in addition the economic costs of such disasters…
Words 1384 - Pages 6
Costal Management Essay
Current Costal Management The coastal zone is a dynamic equilibrium area of natural change and of increasing human use. They occupy less than 15% of the Earth's land surface; yet accommodate more than 40% of the world population (it is estimated that 3.1 billion people live within 200 kilometres from the sea). With three-quarters of the world population expected to reside in the coastal zone by 2025, human activities originating from this small land area will impose an inordinate amount of pressures…
Words 354 - Pages 2
HR Wallingford Interview Prep Essay example
and should have considerable personal drive. People Dr Tim Pullen- Coastal Engineer in HR Wallingford’s Coastal Structures Group. He has 15 years’ experience in project management of coastal engineering consultancy and research. He was author and Editor on the recent EurOtop Overtopping Manual, and an author for the 2008 update of the Handbook of Coastal and Ocean Engineering. Works on Prediction of wave overtopping for coastal and shoreline defences (EurOtop) Andy Steele (or Andrew)- costal engineer…
Words 494 - Pages 2
Geography: Tropical Cyclone and Ocean Currents Essay
natural disasters. We can not fit global warming into that category. We only have us to blame. The North Atlantic Current is what is responsible for the warm temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere. Dangerous and constant thunderstorms could result in flooding. Global warming has many negative affects on the Earth. In this paper I will be talking about the North Atlantic Ocean Current, dangerous thunderstorms and precipitation, and raising temperatures in our Earth. There are a number of ocean currents…
Words 610 - Pages 3
Wetland: Water and north Carolina Essay examples
contributor to water quality problem in coastal North Carolina. If the many wetlands are disappear, there will be more runoff, and the water quality will get worse. Second is the impact of the erosion problem. Wetland vegetation is often very dense, both above and below ground. This plant cover can absorb energy from floods and wave action. By dissipating energy, binding soil and encouraging sediment deposition, wetlands stabilize shorelines along coastal streams, lakes and sounds. So removing…
Words 429 - Pages 2
Essay on Tropical Cyclone and Peña Nieto
mudslide. It's unclear how many people remain buried, he said. Manuel, which strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday evening, was one of three storms bringing devastating deluges and flooding to Mexico. At least 80 people were killed in the storms, Mexico's interior ministry said. Mexico struggles with massive flooding At least 57 dead in Mexico after storms In the Pacific resort city of Acapulco, thousands of tourists were stranded. Storms slam Mexico Storms slam Mexico "Unfortunately, this took…
Words 919 - Pages 4
Learn about what causes flooding, different types of floods—and how to stay safe.
Rain is pouring hard and fast—more than eight inches in just an hour, turning river water brown with mud. Earthworms wiggle up to the ground as the soil becomes too wet for them. A flood might be coming.
Just about any place on Earth can experience flooding. When so much rain falls that the ground can’t absorb it or waterways can’t hold it, the overflowing water becomes a destructive force. In the United States, flooding causes more death and damage than tornadoes, hurricanes, or lightning.
How floods develop
During a rainstorm, precipitation—or the water that comes from rain or snow—goes to different places. Some of it flows into streams, lakes, or city water systems. Other precipitation evaporates and returns to the atmosphere.
But much of the rainwater is absorbed by soil. It flows through the top layer of the ground, to plant roots below the surface. This helps provides plants with the water and nutrients they need to grow. The excess water moves deeper into the ground through layers of dirt and rocks where until it becomes part of natural underground wells called groundwater.
A habitat can naturally absorb a healthy amount of rainfall it needs to thrive. But too much rain can cause lake and river levels to rise and overflow their banks, or the soil to become too wet to absorb more water. And though you might think extremely dry habitats would welcome too much rain, it turns out that the parched dirt can’t absorb the rain fast enough to capture it all.
Severe coastal storms, quickly melting ice and snow, and collapsed barriers (like concrete dams) can also cause floods. Even damaged beaver dams can lead to an overflow of water that the surrounding earth can’t absorb.
Different types of floods
Floods can form slowly over several days or overwhelm an area with little warning. How quickly a flood forms often depends on the habitat.
Slow-forming river flooding happens in regions called floodplains. These are large, flat areas of land along waterways with very shallow banks. When big storms hit, the water overflows the banks and spreads out across the plains.
This type of flooding isn’t always bad. It brings nutrients to the surrounding soil, making it fertile for growing crops. That’s why many people live in or near floodplains.
But too much water can destroy crops and damage homes. Rushing water can disrupt ecosystems by moving aquatic plants and animals to other habitats. And if flooding is so severe that it flows into local water treatment facilities, experts must monitor the incoming water to make sure the water is safe.
Another type of flooding is called a flash flood, when a flood happens within six hours of a heavy rainfall—as much as eight inches an hour. With no place to go, the moving water will tear through highways, valleys, and canyons, washing away vehicles, roads, bridges, and houses.
Quickly melting ice and snow can also cause flash flooding, especially when mountain snowmelt overflows the waterways below. On coastlines, hurricane rains cause water levels to rise, and the high winds push that water onto land. Called a storm surge, this also causes flash flooding.
Flooding in the future
Scientists believe that warming temperatures caused by climate change are increasing the risk of floods all over the world, especially in coastal and low-lying areas.
Warmer water changes the patterns of ocean currents, which changes global weather patterns. This means that some places will receive more rainfall than the ground can absorb. Other places will get less rain so the land will be drier—and unable to handle rainfall when it does occur.
Scientists think that climate change could also cause stronger hurricanes, with more rain and higher winds causing bigger storm surges. A warmer climate could also mean more snowmelt overwhelming the soil; melting polar ice could cause sea levels to rise and increase flooding. ( Find out how you can help slow climate change .)
How to survive a flood
Experts might issue a flash flood watch if weather conditions are right. It doesn’t mean flooding will happen but that meteorologists want people to be prepared. When experts are sure a flash flood is on the way, they issue a warning so people can evacuate immediately. Here’s how to keep you and your family safe.
Before a flood • Know your neighborhood. Research how close you are to streams, drainage channels, canyons, and any other low-lying areas that might flood. • Keep emergency contact phone numbers in one place so you can get in touch with family members. • Put together an evacuation plan and share it with everyone in your household. Know what paths and routes you can use to quickly get to a high, dry place. • Conduct flood drills to practice evacuating quickly. • Maintain an emergency kit with a three-day supply of food and water. Experts recommend canned or dried foods that don't need to be cooked, and at least one gallon of water per day for each person and pet.
During a flood • Never wait for orders to leave; if you think a flood might be coming, evacuate immediately. • If flooding hasn’t started, move important items to upper floors of your house. • If flooding has already started where you are, move to the highest place you can find, like a roof of a house or car. Bring as much food, water, and sheltering blankets as possible. • Never walk through flood water, especially if it’s moving. Hazardous chemicals, sewage, and even wild animals are often in floodwater, and just six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. • If you must walk through water to escape, walk where the water is still. Never touch electrical equipment if you are standing in water, or even if you’re wet. • If water is quickly rising while you’re in your car, leave your vehicle and move to higher ground, like a hill or bridge.
After a flood • If you’ve evacuated your house, return only after you’re given the all-clear from officials. • If you stayed put, check your house for damage to electrical systems and appliances. Get rid of any food that might be contaminated from floodwater (or because it’s been unrefrigerated for awhile). • Check your home for wild animals, especially snakes. They can get washed into your home with the floodwater. • Ask an adult before you use water to brush your teeth, make food, or even wash your hands. Flooding can contaminate water and make you sick.
Learn more about floods at National Geographic .
Flood safety tips from the Nat Geo Kids book Extreme Weather by Thomas Kostigen
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Your California Privacy Rights
- Children's Online Privacy Policy
- Interest-Based Ads
- About Nielsen Measurement
- Do Not Sell My Info
- National Geographic
- National Geographic Education
- Shop Nat Geo
- Customer Service
- Manage Your Subscription
Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
In this essay, the author · Explains that a flood occurs when water is poured over the land and the ground and rivers cannot cope with it. · Explains that a dam
Flash floods are sudden and unexpected, taking place when very heavy rains fall over a very brief period. A flash flood may do its damage miles from where the
2 How can we prevent floods? 500+ words Essay on Flood. Flood is one of the most dangerous natural disasters
Floods are the second-most widespread natural disaster on Earth, after wildfires. All 50 states of the United States are vulnerable to flooding.
20 mark essay on factors causing floods. includes introduction, thesis statement 1-6 and conclusion.
This essay will cover what causes the floods in the first place, the consequences of a freak flooding event as well as what countries do in order to help for
This essay is about the causes and effects that flood have on our world. Floods are caused by many things. One cause of a flood is when water exceeds the
Coastal Flooding: 1953 Storm Surge Case Study The Storm was a major flood caused by a heavy storm ... Geography: Tropical Cyclone and Ocean Currents Essay.
exogenously, this essay separates floods from other natural disasters and uses an ... Figure 3.2: Geographic location of armed conflict (1988-2008) .
Flooding can contaminate water and make you sick. Learn more about floods at National Geographic. Flood safety tips from the Nat Geo Kids book Extreme Weather