Natural Disasters - Flood

Continuing on with the natural disaster portion of my March series, I am dedicating this post to floods. Floods can come in two forms, flash flooding and river floods. The scary part of flooding is that it can happen to anyone. They are known to cause massive amounts of damage and cause major financial set backs, especially if you are not prepared.

Flooding can occur after several hours of rain (flash floods), or after days of steady rain that has caused the bodies of water to overflow their banks. Those in low-lying areas are extremely susceptible to flood damage, but water damage is something everyone should know about. The first thing you will want to do is verify that you have insurance to cover flood damage. This is often not included in rental or home owner's insurance unless specifically requested.

There are several things that can cause flooding to occur, including:

•  Hurricanes/Tropical Storms - Hurricanes and tropical storms bring rain, wind, and debris with them. The storm surges and heavy rainfall cause massive amounts of flooding that can damage land thousands of miles inland. Some people will lose everything they own to the flood damage.
• Spring Thaw - Winter weather causes snow to pile and freeze the ground. When the weather begins to warm up, the snow will melt, but the ground is still frozen. Streams, lakes, and other bodies of water will rise from the runoff. In areas where hills or mountains are common, you are likely to see flash floods that occur as the runoff begins to pick up.
• Heavy Rain - The most common cause of flash flooding is due to heavy rain. In addition, the most common cause of heavy rain is Nor'easters. These are storms that occur in the Northeast and can bring massive amounts of rain.
• Levee/Dam Breach - Dams and levees are designed to hold water back to prevent flooding from residential and farmland. They weaken over time and break, but when the water is high enough, it can breach the top. Those who are in an area that are near levees or dams should obtain flood insurance.
• Flash Floods - Flash floods can be extremely destructive, clearing areas in a matter of hours. They follow thunderstorms that bring heavy rain, when the rain is falling too fast for the Earth to absorb it.
• New Construction - Anytime you change the landscape, you are creating an increased risk of flooding. The drainage system will be new and unfamiliar to the environment. In addition, when you decrease the amount of soil, you are decreasing the amount of surface area there is for the rain/snow to absorb.

Unfortunately, there is not a lot you can do to prepare for a flood. You will want to make sure you have everything unplugged, power turned off of both electric and gas, and then move everything you can to the upper floors. You will also want to make sure you avoid any flood waters. Flowing water of over six inches can easily make you fall and lead to drowning. Never drive through flood waters because you can easily be swept  away ... regardless of how heavy your vehicle is.

The best way to prepare for floods are to have an evacuation plan in place and have an emergency kit prepared.