Causes And Effects Of Flood

The flood is a body of water that covers the usually dry ground. Floods are frequent natural
disasters that could impact millions of people around the world. They demolish houses and
structures, and they take the land away from the fertile agricultural property. Floods can also be a
cause for making drinking water contaminate and which may lead to diseases. Rivers mostly
cause these, but overflowing lakes and seas can also cause floods.

Flooding has always been a part of human history. Many ancient civilizations grew along rivers
and seas since people required water for their fields.

Floods are not necessarily harmful natural phenomena. Until the Aswan High Dam, the annual
floods in Egypt carried nutrients and made the land around the Nile very fertile. Every year,
during the monsoon season in Bangladesh, floods depose fertile soil but also kill thousands of
people and leave millions homeless.

Causes And Effects:

No matter what sort of flood you deal with, they are usually caused by the same primary factors,
and there are always negative consequences.

In this section, we will cover the root causes and consequences of the floods to help you better
understand this dangerous meteorological and hydrological phenomenon. When you read the
above section on the forms of flooding, you may just want to skip the flood results.

Causes:
There are several different causes of flooding, as we described above. Although various forms of
floods usually have different causes, the majority of floods are triggered by one of the following
activities.

1. Rainfall is the most straightforward cause of flooding. If there's too much rain or it's
going to happen too quickly, there's just no place to go. It can lead to flooding like flash
floods.

2. The overflowing rivers are another source of flooding. You don't need heavy rainfall to
encounter flooding in the river. As we have mentioned before, the flood of the river can
happen when there is debris in the river or dams that block the flow of water.

3. Speaking of dams, broken dams are another source of floods. Older infrastructure will
fail with heavy rainfall and rising water levels. When the dams break, they release
torrents of water to unsuspecting households. That's part of what happened when
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005.

4. The storm surge and tsunamis are also causing flooding. Storm surges from hurricanes
and other tropical storms may cause sea levels to rise and, as a rule, cover dry coastal
areas in several feet of water. Tsunamis, on the other hand, are massive waves caused by
earthquakes or underwater volcanic eruptions. As these waves move inland, they build
heights and can push a lot of water inland in coastal areas.

5. Channels with steep banks are also responsible for the flooding. Flooding also happens
when there is heavy drainage into reservoirs, rivers, and other basins. That is also the case
for rivers and other channels for steep sides.

6. The lack of vegetation will lead to flooding. Vegetation can help to slow down the runoff
and avoid flooding. If there is a lack of vegetation, there is nothing to stop the water from
running off and the river banks and streams from flowing.
 7. The melting of snow and ice is another critical cause of flooding. When a significant
amount of snow or ice melts quickly, there is always no place to go except for low-lying
areas.

These are not all the reasons that floods can happen, but they are some of the most important.

Effects:

No matter what triggers the flood, it can have catastrophic effects on your society. Besides, there
are many dangerous effects of flooding. In addition to physical hazards, floods also cause
economic and social problems. We 're going to cover the most common flood effects in this
section.

Loss of Lives

Death is the most severe effect of flooding. In reality, floods are the number one extreme weather
killer. Floods have claimed thousands of lives in history. But how is the flood killing?

Floods kill by taking people away or drowning in fast-moving water. Only six inches of water is
required to wash a human clean. Floods can kill people, too, by damaging structures and creating
dangerous conditions. Waterborne diseases cause one of the often-overlooked deadly
consequences of flooding.

From 2010 to 2018, the National Weather Service has reported hundreds of deaths in floods
across the United States. Texas had most of these deaths, with a total of 212 fatalities in the eight
years.
Property Damage

Since it only takes two feet of floodwater to wash a car away, floods can also cause a significant
loss of property. You've certainly seen images of cars floating away in floodwaters. That's why
it's so essential to avoid flooded areas when driving. You don't want to be in your car when it's
washed away by the flood!

Flooding also causes structural damage to buildings by blowing out windows, sweeping doors,
destroying walls and foundations, and delivering debris to facilities at a rapid rate. Not to
mention the furniture and objects inside a home or company that are damaged by floodwaters
inside the house.

Economic Impacts

The economic impact of the floods can be devastating for the community. This is caused by
damage and disruption to such things as communication towers, power plants, roads and bridges.
This puts market operations in a region at a standstill. Sometimes, massive floods contribute to
dislocation and disruption of everyday life long after floodwaters recede.

Psychosocial Flooding Effects

Flooding can also contribute to long-term trauma for victims. Loss of loved ones or homes can
take a steep emotional toll, particularly for children. Displacement from one's home and loss of
livelihood can lead to ongoing stress and lasting psychological impacts.
Conclusion:

The defence of floods today has a high priority in countries that are at risk. Dams are constructed
along rivers to regulate the flow of water. These are also connected to hydroelectric power
plants. For certain places, rivers are dredged, and their banks are deepened. In alpine regions,
reservoirs are built to hold back water and regulate the flow of small streams.

London is covered from floods by the Thames Barrier, a structure that rises and prevents water
from reaching London when it exceeds a certain height.

Across some instances, the authorities offer immediate and unbureaucratic assistance to citizens
who have suffered from flooding. Special boats pick up people stuck on roofs or on the upper
floors of buildings. Shelters have been set up for people who are left homeless. Rebuilding after
massive floods often takes months, sometimes even years.