Understanding Different Types Of Floods

Floods can be devastating and there are different types. While they all have many things in common, they each have individual causes.

Flash Floods

There are a lot of people that have a property with a creek running through it. For the most part, it holds very little water. If these are located in areas where there are deep slopes, then they are a risk of a flood. What can happen during heavy rainfall is that the creek or riverbed fills very quickly from the rain and the water capacity becomes too much so that it runs over the riverbed and down the slopes. As it does it pick up speed. The biggest threat here is the speed in which the water travels. It gives very little warning and no time for preparation. The speed gives the water strength and as it moves along it picks up objects along the way.

Coastal Floods

Living along a coastal region is something that many people enjoy.But they are automatically at risk of a flood which may not give much warning. It is as a result of a storm causing a surge in the seawater. The storm creates high winds which in turn causes high waves, which then flood the land.

Urban Floods

Just because an individual doesn’t live near a body of water doesn’t mean they are safe from a flood. They too can be victims of coastal flooding that has travelled inland or flash flood. But, also from a severe rainstorm where the urban area does not have adequate drainage systems.

River Floods

These are much the same as flash flooding however the rivers hold much more water than the creeks. The rivers become overladen with water that it cannot handle, and it overspills. The flooding process moves a little slower than the flash flooding.

Ponding

This type of flooding can occur in flat areas. The ground is not able to soak up the water fast enough.