Looking for flood facts? Floods occur when water overflows onto normally dry land, posing serious problems for agriculture, public health and safety, and engineering. Now, read some strange flood facts.
Flood Facts: 1-10
1. No region in the US is impervious to flooding. Flash floods are a hazard in all 50 states.
2. Apart from wildfires, floods are the most common natural disaster. 90% of all natural disasters confirmed by the President in the U.S. involve some form of flooding.
3. Due to the fact that homeowner’s insurance almost never covers flood damage, flood insurance is critical for residents of high-risk flood zones.
4. It is critical to stock up on first aid supplies, non-perishable foods, three gallons of water per person for three days, a battery-operated radio for weather reports, extra batteries, and personal hygiene necessities in advance of a flood.
5. Spring thawing (snow and frozen ground melting in the spring), heavy rainfall, snow melt runoff, flash floods, and mudflows all contribute to flooding.
6. To stay safe during a flood, seek refuge on the highest possible ground or floor. If your skin comes into contact with flood water, thoroughly wash it with soap and disinfected water to remove any unknown contaminants.
7. Wetland’s function as natural sponges, storing and gradually releasing floodwaters after the peak flood flows have passed. A single acre of wetland saturated to a depth of one foot can retain 330,000 gallons of water. This volume of water is sufficient to flood 13 normal-sized homes thigh deep!
8. There are five distinct categories of flooding: coastal, catastrophic, urban, riverine, and aerial flooding.
9. Coastal flooding is caused by sea level rise, such as a hurricane’s storm surge.
10. Catastrophic flooding is caused by a failure of infrastructure, such as a levee or dam.
Flood Facts: 11-21
11. Urban flooding is caused by an overburdened drainage system or storm sewer system.
12. Riverine (Channel) flooding occurs when water from a pond, lake, or river overflow.
13. Aerial flooding occurs as a result of excessive rainfall or snowmelt.
14. A flash flood occurs when an area that is prone to flooding is suddenly and rapidly flooded.
15. The deadliest flood in recorded history was the China floods of 1939, also known as the Yangtze-Huai River floods of 1931. According to some estimates, the death toll could reach four million. Additionally, this flood is considered the most lethal natural disaster in recorded human history.
16. The National Weather Service issues flash flood warnings. When a flash flood is occurring or is imminent, the NWS issues this type of weather alert.
17. It is critical to avoid walking in flood water because it only takes six inches of flood water moving quickly enough to knock an adult over, carrying them along or drowning them.
18. Floodwater is never safe to drink, regardless of whether it is caused by melting snow or overflowing rivers.
19. The fatal flood in America ’s history struck Galveston, Texas, in 1900, killing over 6,000 people.
20. Flood water can be extremely hazardous to public health due to the presence of dangerous microorganisms, debris, sewage, etc.
21. In the United States, flooding costs approximately $8 billion per year.