Floods are named for how often they occur: 10-year, 50-year and 100-year floods are the most disastrous, for they are less common than the yearly monsoons. There are also three types of floods -- slow-onset, rapid-onset and flash. The last one is the most dangerous as it can occur without warning and poses the greatest threat to human life.
Floods can be caused by a number of factors. High amounts of rainfall, melting snow, a blocked waterway, oversaturated ground or a natural floodplain during the rainy season can all cause rising water levels. There can also be a combination of causes, such as oversaturated ground and melting snow. Floods can occur from a storm that is many miles away, even if rain is not falling in the flooded area. There are very few places in the world that do not have to be wary of flooding.
There is usually both physical and monetary damage to an area from flooding. Often, transportation infrastructure, such as roads, cannot be used and usually requires rebuilding after the flooding subsides. People can be injured or killed by rushing waters, or carried far away from their homes by currents. These very same waters can sweep away livestock and buildings, requiring residents to rebuild entire areas and restock farms.
Good safety practices are integral to protecting both property and life during a flood. Stay away from flooded areas or roads, especially those with electrical wires nearby. Listen to the radio for disaster instructions concerning evacuation. Sandbag your house and property if necessary. Know whether you are in a flash flood zone or not, for even if it is not raining, flooding can occur without warning from water upstream of an area. According to The Weather Channel, there have been over 10,000 deaths due to flooding in the U.S. since 1900. Always be aware of your surroundings in a flood, for even 6 inches of water can knock an individual down if it is traveling fast enough.
