The Types of Floods

From Rachelle Oblack, About.com Guide June 29, 2008

There are multiple ways flooding can occur. Flash floods are usually the most lethal. Heavy downpours, often in mountainous highlands, can lead to surges of water that turn dry river beds or flood plains into raging torrents in minutes. Local communities usually have little time to flee to higher land, and homes in the water's path can be totally destroyed. Roads and railways are often made impassable, making delivery of aid much more difficult.

Other slow onset floods like those that hit Bangladesh every year can also be lethal but tend to give people much more time to move to higher ground. When deaths occur, they are much more likely to be due to disease, malnutrition or snakebites. In 2007, floods in China displaced tens of thousands of snakes into neighboring areas, increasing the risk of attacks. Slower floods are also less likely to sweep away property, although it may still be damaged or destroyed. Areas are likely to remain under water for much longer. In India in 2007, some were unable to return to their homes for months.

Storms, cyclones and other maritime extreme weather can also produce storm surges, which overcome defenses and swamp coastal areas, as happened in New Orleans in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, Cyclone Sidr in November 2007, and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in May 2008.

Reference: Reuters Alertnet.org

Comments

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The Types of Floods

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