| A flood is an overflow of water, an expanse of water | | | | areas. |
| submerging land, a deluge. Floods are most commonly | | | | 4. Flash flood: It is the most dangerous type of floods |
| widespread of all natural disasters. They are also one | | | | as it is the fastest moving types and comes without |
| of the most dangerous disasters as they carry enough | | | | warning. It is a specific type of flood that appears and |
| power to change the shape of land on Earth. They | | | | moves quickly across the land, catching people off |
| are one of the most costly weather related disasters | | | | guard and unprepared .the causes of these types of |
| and are usually short lived events which happen | | | | floods include highly concentrated rainfall, repeated |
| suddenly, with little warning. The amount of flooding | | | | thunderstorms or tropical storms. Dam failures create |
| depends on the intensity of rainfall and the prolongation | | | | the worst type of flash flooding as a large quantity of |
| of the rainfall. | | | | water is suddenly let loose downstream, destroying |
| Types of Floods | | | | any thing that obstructs its path. Water can rise up to |
| 1. River flood: this is a naturally occurring flood. Some | | | | the height of 20 feet, carrying a huge amount of debris |
| are seasonal, occurring only during a particular season; | | | | along with it. |
| say winter or spring, when melting snow combines | | | | 5. Ice jam: Floating ice can accumulate at a natural or |
| with spring rains, filling the river valley with too much | | | | man-made obstruction and stop the flow of water. |
| water, thus flooding the miles of land | | | | Effects of floods: Soil erosion is one of the most |
| 2.Coastal flood:These kinds of floods are caused due | | | | prominent effects of floods. The people affected by |
| to the winds generated by intense low pressure | | | | floods are cut off by the rest of the country and most |
| systems which drive ocean water inland causing | | | | means of contact are disabled. The amount of food if |
| intense flooding. Coastal floods are also caused by | | | | insufficient can be another cause of death after a |
| tsunamis, or tidal waves, which are produced by earth | | | | flood occurs. Flood water destroys several granaries, |
| quakes. Beaches and coastal houses are swept | | | | fisheries and standing crops. Several roads are |
| away by the water causing intense destruction. | | | | submerged in water. Floods can cause land slides and |
| 3. Urban flood: Urbanisation causes what is called | | | | debris slides which are quite catastrophic in nature. |
| deforestation which includes conversion of fields and | | | | Prevention of floods: Changing land use from farmland |
| woodlands into commercial purposes, thus decreasing | | | | should be stopped. Construction of dams and levees |
| the water absorbing capacity of the land. This factor | | | | reduce the risk of floods to a large extent.. Zoning |
| amplifies the magnitude of the floods and streets | | | | restrictions limit flood damage. Governments should |
| become swift mirrors. The damage cost is high in | | | | pass laws preventing uncontrolled building on flood |
| these types of floods as they occur in commercial | | | | plains to limit flood risks and to protect nearby property. |