Flood Damage and Affects

 

Flooding is one of the most destructive parts of a storm. Even a few inches of floodwater can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage to a residential or commercial building.
One of the reasons Super storm Sandy caused so much destruction, particularly in New York City, on Long Island and on the New Jersey coast, was the storm surge that brought seawater rushing down streets, 0ver cars, through homes and even barreling down into subway stations and the World Trade Center construction site.The surge rose nearly 14 feet when it struck Lower Manhattan.

Flooding occurs when low-lying land adjacent to a water body, such as a stream, river, bay or the ocean, is periodically inundated by water.
Land and structures that are subject to flooding are described as lying in a "flood plain" or a "flood hazard area." FEMA in many places maps the extent (elevation) of the 100-year flood, which is a flood that has a one percent chance of occurring in a given year. Land designated by FEMA as Zone A or Zone V lies within the 100-year flood plain. Zone V applies only in tidal flood hazard areas and denotes additional hazards associated with storm-induced waves.

The State of New Jersey also maps the extent of flooding in many communities. Both FEMA and State flood mapping are described in more detail below.
Flooding can create conditions favorable for a fire to occur, either by causing it or by impeding efforts to fight it.
Flood waters can damage goods, equipment, buildings, fire protection equipment, and machinery by wetting, by foreign material plugging and damaging moving parts, or by floating debris colliding with and damaging equipment. Additionally, water, mud, silt, and debris can block access to properties causing a delay in the fire departments response.

Flooding often causes power outages. In many cases, on-site backup generators or portable generators may be used to supply power for critical operations and repair work. The use of generators should be closely monitored to prevent creating additional hazards. Generators and other fuel-powered equipment should only be used outside the building in order to avoid the build up of carbon monoxide (CO). CO is an odorless and colorless gas that can quickly overwhelm personnel. Exposure to low levels of CO can cause headaches, dizziness, or confusion that can impair a worker's performance and judgment.

Higher levels can lead to death by chemical asphyxiation. For more information of CO, see Physical and Chemical Hazards Report PC-30-08, Carbon Monoxide.
Flooding is not covered under typical Homeowners insurance policies.  It is one of the most common disasters that is not covered by the typical homeowners insurance policy.  It is not covered by a standard homeowner's insurance policy.  It is a significant policy issue for the City of Houston.  

 

Flooding is the most frequently declared type of disaster.  It is a devastating disaster that can occur any time of year.It is a very serious situation, causing up to three billion dollars’ worth of damage to American properties each year.It is a natural disaster that may cause tremendous tangible and intangible damage to the national economy.  Flooding is the leading cause of property loss from natural disasters in Kentucky. 

Flooding can cause serious problems for fire prevention and fire protection of a facility.  It is a problem that is a potential threat to every home in the U.S., regardless of the state.  It is most common from October through April, when storms from the Pacific Ocean, June to November in the atlantic ocean regions, bring intense rainfall to the areas.  It was exacerbated when local drainage facilities became plugged by hail.  Flooding may have caused familiar places to change. 

Flooding is one of the most destructive parts of a storm.

 

Flooding is not covered under typical Homeowners insurance policies.It is one of the most common disasters that is not covered by the typical homeowners insurance policy. Since it's not covered by a standard homeowner's insurance policy,it has become a significant policy issue for the City of Houston.  Flooding was the worst in Trinidad since 1935. 

Flooding is the most frequently declared type of disaster.  It is a devastating disaster that can occur any time of year.  It is a very serious situation, causing up to three billion dollars’ worth of damage to American properties each year.It is a natural disaster that may cause tremendous tangible and intangible damage to the national economy.Flooding is the leading cause of property loss from natural disasters in Kentucky.
 

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. Over the past five years, the average flood insurance claim was more than $35,000, according to FEMA.gov. If you or someone you know has ever experienced a flood, you know that cleanup can require a massive effort.

  Floods can occur at any time during the year. However, flooding most frequently occurs during the rainy season, which extends from June to October. Flooding is more severe when the ground has been saturated due to previous heavy rainfall and the ground water table is high. Flooding around lakes is typically a result of prolonged heavy rainfall on lakes that are already high due to a wetter than normal year. Historically, flooding along streams is due to prolonged heavy rainfall over the drainage area draining to the stream. Major storms affecting the Orange County area include Hurricanes Donna (1960), Frances (2004), and Jeanne (2004). Not only do hurricanes create floods, but they may cause erosion along the banks of rivers and streams.

  Floods occur in wet environments, highlands and lowlands, and in both populated and unpopulated regions. Although they are usually less common in dry environments and highlands, rain falls and snow melts nearly everywhere on Earth leaving few places completely safe. Areas at highest risk are those within the 100 year floodplain. Floodwaters submerge the 100 year floodplain once every one hundred years on average. However, it is entirely possible to have several 100 year floods within a single year. This basic rule of statistics needs to be considered in planning whenever structures are placed within or near the 100 year floodplain.

 

Floods and droughts normally lead to loss of property including farmland and crops for entire village populations. This can lead to food shortages and hunger so severe it requires external intervention. For example, this year farmers at Chalinze, Mlandinzi, and neighbouring villages lost their entire paddy crop due to flooding of the Ruvu River. As a result, many households faced hunger and many predicted that they would fail to pay school fees. Those that borrowed from MFIs faced confiscation of their property to recover loans.

Floods can even sweep property away. This is very common in Dar es Salaam for those living in the lowlands. These people normally spend three months out of their homes and the flooding results in people losing their businesses.

  Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters. Conditions that cause floods include heavy or steady rain for several hours or days that saturates the ground. Flash floods occur suddenly due to rapidly rising water along a stream or low-lying area.

  Floods are the most common natural disasters in America. According to  statistics , more than a hundred people are killed by floods every year. Also, more than four billion dollars worth of damages are caused by floods.

  Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States, however not all floods are alike. Some floods develop slowly, while others such a  flash floods, can develop in just a few minutes and without visible signs of rain.  Additionally, floods can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states.

  Floods can impact animal health as well as human health. Make plans for your livestock and horses in the event you will need to evacuate your farm. •  AVOID leaving animals behind.  If there is no other alternative, keep gates or buildings open so they can escape high water. Provide access to safe free-choice food source, clean water and the safest living areas possible.  Do not rely on automatic watering systems, because power may be lost.  Establish escape routes to safe locations (higher elevation).  Place your contact number and the name and number of your veterinarian on the building.
  Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. From 2003 to 2012, total flood insurance claims averaged  nearly $4 billion per year . Nearly 20% of all flood insurance claims come from moderate-to low risk areas. Some homeowners face flood risk from inside causes (like a broken pipe or water heater), which is usually repaired by a plumber. But flood risks from outside events are quite common and can cause major damage to properties, homes and surrounding areas.
  Floods are high water levels above the banks of a stream channel, lake shore, or ocean coast that submerge areas of land usually not submerged. They are natural, reoccurring events in every stream, lake, and coastal environment. A flood can be caused by unusually intense or prolonged precipitation, storm surges, dam collapses, etc. Since most of the world's population lives on or near coasts and floodplains, floods are a threat to hundreds of millions of people. Floods can cause loss of life, extensive damage to property, contamination of drinking water, and destruction of crops and fields. They can also trigger other hazards such as slope failures and even fires . However, they often help produce rich soils for agriculture, which encourages people to live in floodplains.
  Floods are the most lethal of all natural disasters. Less than a foot of gushing water can knock you down; your car can start to float in two feet of water.

  Floods are the most common natural disaster and cause damage the most property worldwide. Flood waters can be deeper and stronger than they look, destroying buildings and carrying rocks, mud, and debris. Sometimes floods develop gradually, allowing some time to prepare, but flash floods—caused by heavy rain, levy breaches, or dam failures—can develop in just minutes. Climate, geography, and manmade structures interact to influence the danger of flooding in a given area. You should know the potential for flooding where you and your family live and go and take appropriate precautions.
 It is the most common natural disaster and the leading cause of natural disaster deaths worldwide.  It is the number one weather-related cause of deaths worldwide.  It is the most common and widespread of all weather-related natural disasters.  Floods are the most common natural disasters in America. 

It is one of the most common hazards in the United States, however not all floods are alike.  It is probably the most widely experienced geologic hazards.  It is among the most powerful and devastating of natural events.  Floods can be slow, or fast rising but generally develop over a period of days. 

 

Floods can occur within a few minutes or develop over several hours, causing devastating damage to your home or property.  It can cause loss of life, extensive damage to property, contamination of drinking water, and destruction of crops and fields.  It can damage fire protection systems, delay response times of emergency responders and disrupt water distribution systems.  It can occur anywhere, but are more likely to occur in low-lying areas or near water.  

 

Floods are unpredictable and can occur anywhere at anytime – which is what makes them so dangerous.  It are the deadly and destructive  result.  It is characterized by their duration, intensity and frequency, cause, and subsequent impact.  It can cause severe physical damage to homes and businesses.  Floods were triggered by days of sudden, heavy rain and have washed away roads and crops.