Joanne Mattern - Floods

Floods

Joanne Mattern

Most of the time, water is a good thing. We need water to drink and to grow our food. We wash with water and use it to power machines. Water can also be fun to play in. Many people enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating in water all over the world. People could not survive without water. However, too much water can be dangerous and devastating.

A flood occurs when water covers an area of land that is usually dry. Floods are one of the most common natural disasters on Earth. Most of the worlds population lives near rivers or oceans, so flooding is a big problem for people every year, all over the world.

Floods affect more than 500,000,000 people every year and cause billions of dollars in damage.

Most floods happen when there is too much rain. Usually, water falls from the sky to the Earth as rain or snow. The water drains into rivers and streams. From there the water flows into the ocean. Finally, some of the water in the ocean evaporates, or turns into a gas. The gas rises into the clouds and turns into rain or snow. This process is called the water cycle.

Usually the water cycle works just fine. However, sometimes bad storms develop. These storms can produce large amounts of rain. When a lot of rain falls, the ground cannot absorb all of it and streams and rivers overflow. These conditions may create a flood.

Snow can also cause floods. If an area gets a lot of snow in the winter, it can produce a heavy , or flow of water, when the snow melts in the spring. The melted snow can make rivers and streams overflow.

When snow melts after a hard winter, so much water rushes into streams and rivers that it can create devastating floods for miles.

Floods can cause a tremendous amount of damage. If floodwaters enter a house, they can destroy the furniture, the floors, and the walls. Floodwaters also can destroy a buildings electrical system. After the water recedes, the building may be filled with mud and grows on water-soaked walls. Mold is dangerous to breathe and can cause many serious illnesses. A flood can also damage streets, cars, and anything else in its path.

A rush of water can be powerful enough to move furniture, knock holes in the walls, or even separate a home from its foundation.

Floods are deadly. Every year, thousands of people around the world are killed in floods. Some people drown when they are swept away by the water. Others are killed by debris in the water. It is important to learn all you can about floods so you will know how to deal with this devastating disaster.

Fast Fact

Moving water can be incredibly dangerous. Just six inches (15.24 centimeters) of moving water can knock a person off his or her feet. Two feet (60.96 centimeters) of rushing water can sweep away a car.

Most floods occur naturally. There are three main kinds of floods: alluvial, coastal, and flash.

Alluvial floods happen when rivers overflow. This type of flooding happens when a large amount of rain or snow fills rivers with too much water. The Midwestern part of the United States is often hit by alluvial floods.

Sometimes people have to seek shelter on the highest part of their homes: the roof.