Floods
Floods kill more people each year than all other natural disasters combined. Floods can take days to develop and provide people with ample time to take protective measures, or, floods can occur rapidly and force people to make quick , life-preserving, actions. To survive a flood , a person must have knowledge of the flood risks that exist in a particular area, and the person must have absolute respect for the power of moving water.
Flood Watch
The National Weather Service (NWS) will issue a flood watch when flooding is possible in an area.
Flood Warning
The NWS will issue a flood warning when flooding is already occurring an area.
Flash Flood
A flash flood occurs when flood waters build rapidly. Extreme rainfall amounts are usually the cause of flash floods. Flash floods sometimes contain a large wall of moving water that can cause severe damage to structures and roadways.
Urban Flooding
Urban flooding is a term used to describe flooding that occurs in city areas. This type of flooding usually refers to streets being flooded. The main cause of urban flooding is heavy rainfall in a short period of time.
Tidal Flooding
Tidal flooding is a term used to describe flooding caused by rising tide waters. Tidal flooding occurs when some type of force hinders the normal rise and fall of the tides and causes water to back up into tidal areas. Tidal flooding can be caused by astronomical events such as lunar gravitational pull during a full moon. Tidal flooding can be caused by winds that blow from the same direction for an extended period of time. And, tidal flooding can be caused by tropical weather systems passing near the coast.
Protective Measure
Flood Watch
The National Weather Service (NWS) will issue a flood watch when flooding is possible in an area.
Flood Warning
The NWS will issue a flood warning when flooding is already occurring an area.
Flash Flood
A flash flood occurs when flood waters build rapidly. Extreme rainfall amounts are usually the cause of flash floods. Flash floods sometimes contain a large wall of moving water that can cause severe damage to structures and roadways.
Urban Flooding
Urban flooding is a term used to describe flooding that occurs in city areas. This type of flooding usually refers to streets being flooded. The main cause of urban flooding is heavy rainfall in a short period of time.
Tidal Flooding
Tidal flooding is a term used to describe flooding caused by rising tide waters. Tidal flooding occurs when some type of force hinders the normal rise and fall of the tides and causes water to back up into tidal areas. Tidal flooding can be caused by astronomical events such as lunar gravitational pull during a full moon. Tidal flooding can be caused by winds that blow from the same direction for an extended period of time. And, tidal flooding can be caused by tropical weather systems passing near the coast.
Protective Measure
- Know the flood potential for the area that you are in.
- Know the location of high ground and know the routes to that high ground.
- Never attempt to cross a flowing stream of water.
- Never attempt to cross a body of water that has an undetermined depth.