In the United States youre more likely to experience a flood than any other natural emergency. Its the countrys
most common natural disaster and many people dont realize theyre at risk until its too late.
For those who dont think massive floods happen where they live it takes only six inches of flood water to knock a grown man off his feet and two feet of floodwater to sweep away an SUV. Small floods can cause massive damage to homes sweep a vehicle away or even take a life.
This guide will explain how a flood happens how to prepare for this type of disaster and how to act if it happens in your area.
What Causes Flooding?
Flooding is caused by a number of things and typically occurs when the ground is saturated to the point that it can no longer absorb more water. Water then rushes over banks and down streets becoming a force that can be destructive and deadly.
Here are some of the ways floods are caused:
- Heavy rains that last anywhere from a few hours to a few days saturate the ground so much that water has nowhere to go.
- Waterways like streams rivers and lakes cannot contain rain and/or snowmelt resulting in overflow.
- Waterways become blocked with debris or ice water backs up and diverts its path often flooding the nearby banks.
- Water systems break including levees and dams as well as sewer and public water systems.
- Storm surges push seawater onto land flooding coastal areas and beyond.
Continue reading
Flooding Preparedness: A Guide to Flood Survival at
Ammo.com.
