Flood

By: Naomi Nelson

Grade: 5
 CONTENT

Acknowledgement ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

Flood ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Causes of Flood ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-5

Harm to people ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6-7

Control Flooding --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

Bibliography -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This project would not have been completed without the help of these fellow persons to

whom I am very grateful. Firstly I would like to thank the omnipresent creator, God who gave

me the chance to complete this given assignment. Secondly, I would like to thank my mom for

all her support.

Thank you.
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INTRODUCTION

Flooding is an occurrence when water overflows or inundates land that's normally dry.

This can happen in a multitude of ways. Most common is when rivers or streams overflow their

banks. Excessive rain, a ruptured dam or levee, rapid ice melting in the mountains, or even an

unfortunately placed beaver dam can overwhelm a river and send it spreading over the adjacent

land, called a floodplain.

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WHAT IS A FLOOD

It is a natural event or occurrence where a piece of land (or area) that is usually dry land,
suddenly gets submerged under water. Some floods can occur suddenly and recede quickly.
Others take days or even months to build and discharge.

When floods happen in an area that people live, the water carries along objects like houses,
bridges, cars, furniture and even people. It can wipe away farms, trees and many more heavy
items.

Floods occur at irregular intervals and vary in size, duration and the affected area.

It is important to note that water naturally flows from high areas to low lying areas. This means
low-lying areas may flood quickly before it begins to get to higher ground.
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WHAT CAUSES FLOODING

Rains
Each time there are more rains than the drainage system can take, there can be floods.
Sometimes, there is heavy rain for a very short period that result in floods. In other times, there
may be light rain for many days and weeks and can also result in floods.

River overflow
Rivers can overflow their banks to cause flooding. This happens when there is more water
upstream than usual, and as it flows downstream to the adjacent low-lying areas (also called a
floodplain), there is a burst and water gets into the land.

Strong winds in coastal areas

Sea water can be carried by massive winds and hurricanes onto dry coastal lands and cause
flooding. Sometimes this is made worse if the winds carry rains themselves. Sometimes water
from the sea resulting from a tsunami can flow inland to cause damage.
Dam breaking
Dams are man-made blocks mounted to hold water flowing down from a highland. The power in
the water is used to turn propellers to generate electricity. Sometimes, too much water held up in
the dam can cause it to break and overflow the area. Excess water can also be intentionally
released from the dam to prevent it from breaking and that can also cause floods.
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Ice and snow-melts

In many cold regions, heavy snow over the winter usually stays un-melted for some time. There
are also mountains that have ice on top of them. Sometimes the ice suddenly melts when the
temperature rises, resulting in massive movement of water into places that are usually dry. This
is usually called a snowmelt flood.
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HOW CAN IT HARM US

Flooding affects people in a multitude of ways. People suffer stress on multiple fronts, not just as
flooding occurs, but also in the anticipatory period preceding a flood and during the cleanup and
recovery phase. Flooding can damage properties, destroy homes, create financial burden and
cause emotional hardship. Coping with floods also can bring together communities, fostering
camaraderie and goodwill.

Physical Property

Floods damage property. Flood waters damage land by eroding shore lines and stripping soils, as
well as taking out whatever natural vegetation may be in the path of the flowing water. Floods
also damage personal property, such as vehicles and homes, creating hazardous living conditions
if water is not cleaned up immediately. Flood waters carry with them many health and injury
risks, including diseases and hazards such as sharp glass or metals. Flooding also may
contaminate water supplies, wreck drainage systems and damage farm crops.

Financial Burden

Some insurance companies will cover damages caused by flooding, but others will not. Damage
that is caused by natural causes is not universally covered by insurances. Homeowners should
check with their insurance agent to ensure proper coverage for natural disasters. The National
Flood Insurance Program is a source of insurance to many Americans. However, without proper
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insurance, flood-stricken families may be left without means to find alternate shelter or to meet
their basic needs. Individual states may offer government aid to flood affected people. Also
available are agencies, such as the Red Cross, that provide support during disasters.

Emotional Effects

People affected by flooding may experience a range of emotions, including anxiety, fear, anger,
frustration, sadness and grief. It is natural for people who experience traumatic events, such as
flooding, to experience difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, depressed or angry moods and
heightened feelings of anxiety. Often mental health professionals are made available by
organizations planning for disaster response, such as the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) or the American Red Cross. Mental health professionals attend to the
psychosocial needs of flood victims, ensuring that they receive timely information, have their
basic needs met and are trained to watch for signs that someone is struggling to cope.

Long-term Effects

Loss of life is the most devastating experience flooding inflicts on people. This pain includes the
loss of human life, livestock and beloved pets. Another long-term effect of flooding is economic
hardship. This hardship is caused by the loss of livestock, farm crops, damage to food stores and
damaged to industries or stores. Floods also damage the tourist industry, as travelers are more
likely to avoid flood-damaged regions. Tourist attractions may be irreparably damaged.
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WHAT CAN WE DO TO CONTROL FLOODING

Some methods of flood control have been practiced since ancient times. These methods include
planting vegetation to retain extra water, terracing hillsides to slow flow downhill, and the
construction of floodways (man-made channels to divert floodwater). Other techniques include
the construction of levees, dikes, dams, reservoirs or retention ponds to hold extra water during
times of flooding.

Methods of Control

In many countries, rivers prone to floods are often carefully managed. Defences such as
levees, bunds, reservoirs, and weirs are used to prevent rivers from bursting their banks. When
these defences fail, emergency measures such as sandbags or portable inflatable tubes are used.
Coastal flooding has been addressed in Europe and the Americas with coastal defences, such as
sea walls, beach nourishment, and barrier islands.

A dike is another method of flood protection. A dike lowers the risk of having floods compared
to other methods. It can help prevent damage; however it is better to combine dikes with
other flood control methods to reduce the risk of a collapsed dike.

A weir, also known as a lowhead dam, is most often used to create millponds, but on the Humber
River in Toronto, a weir was built near Raymore Drive to prevent a recurrence of the flooding
caused by Hurricane Hazel in 1954, which destroyed nearly two fifths of the street.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://eschooltoday.com/natural-disasters/floods/effects-of-flooding.html
http://eschooltoday.com/natural-disasters/floods/what-causes-floods.html
http://eschooltoday.com/natural-disasters/floods/what-is-a-flood.html
https://sciencing.com › Nature