a short essay on flooding

Flood Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on flood.

Flood is one of the most dangerous natural disasters. It happens when excessive water is collected in any area. It usually happens due to heavy rainfall. India is highly prone to flood. There are many regions in the country that face this natural disaster because of the overflowing of rivers. Moreover, it also happens because of the melting of snow. Another reason for floods is when the dam breaks down. If we look at the coastal areas, the hurricanes and tsunamis are held responsible for causing floods. In this essay on flood, we will see the prevention and after-affect of flood.

In other words, whatever the cause may be, it is equally dangerous. It has a lot of harmful consequences. Flood damages the living conditions and it takes a lot of time to recover from this disaster. Therefore, the consequences of floods must be known and steps must be taken to prevent it.

After-effects of Flood

Floods interrupt with the day to day functioning of the affected area. The severe floods sometimes cause mass destruction. A lot of people and animals lose their lives due to floods. Several others are injured. Floods also bring a rise in diseases. The stagnant water attracts mosquitoes causing malaria , dengue, and more illnesses.

Furthermore, people face power cuts due to the danger of electrocution. They also have to face expensive pricing. As the supply of food and goods gets limited, the prices naturally grow higher. This creates a big problem for the common man.

Most importantly, the whole country faces economic loss. The resources needed to rescue people and tackle this disaster demands a hefty amount. Plus, the citizens lose their houses and cars which they worked all their lives for.

Subsequently, floods also hamper the environment. It causes soil erosion and this degrades the quality of the soil. We lose out on fertile soil. Similarly, floods also damage flora and fauna. They damage crops and displace trees. Thus, the measure should be taken to avoid these grave consequences.

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Ways to Prevent flood

The government and citizens must work together to formulate ways to prevent floods. Proper awareness must be spread about the steps to take when floods occur. Warning systems must be set up so people get sufficient time to save themselves. In addition, areas that are more likely to have floods must have tall buildings above the flood level.

Other than that, dams must be constructed strongly. The use of cheap materials causes dams to break. The government must ensure there is a quality building of dams to prevent floods.

In short, we cannot prevent natural causes like rain and the melting of glaciers. However, we can stop the manmade causes like breaking of dams, poor drainage system, installing warning systems and more. We should take inspiration from countries like Singapore that never experience floods despite having heavy rainfall for most time of the year.

FAQ on Flood Essay

Q.1 what are the consequences of a flood.

A.1 Floods cause immense destruction. They are responsible for the loss of human and animal lives. People lose their homes and cars in floods. They also cause soil erosion and uproot of trees.

Q.2 How can we prevent floods?

A.2 Governments must take up certain measures to prevent floods. We can install flood warning systems. Make people aware of what to do in times of flood. Moreover, we can also build a proper drainage system that will ensure no waterlogging.

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The Many Effects of Flooding

Floods can be destructive to humans and the natural environment, but they also help to drive biodiversity and are essential to the functioning of many ecosystems.

Earth Science, Climatology, Geography, Physical Geography

1931 Yangtze River Flood

In 1931, water overwhelmed the banks of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, resulting in the Central China flood. Killing at least hundreds of thousands and potentially millions of people, it was one of the worst flooding events in recorded history. Here, people near the Yangtze River are shown.

Photograph from Adrienne Livesey, Elaine Ryder, and Irene Brien

It is hardly surprising that rivers have been an important part of human history: They provide food, freshwater, and fertile land for growing crops. While water is essential to life, it can be a destructive force too. When rivers flood, the effects can be catastrophic. Flooding is one of the most common types of natural disaster, and the results are often fatal. The Central China flood of 1931, for example, was one of the worst flooding events in recorded history. The Yangtze and Huai Rivers broke their banks, killing as many as several million people. The aftermath was devastating; deadly waterborne diseases like dysentery and cholera spread quickly, and those who survived faced the threat of starvation. The human cost of flooding can be large, but events like this have a big impact on the natural world too, and the effects are not always negative. In fact, some ecosystems rely on seasonal flooding to drive ecological processes. Floods Can Harm Wildlife Flooding can have a negative effect on wildlife, causing drowning, disease proliferation, and habitat destruction. In 2012, hundreds of animals, including many vulnerable one-horned rhinos ( Rhinoceros unicornis ), were killed in floods that swamped Kaziranga National Park in the Indian state of Assam. Unpredictable floods can be harmful even to aquatic life. For example, fish can be displaced and their nests destroyed.

Floods Cause Sedimentation and Erosion Floodwater can also alter the landscape, for instance, by eroding riverbanks and causing them to collapse. As floodwater carries material from the eroded banks, it suspends sediment in the water, which can degrade water quality and lead to harmful blooms of algae. Suspended sediment eventually settles out of the water in a process called sedimentation, which can clog riverbeds and streams, smother aquatic organisms, and destroy habitats. Erosion and sedimentation have a more negative impact on ecosystems that are already degraded or heavily modified. Floods Carry Contamination Floodwater can be contaminated with pollutants such as agricultural pesticides , industrial chemicals, debris, and sewage. If contaminated floodwater enters the ocean it can affect water quality and disrupt delicate ecosystems, such as coral reefs. In February 2019, marine biologists feared for the safety of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, a state in Australia, after it was inundated with polluted floodwater. Floods Spread Diseases Floods are the leading cause of weather-related infectious disease outbreaks. Flooding events increase the chance of spreading waterborne diseases, such as hepatitis A and cholera. Receding floodwater can create stagnant pools of water, which provide the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, which can transmit malaria and other diseases. Flood events also lead to an increase in some forms of  zoonosis , such as leptospirosis. Floods Carry Nutrients While floods bring hazards, they also bring nutrients and essential components for life. Seasonal floods can renew ecosystems, providing life-giving waters in more ways than one. Floods transport vital nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic material, to the surrounding land. When the water recedes, it leaves sediment and nutrients behind on the floodplain. This rich, natural fertilizer improves soil quality and has a positive effect on plant growth, thus increasing productivity in the ecosystem. Ancient civilizations first arose along the deltas of seasonally flooded rivers, such as the Nile in Egypt, because they provided fertile soil for farmland. Floods Recharge Groundwater Floods can replenish underground water sources. Floodwater gets absorbed into the ground then percolates through layers of soil and rock, eventually reaching underground aquifers . These aquifers supply clean freshwater to springs, wells, lakes, and rivers. Ecosystems rely heavily on groundwater during dry spells when it may be the only supply of freshwater available. A good supply of groundwater has a positive impact on soil health and leads to more productive crop and pasture lands. Floods Can Trigger Breeding Events and Migrations Floods can trigger breeding events, migrations, and dispersal in some species. In 2016, thousands of water birds flocked to the Macquarie Marshes in the Australian state of New South Wales. Flooding had filled their wetland habitat for the first time in years, triggering a mass breeding event. In Cambodia, monsoon rains cause an annual flood pulse on the Mekong River that prompts migrations for some animals. The floodwaters cause the Tonle Sap river, which connects the Mekong River to Tonle Sap lake, to reverse its flow, filling the lake. When floodwater enters the lake, it triggers fish migrations, supporting one of the world’s most productive fisheries. Floods Can Boost Fish Stocks Small seasonal floods can be beneficial to native fish stocks and can help those fish outcompete invasive species that are not adapted to the river’s cycles. Sediment deposited on riverbeds during floods can provide a nursery site for small fish. Nutrients carried by floodwater can support aquatic food webs by boosting productivity. Floods Bring Life to Wetlands Wetlands are an extremely important ecosystem; approximately 40 percent of the world’s species rely on them. They filter water, mitigate flooding, and act as a carbon sink . The Okavango Delta in Botswana is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site and one of the world’s largest, most important wetland habitats. The river captures rainfall from far to the north in the highlands of Angola. This causes a flood pulse that replenishes the wetlands at the height of the dry season, providing a lush oasis in the Kalahari Desert. National Geographic Explorer Steve Boyes, with a team of scientists and Explorers, has participated in a series of expeditions to trace the Okavango from source to sand to protect the waters of this unique habitat. Floods are a force of nature, and their consequences, both positive and negative, are strongly felt by affected ecosystems. Floods can be destructive to humans and the natural environment, but they also help to drive biodiversity and are essential to the functioning of many ecosystems. Whether you regard floods as good or bad, one thing is for certain: The world would be a very different place without them.

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Flood Essay

Floods are natural disasters that occur when a body of water, such as a river or ocean, overflows its banks and spills onto the surrounding land. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including heavy rainfall, melting snow, and storms . Here are a few sample essays on floods.

100 Words Essay on Floods

Floods are naturally occurring phenomena that are caused due to overflowing water bodies. A flood can be just a small occurrence that can cause some travel issues to highly destructive events that can cause significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. In addition to physical damage, floods can also lead to loss of life and can have long-term impacts on the affected communities.

To protect against floods, people can take steps such as building floodwalls and levees and elevating homes and other structures in flood-prone areas. It is also important for individuals to be prepared for floods by having an emergency plan in place and staying informed about potential flooding in their area.

200 Words Essay On Floods

Floods are natural disasters that occur due to overflowing water sources like ponds, oceans and rivers. The reasons for the occurrence of floods can be heavy rainfall, loose soil, melting of snow, breaking of dams etc.

Impact | The impacts of floods can be far-reaching and long-lasting. In addition to physical damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, floods can also lead to loss of life. Floodwaters can carry dangerous debris and pollutants, making them a health hazard for people and animals. Floods can also have economic impacts, as they can disrupt transportation and commerce, and can destroy crops and other sources of food.

Prevention | People living nearby water bodies take preventative measures to reduce the impact of flood damage. Building elevated homes, planting more trees to soak up an extra amount of water, having an escape plan in case of emergencies etc. It is also important for individuals to be prepared for floods by having an emergency plan in place and staying informed about potential flooding in their area. In the event of a flood, it is important to follow the advice of local authorities and evacuate if instructed.

Overall, floods are serious natural disasters that can have significant impacts on communities. By taking steps to protect against floods and being prepared for them, people can reduce the risks and impacts of this type of disaster.

500 Words Essay on Floods

Floods are a common natural disaster that occurs when excess water overflows onto land that is normally dry. This can happen for a number of reasons, including heavy rainfall, snowmelt, and coastal storms.

Types Of Floods

There are several different types of floods, each with its own characteristics and potential impacts. Flash floods, for example, are caused by sudden, intense rainfall and can happen within minutes or hours. They can be particularly dangerous because they often catch people off guard and can lead to flash flooding in urban areas.

On the other hand, river floods are caused by water flowing over the banks of rivers and streams. These floods can be more gradual, giving people time to evacuate and prepare, but they can also be very destructive.

Coastal floods, also known as storm surges, are caused by strong winds and high tides associated with coastal storms, such as hurricanes. These floods can be extremely destructive, as they can cause not only flooding but also strong winds and waves that can damage buildings and infrastructure.

Biggest Floods Recorded On Earth

One of the biggest floods in history was the 1931 China floods , also known as the Central China Floods . These floods were caused by heavy rainfall and the collapse of the Banqiao Dam. The floods affected an estimated 54 million people and resulted in the deaths of 145,000 people.

Another major flood was the 1993 Mississippi River Flood , which affected parts of the United States, including Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky . The floods were caused by heavy rainfall and resulted in the deaths of 50 people and caused billions of dollars in damages.

In 1998, the Yangtze River Flood in China also caused widespread destruction. The floods, which were the result of heavy rainfall, affected millions of people and resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 people. The floods also caused billions of dollars in damages.

Another recent and devastating flood was the 2010 Pakistan floods, which affected the Indus River Basin in Pakistan. The floods, which were caused by heavy monsoon rains, affected an estimated 20 million people and resulted in the deaths of over 1,700 people.

Forest To Prevent Floods

Forests play a critical role in preventing floods. Trees and other vegetation in forests can act as natural barriers which absorb water. Hence, reducing the speed of flowing water and thereby reducing the risk of flooding.

When it rains, the leaves and branches of trees absorb a significant amount of water. The roots of trees also help to hold the soil in place, preventing it from eroding and being carried away by the water. This helps to reduce the amount of water that flows over the surface and into rivers and streams, lowering the risk of flooding.

In addition to absorbing water, forests also help to regulate the flow of water by releasing it slowly into rivers and streams. This helps to prevent sudden, large increases in water levels that can lead to flooding. Trees and other vegetation can help to reduce the force of the water and protect against erosion, which can help to minimise the damage caused by floods.

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Flooding and Climate Change: Everything You Need to Know

More communities—both coastal and inland—are finding themselves underwater. Extreme weather, sea level rise, and other climate change impacts are increasingly to blame.

A large wave crashes into a seawall in Winthrop, Massachusetts, a day after a nor'easter in 2018.

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

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Floods are already the most common and among the most deadly disasters in the United States. As  global warming continues to exacerbate sea level rise and extreme weather, flood-prone areas around the country are expected to  grow by nearly half in just this century. Here’s how climate change plays a role in flooding and how we can better keep our heads above water.

Flooding facts and causes

Climate change and flooding, consequences of flooding, flood preparation and prevention, what causes a flood.

A flood, put simply, is the accumulation of water over normally dry land. It’s typically caused by the overflow of coastal or inland waters (like rivers and streams) or by an unusual accumulation of water from heavy or prolonged rains, storm surges, or sudden snowmelt. Often, the ways in which we manage our waterways (via dams, levees, and reservoirs) and the alterations we make to land also play a role in flooding. Increased urbanization, for example, adds impermeable surfaces (think roads and parking lots), altering natural drainage systems. Areas can be especially prone to flooding when  stormwater infrastructure isn’t maintained or homes are built in areas susceptible to flooding known as floodplains. More and more, flooding factors are also linked to climate change.

Major types of floods

River flooding This occurs when a river or stream overflows its natural banks and inundates normally dry land. Most common in early spring, river flooding can result from heavy rainfall, rapidly melting snow, or ice jams. According to the 2018 study "Estimates of Present and Future Flood Risk in the Conterminous United States," published in the journal Environmental Research Letters , more than 40 million U.S. residents are at risk from flooding along rivers and streams. And even a single episode can wreak havoc on a massive scale: For instance, in 2019, a slow-motion disaster of  intense spring flooding swelled the Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri rivers. Hundreds of miles of levees were topped or impaired, destroying homes and supersaturating cropland. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the inland flooding caused $20 billion in damage. Some of these losses stemmed from the impact to farmers who could no longer plant or transport their crops.

Coastal flooding More than  half of the U.S. population lives or works in areas susceptible to coastal flooding, which happens when winds from a coastal storm, such as a hurricane or nor’easter, push a storm surge (essentially, a wall of water) from the ocean onto land. A storm surge can produce widespread devastation, like that seen around New York and New Jersey when  Hurricane Sandy arrived during high tide .

There are also increasing numbers of shallow, nondeadly floods caused by higher sea levels. These high tide floods (also known as “nuisance” or “sunny day” floods) occur when the sea washes up and over roads and into storm drains as the daily tides roll in. In places like Miami, increased nuisance flooding is raising concerns over  climate gentrification , as wealthier residents looking to settle on higher ground are pricing out historically underserved BIPOC communities.

Flash floods These quick-rising floods are most often caused by heavy rains over a short period—usually six hours or less. Flash floods can happen anywhere, and low-lying areas with poor drainage are particularly vulnerable. Also caused by dam or levee breaks or the sudden overflow of water due to a debris or ice jam, flash floods combine the innate hazards of a flood with speed and unpredictability. That’s why they’re responsible for the greatest number of flood-related fatalities. In late 2022 and early 2023, California was hit by deadly flash floods during powerful wintertime atmospheric rivers, which may become more powerful as climate change increases the amount of moisture they can hold.

Urban flooding The term  urban flooding refers specifically to flooding that occurs when rainfall—not an overflowing body of water—overwhelms the  stormwater drainage capacity of a densely populated area. In 2021, Hurricane Ida, strengthened by warm air, shattered records across the Northeast. In New York City, the deluge made rivers of impermeable streets and subway stations. Eleven people living in basement-level apartments drowned as the floodwaters—with nowhere else to go—swiftly overwhelmed below-ground spaces.

A tractor trailer is swept off the road by floodwaters in Nebraska in 2019.

Ryan Soderlin/Omaha World-Herald via AP

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that climate change “has detectably influenced” several of the variables that contribute to floods, such as rainfall and snowmelt. In other words, while our warming world may not be the only or most direct cause of any given flood, it exacerbates many of the factors that increase flood risk. That’s why mitigating climate change—and particularly, limiting global average temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius in this century—is an important way to avert some of the worst scenarios for sea level rise and escalating flood risks. 

How does climate change lead to flooding?

These are some of the key ways that climate change increases flood risks.

Heavier precipitation A warmer atmosphere holds—and subsequently dumps—more water. As the planet has warmed by  1.9 degrees Fahrenheit since the preindustrial revolution era, the United States has also become about 4 percent wetter, according to the federal  Climate Science Special Report. The same report says that heavy precipitation events are projected to increase by 50 percent to as much as three times the historical average in just this century. This includes extreme weather like atmospheric rivers, which are air currents that become heavy with water from the tropics. Meanwhile, in regions with significant seasonal snowmelt, hotter temperatures can trigger more rain-on-snow events, with warm rains inducing faster and earlier melting— a phenomenon playing out in the western United States. 

A building and road severely damaged by flooding in Jamestown, Colorado, in 2013

Steve Zumwalt/FEMA

More-frequent hurricanes Climate change is increasing the frequency of our strongest storms, which bring greater rains, including in places not known for flooding. In August 2023, Tropical Storm Hilary—the first storm of its kind to hit the West Coast in 84 years—broke rainfall records in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm in 2017 and soaked Houston homes and businesses with catastrophic floods, was the nation’s wettest storm in nearly 70 years.  Researchers  estimate that Hurricane Harvey dumped as much as 38 percent more rain than it would have without climate change. Just a month after Harvey, Hurricane Maria hit Dominica, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The storm produced the most rainfall in the area of any weather event  since 1956 and exposed the  inadequacy of U.S. policies to respond to disasters.

According to the IPCC,  future hurricanes are expected to be as much as 37 percent wetter near their centers and about 20 percent wetter as much as 60 miles away. In the Atlantic basin, an 80 percent increase in the frequency of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes (the most destructive) is expected over the next 80 years. And it’s not only the most severely rated storms that bring the greatest flood impacts; in fact, the rating system the government uses to categorize the severity of storms is based solely on wind speed, not rainfall—so even unrated storms can unleash lethal amounts of water.

That said, gustier winds can whip up greater storm surges, which are already higher because of sea level rise. It was Hurricane Katrina’s 28-foot storm surge that overwhelmed the levees around New Orleans in 2005. Winds can also increase the destructiveness of waves, causing storm surges to get bigger and penetrate further inland.

Higher seas As ocean temperatures rise and the glaciers and ice sheets melt, global sea levels are rising —and directly contributing to coastal flooding problems. According to the Fourth National Climate Assessment, our oceans are approximately seven to eight inches higher than they were in 1900. The IPCC predicts seas around the world will rise anywhere from just under one foot to more than three and a half feet above 2000 levels by century’s end. NOAA’s projections also show that, due to regional factors such as currents bringing water to coastlines, areas along the East Coast could experience seas rising 2 feet higher as early as 2050. By then, damaging coastal flooding is expected to occur 10 times as often as it does today.

In addition to amplifying storm surges, sea level rise increases high tide flooding, which, according to NOAA, has doubled in the United States over the past 30 years. For example, by 2045, Charleston, South Carolina, could see as many as  180 tidal floods per year , compared with just 11 in 2014.

More than 100 houses burned down in Breezy Point, New York, as floodwaters isolated the community from fire and rescue workers after Hurricane Sandy.

U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ryan J. Courtade/Released

When flooding inundates a home or community, it upends lives. It’s important to consider  flood preparation before disaster hits by doing things like signing up for alerts, packing an emergency supply kit, and researching flood insurance options.

But the impacts of flooding go far beyond our own homes. Repairing and replacing flood-damaged roads, bridges, utilities, and other public infrastructure carry enormous costs. Between 2007 and 2017, the  National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) paid an average of $2.9 billion per year to cover flood-related losses, with individual years often costing far more. Within two months of Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida in 2022, the NFIP had received 44,000 flood claims from property owners. These types of estimates leave out the many people who don’t have insurance, who aren’t eligible for government disaster assistance, or who have needs above what government aid will cover. 

Flooding also brings contamination and disease. Floodwaters can carry  raw sewage , leaked toxic chemicals, and runoff from  hazardous waste sites and  factory farms. They can pollute drinking water supplies and cause  eye, ear, skin, and gastrointestinal infections. When floodwaters recede, bacteria and  mold may remain , and residents may suffer from  mental health problems and lost business or wages.

As with many natural hazards, it is most often lower-income people, people experiencing homelessness, the elderly, and  communities of color who suffer the greatest harm. These populations are  least likely to have flood insurance , access to transportation during an evacuation, cash on hand, or the ability to relocate—and the structural inequities of the past and present mean they are more likely to be in harm’s way. In August 2022, flash flooding in Jackson, Mississippi, caused the city’s main water treatment plant to fail, leaving the 150,000 residents of the majority-Black city without safe water to drink, bathe in, or cook with. In the case of  Jackson and many U.S. cities with similarly outdated infrastructure , flood damage was exacerbated by existing issues, including poor oversight, lack of local resources and capacity, and other unjust racial and economic disparities.

Entirely preventing floods isn’t possible. But there are steps that can be taken to lessen their devastation, like  flood-proofing your home ,  taking personal safety precautions , and advocating the federal government to revamp its approaches to flooding, both before and after it occurs.

A neighborhood in Port Arthur, Texas, flooded by Hurricane Harvey in 2017

Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Martinez/U.S. Air National Guard

Updating FEMA's flood maps

Mitigating potential loss from future floods requires knowing where floods are most likely to occur. In the United States, this information is provided by FEMA, which produces maps of the nation’s flood zones. Its NFIP relies on these maps to assess flood risk, determine insurance rates, and establish floodplain management standards.

FEMA flood maps depict the high-, moderate-, and low-risk flood zones of communities nationwide and can be found at  FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center . High-risk areas, often referred to as floodplains, are regions with a 1 percent (1 in 100) chance of being inundated by river or stream floodwaters of a certain magnitude in any given year. (The term  100-year flood refers to this, and does not mean a flood that’s expected to occur just once every 100 years.) But even a 1 in 100 chance of flooding each year equates to about a one in five chance that a home will flood at some point over the life of a 30-year mortgage. And FEMA’s moderate- to low-risk areas aren’t entirely safe from flooding, either: Properties in these areas still account for more than 20 percent of NFIP claims.

Flood risks change as land use and other factors change. That’s why keeping flood maps up-to-date is critical. But despite a requirement that FEMA reassess its maps every five years, nearly  60 percent are out of date—some, by decades. When Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, for example, the flooding covered an area that was  65 percent larger than the flood-vulnerable area identified by FEMA maps.

FEMA’s maps also typically fail to take into account the effects of global warming, such as sea level rise . Instead, they rely on historical data to determine future flood hazard projections. This can cause officials to designate areas as being “safe” for development today, even when they are at risk of serious floods tomorrow. In 2021, NRDC and the Association of State Floodplain Managers  jointly petitioned FEMA to update its standards to reflect the new climate reality. After all, FEMA is required under law to use the best available science in its maps and standards. Among the petition’s requests: all new or substantially improved structures must be elevated higher than the level of a 100-year flood; all new and revised NFIP floodplain maps must depict how the floodplain will change over time, especially concerning sea level rise; homeowners seeking to retrofit their homes for the new climate reality should have easier access to NFIP funding.

Among other things, FEMA’s floodplains determine how and where homes and other structures will be built, as well as who is required to purchase flood insurance. (Coverage is mandatory if you live in a floodplain and have a federally backed mortgage.) The problem is, once again, that many of FEMA’s mapped floodplains are  inaccurate . For instance, during Hurricane Harvey, nearly three-quarters of Houston’s flood-damaged buildings sat outside of FEMA’s identified high-risk area. According to one NOAA analysis: Greater rainfall has made what used to be a 100-year flood event in Houston, by FEMA’s standards, more like a 25-year event. 

Understanding your home's flood risk

Flooding is a factor in hundreds of billions of dollars of disaster-related property damage in the United States, with many homes being  repeatedly damaged . Just one inch of flooding could cost the average homeowner  $25,000 in damage . But typical homeowners’ and renters’ insurance fails to cover flooding and  less than 4 percent of homeowners have flood coverage. That means the vast majority of Americans must take out loans or pay out of pocket to repair or replace damaged items. 

Finding out if a property is flood-prone  can also be difficult . Many states have no legal requirements that a seller disclose a property’s history of flood damage to a buyer or that a landlord tell a prospective renter. While potential homebuyers should look at FEMA’s flood history maps, there’s a more low-tech option: Introduce yourself to your prospective neighbors and ask them about flooding in the area.

This Highlands, New Jersey, home was elevated prior to Hurricane Sandy and received only minor damage.

Rosanna Arias/FEMA

For residents of repeatedly flooded homes, relocation may be the best option. But a wide array of measures exist to  prevent or reduce flood damage when that’s not possible. These include keeping gutters and drains free of debris; installing a sump pump for crawl spaces and basements; adding check valves in sewer lines to keep floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home; and safeguarding equipment by elevating furnaces, water heaters, electrical systems, generators, and air-conditioning units above flood levels. More drastic retrofits might be needed in areas with regular flooding, including raising the entire structure of a house.

Boosting local resilience

Flood resiliency can come from water-smart improvements to buildings and  green infrastructure , restored wetlands and other natural barriers, updated FEMA maps that reflect new climate realities, and an  overhaul of the NFIP to help more homeowners relocate to higher ground. One promising update is President Biden’s executive action to reinstate the  Federal Flood Risk Management Standard , which includes commonsense measures such as requiring FEMA to rebuild flood-damaged public infrastructure like police stations, schools, and hospitals to be safer. (President Trump had scrapped the standard in 2017.)

According to a Pew poll, nearly 75 percent of U.S. voters support these measures. For one thing, they can save enormous amounts of money:  For every $1 invested in riverine flood mitigation, taxpayers and the federal government save $7 in recovery costs. Moreover, such measures increase the odds that millions more people will stay safe—and dry.

In addition to securing your home, you can help secure your community. Checking in on your neighbors, sharing information, and determining how you might be able to help each other in an emergency are important components of disaster preparedness.

This story was originally published on April 19, 2019, and has been updated with new information and links.

This NRDC.org story is available for online republication by news media outlets or nonprofits under these conditions: The writer(s) must be credited with a byline; you must note prominently that the story was originally published by NRDC.org and link to the original; the story cannot be edited (beyond simple things such as grammar); you can’t resell the story in any form or grant republishing rights to other outlets; you can’t republish our material wholesale or automatically—you need to select stories individually; you can’t republish the photos or graphics on our site without specific permission; you should drop us a note to let us know when you’ve used one of our stories.

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Essay on Flood for Students and Children in 1000+ Words

October 12, 2020 by ReadingJunction Leave a Comment

In this post read an Essay on Flood (Natural Disaster) for Students and Children in 1000+ Words.

Table of Contents

Essay on Flood (1000+ Words)

This essay includes what is flood?, its causes, effect, and preventive measures.

What is Flood?

A flood is a natural disaster that arises due to excessive runoff of water in the rivers due to rainfall . This causes the water of rivers to come out from the edges and flow into the plains. Floods can last from a few hours to a few days, but it can cause great harm to people, money and crops.

Causes of Flood

Among the most severe natural hazards are floods. This happens in every environment where excessive water is stored. Generally, it is heavy rainfall. In India, there is a strong probability of floods.

Due to heavy river rains, several places in the world face natural disaster . Besides, the breaking of the dam is another cause of a flood. Furthermore, this is also triggered by melting ice.

If we aim at coastal regions, floods are liable for hurricanes or tsunamis. We should look at flood avoidance and its long term side-effects throughout this essay about floods. Nevertheless, it really is equally risky, but whatever cause might be.

This has some negative effects. Floods cause harm to living conditions or recovery from this tragedy takes a very long time. The effects of flooding should therefore be understood, and steps should be taken to avoid them.

Effect of Flood

The day-to-day operation of the flood-affected region was disrupted. Extreme floods cause immense devastation often. Owing to flooding, many individuals, or animals risk their lives. Many more are being wounded. Floods raise illnesses, as well. Stagnant weather, due to malaria, dengue, and much more illnesses, attracts insects.

Moreover, due to electrical risks, individuals face power outages. They face expensive costs, too. Prices inevitably rise as the availability of food and products become reduced.

This, for the average man, is a big issue. Most significantly, economic losses are suffered by the entire world. To save lives and deal with this tragedy, a huge amount of resources are needed. At the very same time, people are losing their homes or their vehicles, which they have dedicated all their lives to.

Floods also ultimately damage the climate. This triggers soil erosion which degrades the consistency of the soil. On a fertile planet, we are destroyed.

Floods also do damage to fauna and flora in the same way. Crops are destroyed, & trees are displaced. Steps to prevent these serious effects should also be taken.

Ways to Prevent flood

To devise solutions to avoid flooding, government and people must work together. Proper knowledge of these steps can be taken and disseminated in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

In order for people to get enough time to defend themselves, an alert system must be established. Furthermore, areas more vulnerable to flooding must have elevated buildings just above the point of flooding.

In addition, an effective system for processing excessive water due to bad weather should be usable. Excess water can avoid this. Reinforcing the drainage scheme is among the most critical steps. This will eliminate water-logging, to prevent flooding.

The dams must, however, be heavily built. The use of inexpensive materials breaks dams must be applied and government should ensure that the efficiency of dams is designed to stop flooding.

We have split the causes of floods into two stages viz: organic and inorganic floods. First, natural floods would be addressed.

Natural floods

Floods are called natural floods due to natural factors.

1. Excess of rain –  often at one location there is a lot of constant rainfall due to that there is water logging all over, and it comes in the form of flooding in a certain period.

2. Cloud Burst  -A large volume of water that flows in the next few hours due to bursting of a cloud, because from which the water flows at a high pace as well as a flood situation occurs, the clouds mainly burst and in mountain terrain. Due to thunderstorm, the Uttarakhand region is flooded every other year in their region.

3. Melting of ice from the glacier- The glaciers are starting to melt even more snow owing to the increase in the Earth’s temperature that causes the water to fall from the mountains at a high velocity so this water has become so high. That one can easily knock out every town or village and fully submerge it.

4. When rivers are overflowing-  A significant volume of drainage into the rivers is caused by excess rainfall and melting snow, allowing the water to abandon its course and flow around rather than flood its lowlands of cities and villages near the river , it goes.

5. Sea Flood – A tsunami is often considered the first flood of water. This happens when in certain areas of a sea, a cyclonic storm or even a powerful earthquake happens, due to that, high waves increase, or the seawater floods the villages and cities. This refers to areas for flooding. Because of this, many coastal communities of the sea are impacted very badly. Sea storm waves could be as higher than 10 feet, and that’s much more than the height of every building.

Unnatural floods

The work undertaken by human’s triggers unnatural floods are:

1. Dam Breakdown – Large reservoirs are designed for water storage by humans; however, the dam is not reinforced due of corruption and bad design that breaks up a dam full of thousands of liters of water in the next few years.

There is a heavy flow of water with this and the areas from around the dam were covered in water. Suddenly, the ward arrives, so citizens do not get an opportunity to regain, and there is further loss of life or property.

2. Flooding due to Global Warming – Global Warming This scenario has been produced by humans just because humans are harvesting indiscriminate trees, and also spreading a huge amount of pollution .

Since the global climate is rising while at the same time that Earth’s climate is also shifting because there is a lot of rain for certain areas, there is a lot of rain in certain areas and because of the increase in the temperature of the Earth, the ice mostly on glaciers Millions of liters of water accumulated in the form begins to melt because of the water crisis.

3. Plastic pollution – A large volume of plastic is often used in India, and this plastic is dumped in such open areas, however, this plastic is stuck in the hair created to drain the water because the water may not get in the hair when it rains as well as the flood situation occurs.

10 Lines on Flood

• The flood is an immense quantity of water that overflows covering a wide region that causes damage.
• Not only is the flood devastating a vast city, but it also takes several lives or destroys property.
• Each year, many regions of the world are hit by flooding, taking lots of lives.
• Lead to increasing rainfall or a lack of proper sewage system inside an area, flooding occurs. 
• In an area that causes double harm, floods often occur like an after-effect of a horrible cyclone.
• The farmers have to be the worst impacted citizens of the flood as flood kills their fields and also their land’s productivity.
• Flood water obtained at a specific location allows individuals to have different kinds of diseases.
• When the flood situation is serious, all the stores are closed, affecting the availability of essential products.
• In order to reduce the effects of flooding, the government must develop a strong drainage system.
• Early warning implementation must be carried out, and individuals are sent to safe areas until floods occur.

In short, natural factors, such as rain or melting glaciers, could not be avoided. We may escape human-made triggers, however, like dam breakage, bad drainage systems, installation of alarm systems, and much more. We must draw inspiration in countries such as Singapore that, for much of the year, do not experience floods despite heavy rain.

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What Are the Main Causes and Effects of Floods Around the World?

Floods are among the most devastating natural disasters that occur worldwide, affecting millions of people and causing significant damage to both human settlements and the environment. As our planet experiences the impacts of climate change and human activities continue to alter landscapes, understanding the main causes and effects of floods becomes increasingly crucial. In this article, we delve into the factors that contribute to flooding and explore the wide-ranging consequences it has on our ecosystems and communities.

What Are the Different Types of Floods? 

Before we examine the causes and effects of floods, it’s important to note that various types of floods can occur worldwide. There are two types of floods that are most common: flash floods and river floods. 

Flash floods, as the name suggests, are the rapid rise of water levels from excessive rainfall in low-lying areas. These weather events are incredibly dangerous and can often lead to fatalities due to their destructive power and incredible speed, often not giving people enough time to escape to higher grounds or adopt protective measures. Flash floods tend to be more common in areas with a dry climate and rocky terrain due to lack of soil or vegetation, which  acts as a defence or barrier against torrential rains flowing overland. 

River flooding on the other hand, occurs when a river overspills its banks and river waters can no longer be contained within its channel. These events are more common in areas with a wetter climate and have longer rainstorm seasons, as well as areas close to melting snow and ice. 

What Are the Main Causes of Floods? 

Floods can occur due to several different, and often simultaneous, factors. However, one of the biggest causes of floods, especially in cases of flash floods, is excessive and heavy rainfall. When rainfall in low-lying areas and urban environments fall faster than the ground can absorb, water height rapidly rise, resulting in floods. Extreme rainfall in river courses contribute to flooding as well, as water travels down and overflows riverbanks onto surrounding land. 

Sea overflow can also cause floods, in an event also known as a storm surge. This occurs during tropical storms, cyclones and hurricanes, where these types of weather events cause sea water to overflow onto the land in coastal regions. Sea water levels have been recorded to rise as high as 20 feet during storm surges. 

Rapid melting of snow and ice similarly causes a surge of sea water, while blocks of melting ice could block the flow of a river, creating a phenomenon known as ice jams. 

Dam failures and breakage can also send a powerful and destructive surge of water downstream. One of the most devastating dam failures in history took place in 1889 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania . Several days of extraordinarily heavy rain placed severe pressure on the local dam, causing it to fail and releasing 20 million tons of water to the town, and more than 2,200 people died within minutes.

What Are the Biggest Effects of Floods?

More than 2 billion people worldwide were affected by floods between 1998-2017. And that number continues to climb as occurrences of major flood events become more frequent and severe. 

Flooding, especially flash floods, can devastate entire cities and urban environments. Throughout history, many have lost their lives as a result of rapid floods, or events caused by severe flooding such as landslides and collapsed infrastructure. 

One of the biggest consequences and effects of floods is that people lose their home and property, and essential buildings and infrastructures such as hospitals and elderly homes are left incapacitated. Loss of power and mobile communication is a common occurrence during floods, which can impact livelihoods and access to safety. 

Floods can have huge economic repercussions to a region, as extreme weather events impact key industries and sectors, notably agriculture, fishing, food crops, health, labour and tourism. Studies have found that frequent flooding could shave 11% off a region’s GDP by the end of the century. Countries often take years to recover economically following the loss of resources. 

People who live in regions close to rivers, in wetter climates and prone to monsoon seasons are significantly more vulnerable to floods. Many south and southeast Asian countries such as Bangladesh – a third of which was under water at one point in 2020 – and India have been particularly hit hard by flood events in recent years due to their low-lying lands and dense populations. 

Consequently, there’s been high rates of mass migration and population displacement over the past few decades, causing overcrowding in urban cities and expanding the urban poor. This leads to potential long-term social inequalities and unrest. 

You might also like: 86 Million People Have Been Moving Into Global Flood Zones in the Last Two Decades – Study

Climate Change is Exacerbating the Effects of Floods

Flooding has been made more likely by climate change , according to a 2021 study by climate experts. In the case of Western Europe, downpours in the region, which caused the flash floods that killed nearly 200 people, are now 3-19% heavier due to human-caused warming.

For countries that are already prone to rainy seasons, particularly in Asia, climate models predict climate change will lead to more intense flooding and prolong existing monsoon seasons . A typical monsoon season in Asia lasts from June to September. The effects of climate change could potentially result in an earlier arrival or departure of monsoons, disrupting agricultural and crop production, as well as increasing extreme precipitation over the region as more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.

You might also like: Climate Change Made Libya Floods Up to 50 Times More Likely, Study Finds

What Can Be Done?

One of the most salient short-term solutions is for countries, especially those in high flood risk regions, to prioritise investments in flood adaptation strategies. This means building more resilient infrastructure that are designed to withstand floods and water damage. 

China, for example, has been investing heavily in ‘sponge city’ concepts , the development of which could potentially help control and mitigate flooding, and recycle rainwater resources and re-instate degraded environments at the same time.  Building seawalls can be an effective form of coastal defence and protection in dealing with storm surges and flooding events associated with tropical storms. 

Managed retreat, which refers to a purposeful and coordinated movement of people and infrastructure away from high risk areas, is a solution that is worth considering. With more frequent and intense flooding events, forced migration and population displacement is already a growing problem, which as discussed earlier, brings with it a wealth of complex social and economic issues. A managed retreat, which can occur over time and allow systems that account for migrants and displaced people to be in place, can be less traumatic for people and potentially less expensive in the long run. 

However ultimately, the most effective way to mitigate climate change and worsening flooding events is to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. We need to dedicate ourselves to decarbonising transportation and investing a lot more and faster into renewable energy and technologies. While many high income countries such as the US have made net zero goals by 2050 and are pushing for more electric vehicles , a majority of the countries are doing far too little and at too slow a pace to tackle the exacerbating climate crisis. 

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• Flood Essay

Essay on Flood

Students who are looking for a good essay to study on the topic of flood should not be worried anymore. That is because Vedantu has come up with a sample essay on the flood that students of any class of any educational board can refer to and study from. This essay is designed by subject experts in English who work with Vedantu to create more like these study materials on a regular basis. 

These study materials are also updated and refreshed once in a while to make sure they are still relevant and up to date. Relevancy of the content is the most significant quality that these subject experts at Vedantu understand. And to help every student in this country, these study materials are made and maintained on a regular basis.

Why choose Vedantu?

If any educational board (including CBSE, ICSE, state board, etc.) makes any update in their guidelines or paper pattern, these subject experts at Vedantu quickly study the new guidelines and update these study materials at a moment's notice. All of this extra care is taken to make sure the content stays relevant because Vedantu wants to serve every student in the country with top-quality study material.

If students of any class and any educational board (including CBSE, ICSE, state board, etc.) learn from these study materials, they can get good marks and can score a high rank in any examination or even any small test. All they have to do is to read the sample essay provided by Vedantu on the topic of floods. 

Students can read it online on the page or can download it so that they can access it whenever they need it. This study material is available in a pdf format for downloading. Being in a pdf format, students can access it from any device (like mobile phones, laptops, personal computers, or even tablets) To download, students should have to sign in on the page with their Gmail ID after clicking the download link provided on this website. 

FAQs on Flood Essay

1. What Are the Consequences of Floods? 

The damage caused by a flood is up to 90% when compared to other natural disasters. Major flooding causes loss of human and animal lives, they also cause severe damage to economic infrastructures. Floods also cause severe damage to government buildings and public properties.

2. How Do Satellites Help During Floods? 

Weathering satellites play an important role in monitoring flood situations over a large region and detecting floods. At ISRO (Indian space research organization) Optical remote sensing from geostationary platforms helps in providing rapid and valuable information on cloud patterns and rainfall patterns for a particular area. 

3. Is Vedantu's sample essay on floods PDF costly?

The brief and one-word answer to this question is, no. It is not costly. In fact, it is completely free of cost for students to access or even download. Almost all of the study materials students can find on Vedantu's website is completely free of cost and not for sale. It is open for everyone to access or download. Students don't need to pay any amount to access these study materials. They can just visit the website or download Vedantu's app to be able to access it.

4. Is Vedantu's sample essay on floods PDF downloadable?

To answer this question in one word, yes, this study material is downloadable. Students can click on the provided link on this page to download it. This link is in the form of a blue button with the text "Download PDF" written on it. After clicking on the provided download link, students will be asked to provide their Gmail ID to sign in on Vedantu's portal. After signing in, students can access the pdf version of the sample essay on floods from their mobile phones, laptops, personal computers, or tablets. 

5. Why is it necessary to learn flood management in school?

By teaching the topics like flood management or disaster management in schools, the students will be prepared for almost any type of natural or man-made disaster. It is entirely clear that teaching students about managing these tough times and helping others is a great way to create leaders. These young minds learning leadership from such a young age can really be the most important asset to the country. That is why teaching flood management or disaster management in schools is necessary. 

6. Can I use this essay on flood for my test or examination?

Yes, students can use this sample essay for academic application. These essays are designed by experts working at Vedantu. These experts are well versed in English and write essays in a manner that is most suitable for academic success. Also, these essays are completely up to date and relevant to the paper pattern followed by these educational boards. These essays are created in a way that will be helpful for students to score good marks in the examination. 

7. Is floods a big problem in India?

Yes, floods are a big problem in India. In fact, it is considered one of the most common natural disasters, if not the most common natural disaster in India. The heavy rivers like Brahmaputra or others from any part of the country almost always end up flooding the nearby areas in monsoon. Amongst a few causes of floods are extreme precipitation, unplanned urban growth, degradation of the environment, frequent changes in monsoon etc. The most flood-prone areas in India are Punjab, Haryana, Gangetic plains, etc.

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Essay on Flood

List of essays on flood in english, essay on flood – essay 1 (150 words), essay on flood: reasons, effects and conclusion – essay 2 (250 words), essay on flood in india – essay 3 (300 words), essay on flood: causes, consequences and prevention – essay 4 (400 words), essay on flood: types, causes and adverse effects – essay 5 (500 words), essay on flood: with causes, mitigating steps and warning system – essay 6 (600 words), essay on flood: with causes – essay 7 (750 words), essay on flood in india – essay 8 (1000 words).

Introduction:

Flood, simply put is an overflow of water from several sources. The nature of the world is to have dry land and water. When water gets on dry land in large quantity flood is said to have occurred.

Causes of Flood:

There are several events that can lead to a flood.

A few of them are highlighted below:

1. Heavy rain pours.

2. Melting ice and snow.

3. Rising sea levels and the overflowing river.

4. Bad drainage systems.

How Flood Affects our Environment:

A flood is by far a negative occurrence. Heavy flooding can have a damaging effect on our environment and the infrastructures in it. First, they can destroy houses and make them inhabitable. Also, they can remove sand from farmland making it difficult to grow crops. Aside from the above, flooding also contaminates clean water causing diseases and ailments.

Conclusion:

Governments around the world can reduce the risk of flooding by building a solid drainage system. We as individuals could also help by stopping drainage blockage.

Any dry land filled by excess water is called flood. It is a natural calamity caused due to several factors.

Reasons for Flood:

The reasons for floods can be natural and unnatural caused due to human activities. When there is excessive rainfall in river banks and coastal areas, there is an increase in water level which leads to overflow of water into the nearby dry land. Also, natural calamities like earthquakes cause Tsunami in oceans which leads to flooding of lands close to beaches. In heavily populated cities, due to congested buildings and roadways, flooding happens as there is not enough room for water to drain. In such cases clogged drainages lead to even more flooding of the area.

Global warming has resulted in the melting of glaciers which increase water levels of rivers and flooding of river banks. Deforestation also plays a major role in flooding.

Effects of Flood:

Floods cause large scale destruction to life and property. Buildings, roads and bridges are heavily damaged. Vast acres of crops are destroyed. Arable lands turn barren and clogged with salts. Countless homes and cattle get washed away. All electronic and digital communication seizes. Many lives are lost. And it does not stop there. Post flood, there is a huge risk in the spreading of water borne diseases. Scarcity of food and basic necessities arises. On the whole, floods cause multiple hardships and turn the livelihood of affected people upside-down.

Effective weather forecasting systems are to be maintained by the Government for timely intimation and evacuation of flood prone areas which will greatly help in keeping the many losses due to floods in check.

Flood is a natural disaster that involves overflowing of water over a region of land that is dry under usual conditions. It submerges the area with water. They are the most common kind of weather-related disasters and are a costly hazard. The level of flood can vary a lot – from a few inches to a level that goes up to meters high like a roof level of a house.

The causes of floods are many. They can happen during heavy rains when the drainage system is unable to handle the amount of rain fall. It can also happen even if low levels of rain occur continuously for many days. Floods can occur when the snow melts as temperature changes and it can result in bulk movement of water in the plains. Rivers can overflow sometimes and create flood in the neighboring regions. They can also be a result of breaking of dam which can flood the nearby areas.

There has been increase in the frequency of floods recently. Because of global warming, the average temperature of sea has increased significantly. This has led to higher rate of tropical storms in the Caribbean. It is also responsible for increase in sea level because of melting of ice caps and glaciers.

Floods cause large-scale loss to life and great damage to properties. Floods cause severe damage to agricultural regions of the affected area. There is loss of life of humans as well as animals. People and the government both suffer from loss in financial terms. Re-building of affected areas takes a lot of time and money.

In India, there are many regions which are affected by floods. Some of these are the Gangetic plains, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, Brahmaputra valley and South Gujarat. Within this year, more than 70 lakh people were affected by floods in India.

Flood is one of the recurring natural disasters which is an outcome of above average rainfall and accumulation of excessive water in every living area. Floods may occur due to overflow of water from the reservoirs or due to heavy down pour of rain in places where the drainage systems are not properly maintained.

Water may look so harmless and peaceful until the large quantities termed Floods harms us.

Common Causes of Flood:

Some of the common causes of Flooding are Heavy Rains, Overflowing Rains, Broken Dams, Urban Drainage Basins, Storm Surges & Tsunami’s, Channels with steep sides, lack of vegetation and melting of snow and Ice. Although the causes of floods are varied, most of the causes can be managed if not prevented.

Global Warming and Floods:

Another primary factor of Flood is increase in the atmospheric temperature i.e., Global Warming. Heating up of earth’s surface can lead to melting of ice glaciers and ice caps which leads to the rise in sea level thereby leading to overflowing floods in the coastal regions. Global Warming brings instability in the climatic condition of the earth, where one part of the world experiences floods and the other goes through drought.

Consequences of Flood:

Floods mostly disrupt the normalcy of living things on the planet. Floods are a great threat to the living things; floods also make way for mosquitoes to thrive thereby leading to all communicable diseases such as malaria, Dengue etc. Another impact of floods is loss of drinking water . Floods also lead to power cuts, damage of crops and soil erosion. Floods can also have an economic backslide, thus putting the country at risk.

Preventing Floods:

Some of the measures that can be done to prevent Floods are:

i. To ensure the meteorological departments are well equipped to provide flood warnings to the indicated zones.

ii. Flood resilient homes with efficiency to waterproof homes and moving electric sockets which moves higher as the flood rises.

iii. Protecting wetlands and planting trees systematically can help alleviate the direct floods.

iv. Stop encroaching of river beds and allowing the rivers to take its natural course can drastically bring down floods.

Floods can be scary, but it is in the hands of human beings to ensure it doesn’t impact our daily life. Water storing areas such as ponds, lakes and other water reservoirs should be maintained. Floods can be avoided by improving the soil conditions thereby allowing easy water absorption. Flood barriers can be used as a defense during Flood crisis.

Floods can either occur naturally or they can be facilitated by environmental factors that destruct the flow of water. Flood incidences have increased due to global warming. Global warming is an adverse effect of environmental pollution that causes a rise in temperatures on the earth’s surface. Global warming is associated with intense climatic changes like heavy storms, snowing and raised sea water levels. These changes in climate contribute to flooding. A flood is the spilling of water on dry land surfaces and causes it to submerge. It occurs when water overflows from the water bodies beyond its usual boundaries. Floods are destructive to the environment.

Types of Floods:

There are three main types of floods. Surge floods are floods that occur in the coast regions due to surges and tidal changes that occur in the sea or ocean. Hurricanes and storm surges on the sea or ocean can cause minor, moderate or major floods. The extent or severity of the floods are determined by the strength, size, speed and directions of the surges. Surge flood are usually severe and massively destructive.

Another type of floods is fluvial floods that occurs due to overflow of rivers. Rivers overflow due to heavy rains that increase water levels in rivers beyond its capacity therefore resulting in floods. Heavy snowing can also cause fluvial floods when the ice melts. Fluvial floods are risky when dams are involved because the increased levels of water in rivers creates immense pressure that cause increase pressure on the walls of dams and cause breakage which results in excessive flooding and environmental destruction.

The other type of floods is pluvial floods. Pluvial floods are caused by surface water as a result of heavy rainfall. Pluvial floods are destructive because they disrupt the drainage systems and cause an overflow which affects structures. Pluvial flooding occurs together with surge floods and fluvial floods. Although pluvial flooding does not involve a lot of water, it causes massive destruction of the environment and the infrastructure.

Causes of Floods:

Floods occur naturally due to some environmental factors. Heavy rains can cause an overflow of water form water bodies. Breakage of water body boundaries like riverbanks or walls of dams. Catastrophes like tsunamis and surges in storms cause heavy flooding. During heavy rains the lack of vegetation on the surface of the earth.

Adverse Effects of Floods:

Foods are destructive in nature and have negative impacts on the environment and the ecosystem. Floods cause death of living things and humans. Destruction of property and infrastructure negatively affects the economy of the region affected and economic activities are at a standstill due to disrupted livelihoods. Migrations from areas that are prone to floods is common, which results in overpopulation in urban areas. Financial constraints are experienced due to the rehabilitations from flood destructions. Prevention of floods that result from natural causes is a challenge.

In conclusion, it is evident that floods are destructive. The adverse effects of floods affects normal livelihood and the environment.

Flood is one of the natural calamities which is known to wreck a lot of havoc. There are so many different instances wherein floods are known to damage the whole area and bring massive loss of life and property as well.

Let us check further into the possible causes of flood and how we can eradicate it too.

The Causes of Flood:

Of course, there can be a lot of different cases of floods. Some of the key ones among them are as follows.

Heavy rains: owing to climate changes, many a times, it so happen that it rains torrentially. If the rain is much above normal, it can lead to flooding.

Broken dams: Dams help in keeping the water level in check. If the dams get broken sometimes, it is likely to lead to flood.

Tsunami: Natural calamities like tsunami is likely to create problems of flood and can bring massive loss of life and property.

Global warming: Owing to the increase in global temperature, the ice cap is melting and the increased level of water in the river bed is going to cause a flood.

Of course, there can be a lot of other reasons too which leads to flood and it is important to keep an eye on the water levels to issue a warning well in time.

The Mitigating Steps:

Now that we know the key causes which leads to flood, let us focus on some of the best mitigation measures which you can take to steer clear of this problem.

Flood Warning System:

This is by far the most important thing which one needs to do. It is important to have a sound flood warning system in place. When you have a dedicated system, it can help warn people who can move to higher altitude or take the right steps.

Restore Rivers to their Natural Courses:

Owing to the excessive development work which we have been carried out and harming the environment, too many rivers have diverted from their natural courses. This is another important reason for excessive flood. So, the right thing to do is to help in restoring the rivers to their natural course as it may prevent flood.

The Global Warming Remedial:

Action must be taken to cure the problem of global warming as it is definitely the cause of too many natural disasters. By choosing to cut the level of air and water pollution and minimizing the use of non bio-degradable products, we may be able to directly or indirectly help in controlling the problem of flood and its aftermath.

Modern Day Construction:

While flood is a natural calamity which may sometime come unannounced, it is important that we construct buildings in accordance with the modern technical advancements. The buildings should be so made that they are above the flood levels and they should be sturdy enough to withstand flood as well.

So, these are some of the important points which you should keep in mind. While some of them are ways by which we can prevent the implication and aftermath of flood, a few of them would help in preventing its occurrence as well.

Whenever any calamity occurs, it is important to do your bit to create awareness. The kind of destruction which can happen is whopping. By knowing about it a little ahead of time helps people be better prepared for it.

The bottom line remains the fact that we should all try and minimize the negative impact we are having on the environment. Doing this will ensure that we will be able to curtail the frequency of natural disasters like flood.

Flood is simply defined as the overflow of a very huge quantity of water that covers a very large area of land and leads to the destruction of land and properties and sometimes lives in the areas that are affected. A lot of regions in the world experience flooding every year. A flood basically occurs when there is excessive rain and there is no proper or good drainage system. The amount of flood is different from place to place and the extent of destruction also varies. For the overflow of water to be classified as flood, the area of land affected has to be mostly dry. Flooding can also happen as a result of water overflowing from bodies of water like lakes, oceans and rivers. Floods cause mass destruction. The effects and destruction caused by flood can take many years to fix and repair.

There are a lot of causes of flood; a few of them are discussed below:

1. Heavy Rains:

As discussed earlier, flood is mostly caused by an extended period of rain. This can happen if the quantity of rainfall is a lot more than the capacity of the drainage system. Flood can also be a result of high intensity rainfall in a short period of time.

2. Snow Melting:

Mountains that were covered with snow in the season of winter start to melt once temperature begins to rise. The sudden rise of the temperature causes the snow to melt and this leads to the massive movement of a lot of water to the plains and lands around. If the area receiving the water does not have a proper and good drainage system that will help in getting rid of the large quantity of water, there is going to be flooding. Flood that is caused by snow melting is also called a snowmelt flood.

3. Dam Breaking:

Dams are constructed to be able to hold the water that is flowing downwards from an area of land that is higher. The energy of the water can be used to turn and power propellers that can be used for the generation and creation of electricity. The dam can sometimes break when they can’t hold a large quantity of water and this causes the areas nearby to experience flooding. Sometimes, excessive water can be released intentionally by the dam to stop the dam from breaking which also results in flood but the flood from the intentional release of water isn’t as harsh as that from the dam breaking.

4. Water Bodies Overflowing:

Rivers and other water bodies can overflow sometimes and this leads to a situation that is flood like in the areas nearby. The areas that are low lying and are near the water body are the ones that are affected the most during the periods of water overflowing downstream.

5. Coastal Region Winds:

Hurricanes and very strong winds have the ability to carry sea water into coastal lands that are dry and this is a serious cause of flood. The coastal regions can experience severe damage and destruction. Tsunamis and hurricanes are widely known causes of serious devastation to areas of coastal lands.

Apart from all of the causes of flood discussed above, it is very important to note that the major cause of flood is global warming. The frequency and rate of flood has drastically increased recently. Researchers have said that the average temperature of the sea has wildly increased because of global warming and it has led to the increased sternness and rate of storms that are tropical in and around the Caribbean. The storms are said to have caused the countries in the region experiencing heavy rainfall. Global warming causes an increase in the atmosphere’s temperature and also causes the ice caps and glaciers to melt which in turn causes flood in a lot of regions. Global warming is believed to have a very major effect on the ice caps at the poles and it is believed that the situation is only going to get worse with time.

Overall, the climatic conditions of the earth have gone through a lot of very major changes and it is believed that global warming is the main cause of all of the change. It is believed that global warming is the reason why there is extreme drought in some places and serious flood in other places. Even though there isn’t much we can do about the glaciers melting or rain, we can do our part by building very good and reliable drainage systems that can handle water.

What is a flood? In normal terms, the excess availability of water in a region then it can usually hold is called flood. Floods are usually heard of it in news and through channels as every year, large portions of India are drastically affected by floods. It is mainly during the monsoon season with the onset of rain, we hear of different floods and the havoc they have caused to humans, animals and plant life. It is, therefore; very important to understand what floods are all about?

Types of Floods and their Causes:

Flood is not just the excess rainfall we talk about. There is a lot more to it. For instance, there are Flash Floods in which there is a sudden heavy downpour due to a cloudburst and the entire area is flooded within minutes. In India, areas in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand witness occurrence of flash flood every year. Similarly, we have river floods in which the areas around a river are flooded due to the swelling of the river. Some parts in Delhi witness river flood every year due to the overflowing of the river Yamuna due to excessive rains and the excess flow of water from the Hathnikund Dam. Another type of floods is the inland flooding . In the case of inland flooding, the area witnessing a rainfall get flooded with the roads and lanes all filled with water. This happens usually when proper drainage system is not in place or is inefficient due to severe blockages which obstruct the flow of water and leading to flooding of lanes and roads in the city. Again, Delhi and Mumbai are cities which see such floods even after an hour of continuous rainfall. People living in coastal areas are prone to coastal floods . These floods are usually caused by high tides or Tsunami which bring huge volumes of water on the land thereby flooding it. Another reason for coastal floods is global warming due which the rise in sea level temperatures has led to the subsequent rise in water level in coastal areas. Coastal areas of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa witness such floods every year.

Deadliest Floods in Indian History:

India witness floods every year in different states. In fact, some regions are sure to be flooded with the onset of monsoon season. However, there have been occurrences of the flood which have caused massive destruction and hence are termed as the deadliest floods. Hence there is a need to know about them so as to understand and analyse what can be done in order to minimise such destruction in future years.

Deadly floods are a common occurrence in India after every few years. One of the deadliest floods in recent times was the flood in Gujarat in the year 1979 in the Machhu Dam-II. The Machhu Dam-II flopped on Aug. 11, 1979, discharging the full power of the Macchu River on the town of Morbi. The flood thus created in western India caused somewhere around 1,335 deaths, as per the Press Trust of India at the time.

Another of the deadliest floods in India is the one that shook Bihar in the year 1987 in the Kosi River. In any case, the Kosi River is prone to floods and is flooded almost every year. However, this year was particularly exceptional. The most decimating surge in Bihar’s history happened in 1987, when an avalanche obstructed the Bhote Kosi River, making it surge and crush more than 1.7 million homes. As per the statistics of the state, government flooding led to the death of 1,399 individuals and 5,302 animals.

The Tsunami that struck coastal India in the year 2004 was another such disaster which engulfed a number of lives. An extent 9.0 quake under the Indian Ocean on Dec. 26, 2004, set off a tidal wave that crushed southern India. As per the Government statistics 10,749 individuals died, 5,640 went missing and 2.79 million people were affected by the wave. It likewise devastated 11,827 hectares of products and demolished the occupation of 300,000 fishermen.

The Recent Kerala and Kedarnath Floods:

The most noticeably bad climate-related floods in India’s history happened in June 2013, when a few days of overwhelming precipitation activated blaze surges and avalanches in the northern territory of Uttarakhand. The downpour struck amid the bustling visitor season in Uttarakhand when a huge number of Hindu pilgrims rush to the region to visit its memorable sanctuaries. The rain happened some time before the start of rainstorm season, getting numerous off guard. An expected 4,094 individuals died and about 1 million were influenced by the catastrophe in Uttarakhand and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, the worst affected being the region around Kedarnath. The military was brought in to evacuate around 100,000 people from rocky parts of the state, where they had turned out to be caught by the avalanches.

The recent floods in Kerala are another perfect example of how human activities have led to calling of nature’s ire in different forms such as floods. Had it there been a proper drainage system with no blockages, Kerala would not have witnessed such a massive flood.

The Need for Action:

We must not forget that older civilisations emerged around rivers and seas only and they just vanished with time due to the ever-rising water level on the earth. With the recent back to back occurrences in Kedarnath and Kerala, it is high time the Government as well all of us sit down and think what harm we have done to nature. The blooming of industrial units with no waste management in place, the inefficient drainage system and the careless attitude of both the Government and the people are all collectively responsible for these disasters. Not all disasters can be avoided, but, at least measures can be taken to minimise their impact or at least the ones caused by own carelessness can surely be avoided. It is for own good and for the benefit of future generations that we all do our bit to protect the life on earth from the backlash of nature.

Flood , Flood in India , Natural Disasters

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Essay On Floods – 10 Lines, Short & Long Essay For Children

Key Points To Remember When Writing An Essay On The Flood For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on the flood for kids, a paragraph on the flood for children, 200-word essay on the flood for kids, long essay on the flood for children, what will your child learn from this essay.

Flooding occurs when water from water bodies like rivers, lakes, and ponds builds up and overflows due to significant rainfall. Flooding causes severe challenges for the residents in flooded areas, significantly impairs people’s ability to live normally, and destroys agricultural products, which impacts farmers. Encouraging children to write essays about floods will help create more awareness among the kids so they can be mindful of what they can do to prevent them, and it will also equip them with strategies they can use in the event of a flood. To help with this, here are a few ideas for writing an essay on the flood in English. The article covers different kinds of essays on the flood for classes 1, 2 & 3.

There are some basic pointers to keep in mind when writing an essay. Here are some tips that you can use as a guide to write about the flood:

• Essay writing is a delicate art, and each age group of students is expected to cover different points in their essays.
• Write an introductory paragraph about what floods are.
• Extrapolate this to various reasons that cause floods.
• Speak about what one can do to prevent them.
• Conclude the essay with an impactful paragraph.

Essays in the form of bullet points are suitable for small kids. Here are 10 lines on floods for kids:

• A flood occurs when a place is run over with a great volume of water, causing destruction.
• Floods not only cause extensive property damage and destruction but also claim many lives.
• Each year, floods strike several regions of the world and cause numerous fatalities.
•  Floods are caused by excessive rainfall and an area’s poor drainage system.
• Sometimes, a bad storm in a place is followed by floods, which leads to double damage.
• Farmers are severely impacted by flooding because it ruins their crops and land fertility.
• Accumulated flood water in one location can make people sick with many ailments.
• When there is a severe flood, the availability of essential supplies gets impacted.
• The government must build an effective drainage system to lessen the effects of floods.
• Before floods begin, early warning systems should be implemented, and people should be sent to safe locations.

Short paragraphs are easy for small kids who can quickly understand the subject. Here is a short paragraph about floods:

A flood is a natural occurrence in which a normally dry area or piece of land is suddenly covered in water. Because of excessive rainfall in many different ways, rivers, lakes, and oceans overflow. People lose their lives, and there is devastation and significant property damage when heavy rain occurs. Flooding has the power to damage properties, automobiles, homes, and even bridges. Floods can harm trees, crops, and other crucial land resources. These floods can vary in size, duration, and region; some take days or even months to develop and dissipate. The majority of the positions occur in waves. Rain, ruined waterfalls, and hurricanes are a few factors contributing to flooding in various locations.

Here is a short essay on floods. Kids can use this essay for their assignments:

Places that have an excessive amount of rainfall and an inadequate drainage system may experience flooding. Other reasons for the flood include water pouring from rivers and oceans due to a dam failure, too much water moving through the plains, and increased water due to abrupt glacier melting. Flooding is a result of hurricanes and tsunamis in coastal locations. In addition to other natural disasters, flooding can also cause extensive damage. Around the world, numerous towns and cities are experiencing severe flooding, which can harm both people and animals as well as cause damage to land and plants. The flood also impacts farmers since the weather wastes their crops. When severe flood conditions prevail, offices and schools are shuttered, affecting how people live their everyday lives. Extreme flood-prone areas require months to return to normalcy. The irony is that while the government is aware of some places that are frequently flooded, no appropriate action is taken to address the issue. The government should create adequate drainage and water storage infrastructure to tackle this issue.

Older children are required to write long essays covering many different points. To help with this, here is an essay for class 3 children on floods:

What Is A Flood?

One of the frequent natural disasters is flooding, which results from copious rain and the buildup of surplus water in all populated areas. A flood is when water seeps through cracks and covers the dry ground, and it happens when water sources flow outside their normal range. Floods can occur when reservoirs overflow or pour down rain for days in areas where the drainage systems are not adequately maintained. Floods may occur naturally or be aided by environmental conditions disrupting the flow of water. Intense climate changes, including strong storms, snowfall, and rising sea levels, are associated with global warming, and such alterations in the atmosphere cause flooding.

Different Types Of Flood

There are different types of floods that can occur. Understanding the different types of floods is important to maintain accurate preventive measures. Listed below are the various types:

1. Fluvial Floods

River flood is another name for a fluvial flood. They occur when water from rivers, lakes, and streams rushes onto surrounding shorelines and land areas. Fluvial floods can occur due to increased snowfall, ice melting, and significant rainfall. Fluvial floods can inflict extensive damage by destroying dams and dikes and flooding the surrounding communities.

2. Floods Caused By Surges 

Coastal floods are another name for surge floods. Floods that arise in the coastal areas because of storm surges and tidal changes are called surge floods. Surges are produced when strong winds from a windstorm, tsunami, or hurricane push water toward low-lying shorelines. Surge floods are at their most destructive during high tides.

3. Pluvial Floods

Floods caused by heavy rain are also known as pluvial floods. However, they can occur even in locations far from the overflowing water bodies and are independent of those bodies of water. Surface water floods and flash floods are the two types of pluvial floods.

What Are The Causes & Effects Of A Flood?

Causes of a flood.

• Natural Causes: Heavy rains, earthquakes, and tsunamis are examples of natural causes of floods. Intense rainstorms are brought on by climate change. Floods can occur when there is more rain than usual. Due to the heavy rain, the water levels in the rivers and oceans rise.
• Global Warming: One of the unnatural causes of floods is global warming. It raises the planet’s average temperature, which significantly impacts the climate. Mountain top ice melts, causing glacier sheets to fall. This further increases the amount of seawater and causes flooding.

Effects Of A Flood

• Mass Destruction: Following the floods, widespread loss of human life, property, infrastructure, and vegetation is not uncommon. The majority of survivors suffer injuries. Animals perish, and the soil quality of the drowned region declines.
• Power Cuts: Floods lead to extended power cuts due to the destruction.
• Shortage in Food Supply: Food supply and necessities are scarce.
• Diseases: Flood aftereffects include spreading water-borne illnesses like dengue, malaria, etc.

What Are The Ways To Prevent A Flood?

1. Build Structures Above Flood Levels 

In order to protect both the residents and the property, buildings in flood-prone areas must be built on higher grounds than the flood level.

2. Systems for Flood Warning 

Better flood warning systems must be installed immediately to provide people ample time to prepare themselves and their things for the impending disaster.

3. Erect Flood Barriers

Flood barriers should be implemented in locations prone to flooding. When the water has subsided, these can be taken out.

4. Water Storage System Introduction

The government must establish water storage infrastructure to store and reuse rainwater. Instead of allowing it to overflow on the plains and causing flooding, this will allow the extra water to be used.

5. Consolidate the Drainage System 

The inadequate drainage system is one of the primary causes of floods. Building effective drainage systems are crucial to preventing water logging, which causes flooding.

Your children will learn about the different causes of floods through this essay. They will also learn about the aftereffects of floods and ways to prevent and deal with them. It will also help them gain a good command of English.

This article gives you all the necessary information about floods. Your children can use this as a reference to complete their essay assignments.

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Essay on A Flood Scene

Students are often asked to write an essay on A Flood Scene in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on A Flood Scene

Introduction.

A flood scene is a distressing sight. When rivers overflow their banks, it leads to floods.

The Onset of Flood

Heavy, continuous rainfall causes rivers to swell. The water level rises, eventually flooding the surrounding areas.

During the Flood

Houses get submerged, people and animals struggle for safety. The strong currents carry away belongings.

Post Flood Scenario

After the flood, the scene is one of devastation. People are left homeless, and there’s a lack of food and clean water.

Floods cause immense suffering. It’s crucial to have proper disaster management plans to mitigate their effects.

250 Words Essay on A Flood Scene

The devastating beauty of a flood scene.

Floods, while inherently destructive, paint a paradoxical picture of devastation and beauty. This essay aims to capture the essence of a flood scene, exploring its impact on both human life and the environment.

The Onset of the Flood

A flood scene typically begins with unyielding rain, the skies opening up to unleash their wrath upon the land. The once calm rivers and streams swell, their waters surging with an unstoppable force. The landscape transforms as the water level rises, submerging everything in its path.

The Human Impact

The human impact of a flood scene is heartrending. Homes are washed away, leaving people homeless and distraught. The flood waters, while seemingly serene from a distance, are a chaotic nightmare up close. People scramble to higher ground, clutching their loved ones and valuables, their faces etched with fear and despair. The flood scene is a stark reminder of our vulnerability in the face of nature’s might.

The Environmental Impact

On an environmental level, a flood can be both destructive and regenerative. It can wash away habitats and cause significant loss to wildlife. However, floods also bring nutrient-rich silt to agricultural lands, replenishing the soil and setting the stage for future growth.

The Aftermath

In the aftermath of a flood, the scene is one of desolation and rebirth. The sun emerges, casting long shadows over the water-soaked landscape. People begin the process of rebuilding, their resilience shining through the devastation. The flood waters recede, leaving behind a changed world, a testament to the relentless cycle of destruction and renewal.

In conclusion, a flood scene is a poignant reminder of the dual nature of water – a life-giver and a destroyer – and our ongoing struggle to coexist with the forces of nature.

500 Words Essay on A Flood Scene

A flood, a natural disaster, is a phenomenon that has the power to change the course of lives and landscapes. It is a spectacle of nature’s fury, a testament to the fact that despite all our advancements, we are still at the mercy of nature’s whims. This essay aims to describe a flood scene, emphasizing the emotional, physical, and environmental impacts it has on society.

The onset of a flood is often gradual, almost deceptive. Initially, it begins with a torrential downpour that persists for days, transforming the once dry land into a waterlogged terrain. Rivers, unable to contain the excessive water, overflow their banks, and the water starts to invade the adjoining areas. The streets, the parks, and the houses get submerged, turning the bustling city into a vast, silent water body.

The Havoc Wrought

As the water level rises, the devastation becomes more apparent. Homes are washed away, leaving behind only fragments of once cherished memories. The floodwaters, indifferent to socio-economic status, engulf everything in their path, exposing the vulnerability of human life against nature’s wrath. The sight of people clinging onto anything that floats, in a desperate attempt to survive, is heart-wrenching. The flood brings with it not just physical destruction, but also a profound emotional turmoil.

The Humanitarian Crisis

The immediate aftermath of a flood presents a grim picture of a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of people are displaced, their lives uprooted. Basic amenities like clean water, food, and shelter become scarce, leading to a surge in diseases and malnutrition. The flood victims, already traumatized by the loss of their homes and loved ones, are forced to grapple with these additional challenges. The sight of relief camps bustling with activity, yet filled with despair, is a stark reminder of the human cost of natural disasters.

Floods also have a significant environmental impact. They disrupt the ecosystem, causing a loss of biodiversity. The excessive water washes away the top fertile layer of the soil, leading to land degradation. Moreover, the floodwaters often carry pollutants, contaminating the water bodies and posing a threat to aquatic life. The aftermath of a flood, thus, extends beyond its immediate physical destruction, impacting the environment in profound ways.

A flood scene is a stark reminder of the transient nature of human life and the power dynamics between humans and nature. It reflects the vulnerability of our existence and the fragility of the societal structures we have built. It’s a call to action for humanity to respect nature’s boundaries and to strive for sustainable living. The scene of a flood, while devastating, also brings forth the resilience of the human spirit. Amidst the chaos, one can witness acts of bravery, kindness, and unity, proving that even in the face of adversity, humanity prevails.

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Essay on Flood for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Essay on Flood: Flood is an overflow of huge amount of water covering large areas causing destruction at the places affected. Many regions across the globe face the problem of floods each year.

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Target Exam ---

Flood occurs due to excessive downpour and lack of proper drainage system. The severity of flood may vary from region to region and the destruction caused due to the same varies accordingly.

Long and Short Essay on Flood in English

Here are essays on flood of varying lengths to help you with the topic whenever you required. You can chose any flood essay according to your need:

Flood Essay – 1 (200 words)

Floods are caused in areas where there is excessive downpour and poor drainage system. Flood is also caused because of other reasons including overflow of water from rivers and oceans, overflow of water in the plains due to dam break, excessive flow of water owing to sudden melting of glaciers. In coastal areas hurricanes and tsunamis cause flood. Floods can cause major destruction just as other natural calamities.

Several towns and cities around the world have suffered from severe floods that have cost lives of people and animals, resulted in loss of property and other valuable assets and destruction of soil and plants. Farmers are majorly impacted by floods as their crops get ruined owing to this weather condition. Water accumulated for days at a particular place also results in the outbreak of various diseases. When the condition is severe, the schools and offices are shut and it thus disturbs the normal life of people. Places that face severe floods take months to resurrect.

The irony is that there are certain regions that are hit by flood frequently and even though the government is aware about the problem, proper measures are not being taken to overcome it. The government must build good drainage system and water storage systems to control this problem.

Flood Essay – 2 (300 words)

Flood caused due water logging that is mostly a result of heavy rainfall are known to have fatal consequences. It results in loss of life, rise in diseases, price rise, economic loss and destruction of the environment among other issues. The impact the floods depend on their type and severity.

Types of Floods

Some floods can subside in a few days while others take weeks to subside and have a major impact on the lives of the people living in that area. Here is a look at the different types of floods:

• Slow On-set Floods

This type of flood is caused when the water bodies such as rivers overflow and affect the nearby areas. This flood develops slowly and may last from a few days to weeks. These spread over several kilometres and mostly impact the low lying areas. Water accumulated due to flood in such areas may cause harm to property and can also be a cause of various diseases.

• Rapid On-set Floods

These take a slightly longer to build and can last for a day or two. These are also known to be extremely destructive. However, people are mostly warned about these and have a chance to escape before the situation becomes worse. Tourists planning holiday to such places can postpone or cancel the plan when there is still time and avoid the trauma caused by this situation.

• Flash Floods

Flash floods mostly occur within a very short duration of time such as a few hours or even minutes. These are mostly caused due to heavy rainfall, melting of snow or dam break. These are known to be the most fatal among all and can result in mass destruction as these are almost sudden and people do not get any time to take caution.

Floods disrupt the day to day life in the affected regions. They cause various problems for the people living in such areas. Regions hit by severe floods take months and at times even years to rebuild.

Flood Essay – 3 (400 words)

Flood is a natural disaster that is caused due to the accumulation of excessive water in a region. This is often an outcome of heavy rainfall. Many regions also face flood due to overflow of river or ocean water, breaking of dams and melting of snow. In the coastal areas, hurricanes and tsunamis are known to bring about this condition.

Flood-Prone Regions around the World

Several regions across the globe are prone to frequent floods. The cities around the world that face severe and frequent floods include Mumbai and Kolkata in India, Guangzhou, Shenzen and Tianjin in China, Guayaquil in Ecuador, New York, NY-Newark, NJ, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Miami and New Orleans. Floods are known to have caused mass destruction in these areas in the past.

How to Control the Problem Caused Due to Floods?

From damaging the environment to disrupting the human life – floods have several negative repercussions that are difficult to deal with. It is thus important to take measures to control the same. Here are a few ways to control this problem:

• Flood Warning Systems

It is the need of the hour to set up better flood warning systems so that people are warned about the upcoming problem right on time and they have enough time to safeguard themselves and their belongings

• Construct Buildings Above the Flood Level

Buildings in the flood prone area must be constructed above the flood level so as to avoid damage to the property as well as the people living there.

• Introduce Water Storage System

The government must invest in building water storage systems to store and reuse the rain water. This way the excessive water can be put to use instead of letting it overflow on the plains and cause flood.

• Strengthen Drainage System

One of the main causes of flood is the poor drainage system. It is essential to build good drainage systems to avoid water logging that results in flood.

• Install Flood Barriers

Flood barriers should be installed in the areas that are prone to flood. These can be removed once the water recedes.

While the occurrence of rainfall, melting of snow-mountains, overflowing of water bodies and hurricanes can be difficult to control however these can be predicted in most cases and the government can take measures to ensure that water logging, that in turn results in flood, does not happen as a result of these conditions. This can be done by employing few of the methods shared above.

Flood Essay – 4 (500 words)

Floods are caused by a number of reasons including heavy rainfall, overflow of water from water bodies such as rivers and oceans, melting of glaciers, hurricanes and strong winds along the coastlines. When there is a lack of good drainage system to suck up the excessive water it results in water logging that causes flood.

Consequences of Flood

Floods disrupt the normal functioning of the region affected. Severe floods can result in mass destruction. Here is how floods impact life on earth:

• Threat to Life

Many people and animals lose their lives because of severe flash floods. Many others get injured and are infected by various diseases. Water accumulated at places for days result in the breeding of mosquitoes and other insects that are the cause of various diseases such as malaria and dengue. Cases of dysentery, pneumonic plague and military fever are also on rise during this time.

The supply of electricity and water is disrupted during this time thereby adding to the problems of the general public. There is also a risk of catching current in places where the electricity supply is still intact.

• Economic Loss

Many people lose their houses and other assets such as automobiles that they take years to earn. It is also a costly affair for the government as it has to deploy a number of policemen, firemen and other officials to conduct the rescue operation. In case of severe floods, the affected regions take years to re-build.

The supply of goods in the flood affected areas lowers as the road transport cannot reach there. Besides, the goods stored in these areas also get spoiled due to floods. There is a shortage of supply and the demand is high and it thus results in increased prices of the commodities.

• Soil Erosion

When the downpour is too heavy, the soil cannot absorb the entire water and it often results in soil erosion which in turn has dreadful consequences. In addition to the erosion of soil, the quality of soil is also impacted, often degraded.

• Damage of the Flora

Floods are not just a threat to the human beings and animals but also destroy the flora. Heavy rains are often accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds. These storms are a cause of uprooting of trees. Besides, the crops are damaged and several other plants are eroded during floods.

Flood Prone Areas in India

A number of regions in India face the problem of floods year after year. The major areas affected by this natural calamity in the country are most of the Gangetic plains including North Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, Mumbai, Maharashtra, parts of Punjab and Haryana, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, the Brahmaputra valley and South Gujarat. Floods are known to have caused severe damage to these places in the past and are still a threat here.

Floods are one of the natural disasters that are known to have caused major destruction in various regions. It is time the government of India must take this issue seriously and come up with strong measures to control this problem.

Flood Essay – 5 (600 words)

Floods occur when excessive rainfall in a particular region results in the overflow of water on the land that is mostly dry. It can also occur due to the overflow of water from water bodies like river, ocean and lake. Floods are known to cause mass destruction. In certain regions, the destruction caused is so severe that it takes years to repair the loss.

Causes of Flood

Here is a closer look at the various causes of flood:

• Heavy Rains

Flood like situation arises each time the downpour is more than the drainage system can absorb. At times, heavy rainfall occurring for a short period of time can cause flood while on other occasions light rainfall that goes on for days may result in flood like situation.

• Melting of Snow

The mountains covered with snow during the winter season begin to melt as the temperature rises. The sudden melting of the ice usually causes the temperature to rise and this results in enormous movement of water into the plains. The areas that do not have proper drainage system to get rid of the excessive water face flood. This is often referred to as snowmelt flood.

• Breaking of Dam

Dams are created to hold water that flows down from a highland. The power in the water is employed to turn propellers for the generation of electricity. At times the dams break as they are unable to hold large amount of water thereby resulting in flood in the nearby areas. At times, excessive water is deliberately released from the dam so as to stop it from breaking. This may also result in flood.

• Overflow of Water Bodies

Water bodies such as rivers may overflow at times and cause flood like situation in the nearby areas. The low-lying areas near the rivers are worst impacted during this time as the water flows downstream.

• Winds in the Coastal Region

Strong winds and hurricanes have the capacity of carrying the sea water to the dry coastal lands and this causes flood. This can cause severe damage to the coastal regions. Hurricanes and Tsunamis are known to have caused major devastation in the coastal lands.

Global Warming: The Main Cause of Flood

The frequency of floods has increased in the recent past. It is said that the average sea temperature has increased a great deal due to global warming and this has resulted in the increased rate and sternness of tropical storms in the Caribbean. These storms are a cause of heavy downpour in the countries in their path. Global warming that is causing a rise in the temperature in the atmosphere is also a cause of the melting of glaciers and ice caps that is again a cause of flood in many regions. This is said to have a major impact on the polar ice caps in the times to come and the situation is likely to worsen.

The overall climatic conditions on earth have undergone a major change and global warming is said to be a cause of this transformation. While certain areas experience extreme floods others experience drought.

Though we cannot do much about the rain or the melting of the glaciers however we can certainly build good drainage systems to deal with the water they bring along. Many countries, such as Singapore that receive heavy rainfall for most part of the year, have really good drainage system. They come out clean even after days of heavy downpour. The government of India must also build good drainage system in order to avoid the problem of flood and the damage it does to the affected regions.

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• Paragraph Writing
• Paragraph On Flood

Paragraph on Flood - Check Samples for 100, 150, 200, 250 Words

Floods are a type of natural disaster that can cause heavy destruction to life and property. It is a condition when rainwater accumulates at a place, flooding populated areas. They can also lead to the loss of numerous lives. At times, it can be highly dangerous and can wipe off an entire village or city.

Table of Contents

Paragraph on flood in 100 words, paragraph on flood in 150 words, paragraph on flood in 200 words, paragraph on flood in 250 words, frequently asked questions on flood.

It is impossible to stop a natural disaster, but the effects of the disaster can be reduced. The government has been taking major steps to reduce the effects of such disasters and save many lives. Before you write a paragraph on floods and their effects, you can refer to the samples provided below.

A flood is a condition when an area is fully or partially submerged in water for a period of time due to man-made or natural causes. The natural reasons behind floods can be heavy and continuous rain for an extended time period. Dam bursts or breaking of dam gates can be a man-made reason for a flood to occur. Floods can be highly dangerous at times because they may lead to loss of lives and property, and at certain places, it also leads to landslides. One cannot stop floods, but they can be avoided by constructing dams. One can definitely reduce the effects of floods and can reduce the damage caused by floods. Planting more trees in flood-prone areas and constructing dams might be helpful in controlling the adverse effects of floods.

A flood is a type of natural disaster that can be caused due to heavy and continuous rainfall at a place for a long time. Heavy rain, cyclones, storms, etc., can lead to flooding in an area. The water reserves are filled due to rain, and when it rains for a long time continuously, the overflow of water in water reserves may cause flooding.

Some parts of India are prone to flooding during the monsoon, causing large-scale destruction to human lives, natural habitats, etc. But in some places, floods can occur due to man-made disasters and cause loss of property and human lives. Breaking the dam’s gates can be a major reason behind man-made disasters. Due to these floods, the flood water accumulates in the agricultural fields, damaging crops. It can lead to starvation and more deaths. Many farmers have been committing suicide due to the loss. Floods are dangerous to human lives as well as the economy of the country. Therefore, it is essential to take necessary measures to limit the effects of floods.

A flood is a condition when an area is fully or partially submerged in water for a few days leading to hazardous diseases and loss of lives and property. Floods can be dangerous to factories, buildings, cities, hospitals, etc. Deforestation has been causing many hazards to the environment, and floods are one of these disasters. The rainwater is absorbed by the trees, and they act as natural barriers preventing soil erosion and landslides. Floods occur mostly in the rainy season in flood-prone areas, and the water levels may vary in such places. Naturally, floods can occur when it rains heavily for an extended period of time, and the water reserves are filled, causing an overflow of water. The breakage of dams can also cause floods and can lead to hazardous damage to lives and the environment. Floods can cause heavy loss of life and property and can also affect the agricultural system of the country, hence leading to starvation. It brings huge losses to public and private properties, affecting the country’s economy. At times, the revival also takes a lot of time. When the effects of floods are highly severe, it might take years to recover the physical damages. Almost every year, the country goes through such natural disasters leading to great loss and damage.

One of the major reasons for floods is heavy rain. Due to heavy rain, water levels in rivers and lakes are expected to rise. As the rainwater rises over the banks of rivers, it overflows and causes floods. With the increasing global warming, it is also possible that there might be floods due to the massive melting of snow. If global warming increases, with the rise in temperature, the ice might melt faster, leading to floods in various parts of the country. Floods pose a threat to factories, buildings, cities, hospitals, etc. Deforestation has resulted in a variety of environmental risks, one of which is flooding. Rainwater was absorbed by the trees, limiting the amount of water stored at a location. Floods are most common during the monsoon season in flood-prone areas, and water levels can fluctuate. During the monsoon season, floods are widespread in several places in India. It has a large-scale impact on human life and property. Houses are submerged in water, making day-to-day life difficult. Water also floods vast swaths of agricultural areas, wreaking havoc on crops and undermining the economy. A flood is a natural occurrence that has no benefits and is always a cause of loss. It is impossible to stop a natural disaster from occurring, but we can always limit the effects of the disasters. We can always take necessary measures to reduce the damage caused by it. Floods can leave adverse effects around the world, and at times, the revival of the damages may take years.

What is meant by flood?

A flood is a type of natural disaster that can leave adverse effects on the environment. During floods, an area is fully or partially submerged in water due to heavy rain or an overflow of dams and rivers.

What can be the effects of floods?

Floods can have adverse effects on the environment. It causes loss of public and private property, loss of lives, starvation and hunger, etc.

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Paragraphs On Flood | Causes & Impacts

A flood accumulates a large body of water around an area, causing much destruction. The following paragraph on floods, their causes, and their impacts is very helpful for children and students.

Table of Contents

Long Paragraph On Flood | Types, Causes, Impacts & Solution; How to Prevent Flood

A flood is the accumulation of water over a dry area due to rain or from any body of water that causes a lot of destruction and damage. Floods cause loss of life and property. Mostly, floods are caused naturally; rarely is this disaster artificial.

It will help save hundreds of lives and will also help save people from being homeless. Apart from that, the plantation is necessary to minimize the damage caused by floods. Trees are very useful in flood-prone areas to prevent the level of damage caused by floods. There should be flood warnings to reduce the damage. We can prevent floods by widening the banks of rivers, planting trees, and improving the drainage system.

Constructing new dams near water bodies is also beneficial to prevent floods. There should be canals on each river bank to divert the flow of rainwater into canals so that major losses are not caused.

1. Causes Of Flood

During the monsoon, rainwater reaches rivers and lakes when it rains heavily in flood-prone areas. When water beyond the capacity of rivers starts flowing into rivers, barriers are broken, and water overflows water bodies and inundates plain land.

Improper drainage systems, heavy downpours, and global warming mainly cause floods. Due to climate change and global warming, the ice snow on mountains is melting heavily. The melting of glaciers is also a cause of flooding.

2. Impacts Of Flood

Floods are always destructive. Thousands of people become homeless due to big floods. Many people’s normal routine lives become miserable. Many houses are submerged in water.

It not only harms houses and property, but it also badly affects agriculture. When agricultural land is flooded with water, the crops are entirely damaged, affecting the state’s economy.

Floods badly affect the economy and development of a country. Sometimes it takes years to replace the physical damage and stabilize a nation’s destabilized economy. Due to floods, too much loss of livestock is also recorded. Many animals lose their habitats and die due to floods.

The infrastructure of the country is also damaged; the roads and bridges are broken, transportation is affected, and communication links are disrupted by floods, which make life miserable. In urban areas, especially low-lying towns and areas flooded by slight rain showers, water accumulates in streets, also called flooding. It disturbs the routine lives of people in urban areas.

3. Solutions Of Flood

Humans and animals are vulnerable to these natural disasters and natural forces. When there is a flood in any area due to stagnant water over plains and dry land, many waterborne diseases are also caused, which kill many humans and animals. Floods affect us socially, economically, and environmentally. Above all, major losses of life and property destabilized a nation’s economy.

Short 5 Paragraphs Essay On Flood

1. flood disaster – for class 9.

Flood or flood damage is damage to a structure caused by water. Floods can be caused by heavy rain, snow melts, overflowing rivers or other bodies of water, or flash floods. Floods can cause significant damage to buildings and areas along streams, rivers, and lakes.

Flooding also causes soil erosion and disruption to transportation routes and utilities. A flood is one of the most common natural disasters in the world. Around 600 million people are at risk of flooding yearly; 1 billion live in flood-prone areas. Over half of these areas lack flood defenses, making them highly vulnerable to flooding. In 2005 there were more than 50 million floods worldwide, affecting more than 100 million people yearly. In the United States, floods cause billions of dollars in damage every year; In 2015 alone, it was estimated that over $20 billion was lost to flooding in the US Midwest alone. Flood control may include building flood barriers and educating residents about flood awareness.

Communities at risk of flooding should also consider installing early warning systems and evacuation plans so that residents can avoid hazards when a flood warning is issued.

2. Causes of floods

Floods occur when there is too much rainfall in a short period. The most common cause of flooding is that the drainage system cannot handle the volume of water in an area at once. Another common cause is runoff from heavy rains, which inundate the ground. Other causes of flooding include: To prevent flooding, it is important to monitor weather forecasts and be prepared for storms with proper tools and supplies. Flooding can also be prevented by raising houses above expected water levels.

This can be done by raising foundations or building on higher ground. In addition, clear debris and debris barriers should be maintained to allow flood water to drain easily. The best way to prepare for floods is to have a contingency plan. Knowing what steps to take before a flood hits will help you be more responsive during this stressful time.

3. River in Flood

A flood in a river is a chaotic situation that can be dangerous for anyone nearby. River flooding can cause landslides and destroy bridges, so staying away from rivers and other bodies of water is important when they swell. In addition to personal safety, environmental factors must be considered when dealing with river flooding.

The water can threaten fish and wildlife, so people should be careful not to disturb them near rivers and streams during a flood. And since much of the land surrounding rivers is covered in vegetation, it’s important to avoid chopping down trees and damaging crops to protect the soil and watch out for warning signs. However, if you get caught in a flood, here are some safety tips: Stay away from the shore.

If you must cross a creek or river, walk on the opposite side of the current, not in their path. Crouch down and seek shelter if necessary. Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas, as this can cause massive damage to your car.

4. Helping hands during flood

You’ve likely seen images of people helping each other during a flood. Whether helping someone out of the rain or fetching water in a bucket, many of us have had a positive experience seeing someone help another person. But what drives people to help each other during a flood? People help when they see someone in need for two main reasons: altruism and empathy.

Altruism is the desire to do something good for someone else. Americans are often known for being a very charitable and generous nation, but this is not always the case. In recent years, Americans have become more selfish, showing less concern for others and more concern for themselves.

This behavior change is due to the economic downturn and social media’s growing presence. Because social media allows us to stay in touch with our friends and family 24/7, we are more likely to see negative news events than ever. Social media can make friends feel they must meet expectations by posting regularly, creating internal competition among friends. This inner competition is one of the main reasons people help each other during a flood. People feel obligated to help because they want to look good in front of their friends or because they don’t want anyone else

5. Effects Of Flood

Floods seriously threaten life, property, and wildlife in all parts of the world. They can cause major damage to buildings and infrastructure and contaminate drinking water. In addition, floodwaters can drive away or injure animals that live nearby. Many animals have developed special adaptations to help them survive floods. Deer, for example, have large hooves that allow them to navigate shallow water and wade through stagnant water.

Many bird species also have waterproof feathers that prevent water from entering their bodies. Once you know what to look for, it’s possible to spot signs of a flood before it happens. Listen for unusual sounds like gurgling water and rushing wind. Check the water levels in nearby puddles and streams and ensure the area is dry before entering. If you live in an area prone to flooding, take precautions to protect yourself and your property.

Bring your belongings above ground or install flood barriers on your home if possible. Keep your home debris-free so it doesn’t become a flood barrier during a flood event. If you live in a high-risk area, invest in insurance that covers flood events.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

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Addressing Worldwide Flood Concerns: Empowering Local Communities

Denise Corsel

Over the last 25 years, the world has seen a rise in the frequency of natural disasters in rich and poor countries alike. Today, more people than ever are at risk from natural hazards, with those in developing countries particularly at risk. This essay series is intended to explore measures that have been taken, and could be taken, in order to improve responses to the threat or occurrence of natural disasters in the MENA and Indo-Pacific regions. Read  more ...  

Floods have become a growing concern throughout the world. [1] Fueling this concern is the prediction that climate change will increase the intensity and severity of flooding. [2] There are also growing concerns that climate change will dramatically increase the health risks associated with contaminated water and dangerous substances that are released during floods. [3] These concerns need to be addressed in order to reduce the negative impact of floods upon communities worldwide.

Coping with floods is a major challenge for many communities, especially those in developing nations, which generally have to manage the responses to and recovery from them mostly on their own. Governments, NGOs and other organizations provide aid during a natural disaster when, where and how they can. However, their extent of their contributions sometimes fail to meet the needs of local communities, especially immediately following the disaster but also in the longer term, due to their limited financial capabilities, inadequate access to affected areas, lack of awareness or political constraints under which they operate.

This essay focuses on the role of local communities during the recovery stage from floods. By drawing on a case study of rural communities in Laos, [4] the essay highlights the potential benefits of equipping local communities with long-term practices that will assist them in recovery efforts. The essay concludes with a discussion of the lessons and insights gained from this case and that they could be applied in other countries to improve flood resiliency.

The Importance of a Community-Centered Approach

This essay discusses floods from the perspective of long-term recovery since the latter contributes to resiliency, which is defined as “the ability to recover readily.” [5] The recovery stage—encompassing the process and outcome—is crucial because it covers everything that is required for the affected community to return to conditions of normality. [6] Floods are almost impossible to prevent and the scale of adverse consequences from floods is exceedingly difficult to gauge. Therefore, mitigating the consequences of floods is often quite challenging, especially in rural villages in developing countries, where technology and finances are in short supply. This overall magnifies the importance of the recovery stage.

Local communities are directly affected by floods and thus are the primary risk-bearers in such situations. They are the first on the scene and generally carry out the initial response. It is thus important to focus particularly on local communities during their recovery. Floods can inflict enormous damage, [7] especially upon those who are the most vulnerable community members. The damage affects property, finances, job security, emotional and health status, and livelihoods. Therefore, the community affected has an investment and a strong motive to recover and to return to normal life as quickly as possible. Compared to others, such as aid organizations, supporters and governments, the community itself will prioritize the recovery process the most. Therefore, a community-centered approach to improve flood resiliency is recommended. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction [8] supports this by emphasizing that there should be a people-centered approach when preventing disaster risk. To do so, during the recovery stage of a flood it is important for people to be both reflective and pro-active so that they can improve the management of future flooding.

Another reason why a community-centered approach is recommended is because with the increase of natural disasters throughout the world, [9] aid response will not be enough on its own. Resilient development [10] is, therefore, more important now than ever before. Developing the community to be resilient will not only enhance the efficiency of the recovery, but will assist with building a stronger system that can better manage all types of risks while improving the chances of maintaining the progress made by the community. Overall it will strengthen the current links between aid organizations and the communities’ development work, which allows for a lasting change. [11]

A community-centered approach can be highly efficient since communities know and understand their own situations best. Some would argue that experts possess greater expertise, theoretical knowledge and specific skills than the communities they seek to assist. Nonetheless, the local public has more everyday knowledge regarding their own surroundings and how their community members are likely to respond to certain recovery actions, which may be crucial to recover efficiently. Additionally, when preparing for a potential flood disaster, the community is the only party that has a clear emotional investment regarding the potential impacts and risks. In any event, it is imperative that all relevant stakeholders are included and participate to have a successful recovery process and outcome. [12] Community participation will enable more effective and long-term flood practices, improve the overall flood management process in place and allow for safer and quicker decisions to be made.

Helping to equip local communities, including their most vulnerable members, with recovery practices will enable them in the long-term to augment their own resilience to floods, which will be especially useful in case the prediction [13] that climate change will produce more intense and severe flooding is correct. As illustrated in the case of Laos’ rural communities, local communities, specifically those that are prone to flooding, tend to already have several recovery practices in place that could, and should be bolstered through the contributions of experts, government authorities and aid.

Recovery Practices in Laos

While numerous flood recovery practices are used throughout the world, local communities in Laos have their own practices, especially since they often experience flooding due to the annual rainy season. Flooding is Laos’ main hazard [14] that affects communities all across the county and often develops into a disaster. [15] Therefore, Laos’ coping practices have developed over many generations. They include traditional practices such as constructing houses on stilts; setting up community banks of rice; using traditional medicines; seeking shelter in temples and/or schools; creating dug-out drainage systems for paddy fields; and removing water from houses with baskets. These practices do indeed help with recovery, though they are predominantly needs-based coping strategies. However, NGOs and United Nations staff are teaching and/or sharing with rural communities other, more advanced flood resilience practices, such as using pumps to remove water; creating official village disaster committees and disaster preparedness plans; employing sturdier home building and repair techniques (e.g. using concrete or stronger wood); and implementing food and drinking storage systems.

In Laos, the management of flooding, which is challenging due to unpredictable flash floods, is primarily conducted at local levels and appears to be effective due to enhanced focus on villages’ own disaster management committees. Owing to the country’s financial situation, [16] flood management is mostly conducted by the individual village, which has its own village chief and elder. Often when a flood occurs, it is not possible for outsiders, including government officials, to enter/reach the villages affected. Therefore, it is important to focus particularly on local communities’ own coping mechanisms during recovery. In such a situation, Laos’ citizens currently manage and work together as a community to manage floods. So far, this has been working satisfactorily. However, with the building of houses in floodplains, logging trees and signs that changing climate is increasing the severity of floods and droughts, [17] existing local coping mechanisms might not be enough. Yet, whether their current practices are adequate to meet these immediate challenges or not, equipping Laos’ citizens with additional recovery practices would be highly beneficial, as it would allow the communities to better manage the (current and future) physical, emotional and secondary damage created by flooding disasters by strengthening their resilience. Additionally, it would allow them to handle the floods better in the long-term, especially if flooding worsens.

Laos’ villagers could learn from other recovery practices used in other countries. For instance, in Khammouane Province (Laos) the main concern during the recovery stage is health since floods spread disease and drinking and washing water become contaminated. This issue could be mitigated by chemically treating the water, as is done in Tanzania [18] or by using water purification tablets, as is done in Bangladesh. [19] Furthermore, another recovery practice that the majority of communities throughout Laos would benefit from would be the introduction of a rice variety that can withstand flooding because currently during floods the loss of rice, the main source of their livelihood, [20] is reducing their capability to recover. This practice has been effective in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, [21] and research is being conducted on how this would work in Laos. [22] There are many other practices that may be helpful, such as in Thailand, where communities are involved with hazard mapping to enhance education, [23] and in Vietnam, where they use schools to hold flood safety campaigns. [24] The idea that building on current practices while introducing new ones to enhance communities’ resilience is gathering momentum.

Nevertheless, it is important that communities are supported in selecting the most beneficial and realistic recovery practices. Additionally, it is crucial that the practices are manageable and accessible by the communities over the long term, thereby ensuring that they are sustainable. As a result, the communities would be empowered and capable of recovering from floods better and quicker, as well as potentially recovering from other natural disasters because some of these practices are transferable.

Some of Laos’ citizens may be content with the way floods are currently managed; however, most are open to learning and to trying out new practices and/or enhancing their current recovery practices. Moreover, villages, such as those in Laos, where residents have learned to cope with disasters on their own and thus, a community-centered approach is already in place, are likely to be more open to strengthening and building on their current approach than to acceding to outsiders’ management of the recovery stage. In fact, Laos’ government, in apparent recognition of this, supports village disaster management committees. Several aid organizations, including the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery [25] and the United Nations also promote sustainable assistance to ensure that long-term resilience is strengthened in such a manner that the country and its communities will be better able to manage disasters and ‘build back better’ [26] without them.

Equipping local communities with long-term recovery practices, some of which may be learned from other countries and adapted to country-specific circumstances could contribute to more effective disaster recovery, a better flood management process, and safer and quicker decisions. The main lesson learned from the case study of rural communities in Laos is that in countries where aid is not always readily accessible and where a community-centered management approach has been forming over the years, it is important to focus on and enhance the community-centered approach during the flood recovery stage. Given that the incidence of flooding has increased and is predicted to worsen in countries, including Laos, [27] special attention should be devoted to strengthening long-term local recovery practices, which is part of resilient development. In particular, as also illustrated by this case study, it is crucial to consider sustainability when improving flood resilience at local levels.

Undeniably government agencies and aid organizations play a vital role in disaster management. Nevertheless, they should focus on enhancing the communities’ resilient development so that, in the future, communities can manage floods better on their own and conduct the recovery process with greater efficiency. Particularly during the recovery stage, the risk-bearers should be principally in charge of managing their situation, as it is they who know best what is required to return the community to a state of ‘normality’ as quickly as possible. Where possible, the risk-bearers should be supported in their efforts to guide ‘building back better’ initiatives. [28]  In sum, attention should be focused more sharply upon, and more support and resources should be invested in local communities to improve their flood resilience by enhancing their current recovery practices and introducing new ones.

[1] Dawei Han, Flood Risk Assessment and Management (Sharjah: Bentham Science Publishers, 2011) 1.

[2] Duncan Geere, “Global Flooding Risk Could Triple by 2030,” Wired , March 5, 2015, accessed April 15, 2016, http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-03/05/flooding-predictions-2030 ; and Tianyi Luo ,  Andrew Maddocks ,  Charles Iceland , Philip Ward and Hessel Winsemius, “World’s 15 Countries with the Most People Exposed to River Floods,” World Resources Institute , March 5, 2015, accessed April 15, 2016, http://www.wri.org/blog/2015/03/world%E2%80%99s-15-countries-most-peopl… .

[3] Roger Few and Franziska Matthies, eds ., Flood Hazards & Health: Responding to Present and Future Risks (London: Earthscan, 2006); and National Geographic, “Floods,” National Geographic , 2015, accessed June 26, 2015, http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters… .

[4] Laos, located in South-East Asia, is officially known as Lao PDR, which is short for Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

[5] Michael Pitt, Learning Lessons from the 2007 Floods: An Independent Review by Sir Michael Pitt (London: Cabinet Office, 2008) 349, accessed April 15, 2016, http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100807034701/http:/archive… .

[6] Home Office, Dealing with Disaster (London: Cabinet Office, 1998), accessed April 15, 2016, http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20050523205851/http:/ukresili… .

[7] Roger Few and Franziska Matthies, eds ., Flood Hazards & Health: Responding to Present and Future Risks (London: Earthscan, 2006).

[8]  United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (U.N.I.S.D.R.), Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030  (2015) 10, accessed April 15, 2016, http://www.unisdr.org/files/43291_sendaiframeworkfordrren.pdf .

[9] International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Introduction to the Guidelines for the Domestic Facilitation and Regulation of International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance (Geneva: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 2011) 3.

[10]  Natalia Adler, “Resilient Development Means Better Preparing Children, Families and Communities for Shocks, Making Sure They Can Better Withstand Them, and Helping Them to Recover Quickly,”  U.N.I.C.E.F. Technical Note: Resilient Development (2016) 3.

[12] Upala Banerjee, “Adopting Rights-Based Programming Strategies Towards Developing Capacities for Accessing Sustainable Water and Sanitation Facilities: The NAM SAAT/Sida/UNICEF Partnership in Luang Prabang Province in Laos - A Case Study” (U.N.D.P., 2005) 249, accessed May 15, 2016,  http://www.unescobkk.org/fileadmin/user_upload/appeal/LLP/LLP_Documenta… .

[13] Duncan Geere, “Global Flooding Risk Could Triple by 2030,” Wired , March 5, 2015, accessed April 15, 2016, http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-03/05/flooding-predictions-2030 .

[14]  United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (U.N.I.S.D.R.), Country Assessment Report for Lao PDR: Strengthening of Hydrometeorology Services in Southeast Asia   (2013), accessed April 15, 2016, http://www.unisdr.org/files/33988_countryassessmentreportlaopdr[1].pdf .

[15] Saysoth Keoduangsine, Robert Goodwin and Paul Gardner-Stephen, “A Study of an SMS-Based Flood Warning System for Flood Risk Areas in Laos,” International Journal of Future Computer and Communication  3 (2014): 182-186, accessed May 15, 2016, http://www.ijfcc.org/papers/292-M052.pdf .

[16] The World Bank, “Lao PDR Overview,” last modified April 2016, http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lao/overview .

[17]  “Laos Yet to Formulate Drought Response Plan,” Vientiane Times , April 29, 2016, accessed May 11, 2016, http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_Laosyet.htm .

[18] Tumpale Sakijege, John Lupala and Shaaban Sheuya, “Flooding, Flood Risks and Coping Strategies in Urban Informal Residential Areas: The Case of Keko Machungwa, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,” J àmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 4 (2012): 1-10, accessed April 15, 2016, doi: 10.4102/jamba.v4i1.46.

[19] S. Paul and J. Routray, “Flood Proneness and Coping Strategies: The Experiences of Two Villages in Bangladesh,” Disasters 34 (2010): 489-508, accessed April 15, 2016, doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7717.2009.01139.x.

[20]  “Lao PDR,” The International Rice Research Institute (2015), accessed April 15, 2016, http://irri.org/our-work/locations/lao-pdr .

[21] Amy Kazmin, “Asia Races to Find Drought-Resistant Rice,” Future of the Food Industry , last modified January 13, 2016, http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/dea46c3e-982a-11e5-9228-87e603d47bdc.html .

[22]  “Lao PDR,” The International Rice Research Institute (2015), accessed April 15, 2016, http://irri.org/our-work/locations/lao-pdr .

[23] A. Phonmart, “Promoting Community Awareness and Strengthening Community Resilience.” Presentation by Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (D.D.P.M.), (Bangkok: Ministry of Interior).

[24] Standing Office of Tien Giang Provincial Committee for Flood and Storm Control (P.C.F.S.C.), “Activities under MRC – ADPC – ECHO Project and Achievement . ”   Presentation at Regional Workshop, Tien Giang, Laos, 2009.

[25]  World Bank, Resilient Recovery: An Imperative for Sustainable Development  (2015), accessed May 8, 2016, https://www.gfdrr.org/sites/gfdrr/files/publication/Resilient-Recovery-An-Imperative-for-Sustainable-Development.pdf .

[26] United Nations Lao PDR, “UN Disaster Risk Reduction Chief: Building Back Better Makes Communities More Resilient,” October 9, 2012, accessed April 15, 2016, http://www.la.one.un.org/media-center/news-and-features/20-un-disaster-risk-reduction-chief-building-back-better-makes-communities-more-resilient .

[27]  “Laos: Floods highlight disaster-preparedness needs,” IRIN , September 7, 2011, accessed May 7, 2016, http://www.irinnews.org/fr/report/93672/laos-floods-highlight-disasterp… .

[28] United Nations Lao PDR, “UN Disaster Risk Reduction Chief: Building Back Better Makes Communities More Resilient.”

The Middle East Institute (MEI) is an independent, non-partisan, non-for-profit, educational organization. It does not engage in advocacy and its scholars’ opinions are their own. MEI welcomes financial donations, but retains sole editorial control over its work and its publications reflect only the authors’ views. For a listing of MEI donors, please click here .

Essay on Floods

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Floods stand as one of the most common and devastating natural disasters, affecting millions of people worldwide every year. Characterized by the overflow of water onto land that is normally dry, floods can result from a variety of causes, including heavy rainfall, storm surges, melting snow, and breaches in manmade barriers like dams and levees. This essay delves into the causes, impacts, and management strategies of floods, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of this complex phenomenon and its significance in the context of global climate change and human resilience.

Causes of Floods

Floods can be categorized into several types based on their causes and characteristics, including riverine floods, coastal floods, flash floods, and urban floods. Riverine floods occur when rivers overflow their banks due to excessive rain or snowmelt. Coastal floods are caused by storm surges associated with tropical cyclones or tsunamis. Flash floods result from intense rainfall over a short duration, often in hilly or mountainous areas. Urban floods are exacerbated by the impermeability of city surfaces, which prevents water absorption and leads to runoff overwhelming drainage systems.

The Role of Climate Change

Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of flooding events. Rising global temperatures contribute to more extreme weather patterns, including heavier and more unpredictable rainfall. Additionally, rising sea levels increase the risk of coastal flooding, particularly in low-lying areas. The intersection of these factors with human activities, such as deforestation and urban expansion, compounds the vulnerability of communities to floods.

The Multifaceted Impact of Floods

The impacts of floods are profound and far-reaching, affecting the environmental, social, and economic fabric of societies.

Environmental Impact

• Erosion: Floodwaters can erode soil and sediment, leading to land degradation and loss of fertile agricultural land.
• Habitat Disruption: Floods can disrupt natural habitats, displacing wildlife and affecting biodiversity. Aquatic ecosystems may be particularly affected.
• Water Quality: Floods can introduce pollutants and contaminants into water bodies, negatively impacting water quality and aquatic life.
• Deforestation: Intense flooding can uproot trees and vegetation, contributing to deforestation and altering local ecosystems.
• Silt Deposition: Floodwaters often carry silt and sediment, which can accumulate in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, affecting water storage and navigation.

Infrastructure and Economic Impact

• Property Damage: Floods can cause extensive damage to homes, buildings, and infrastructure, resulting in financial losses for individuals and communities.
• Agricultural Losses: Floods can destroy crops, livestock, and farm infrastructure, causing significant economic setbacks for agricultural communities.
• Disruption of Transportation: Flooded roads, bridges, and railways can disrupt transportation networks, leading to logistical challenges and economic losses.
• Business Interruption: Flooding can force businesses to halt operations, leading to revenue loss, unemployment, and economic downturns in affected areas.
• Insurance Costs: Flooding can lead to increased insurance premiums and costs for property owners and businesses in flood-prone regions.

Human Impact

• Loss of Life: Flooding poses a significant risk to human life, with fatalities occurring due to drowning, landslides, and waterborne diseases.
• Injuries and Health Issues: Survivors of floods may suffer injuries, trauma, and health problems, including waterborne diseases and infections.
• Displacement: Flooding can lead to the displacement of communities, forcing people to seek temporary shelter and disrupting their lives.
• Mental Health: The emotional and psychological toll of flooding can result in stress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among affected individuals.

Social and Cultural Impact

• Community Disruption: Floods can disrupt the social fabric of communities, leading to social upheaval, strained relationships, and loss of social cohesion.
• Cultural Heritage Loss: Floods can damage or destroy cultural and historical sites, artifacts, and traditions, leading to the loss of cultural heritage.
• Disparities: Vulnerable and marginalized populations often bear the brunt of flood impacts, exacerbating social inequalities.

Mitigation and Adaptation

Infrastructure Resilience: Investments in flood-resistant infrastructure, such as levees, dams, and flood barriers, aim to reduce the impact of flooding.

Early Warning Systems: Developing effective early warning systems can help mitigate the loss of life and property by providing advance notice of flooding.

Land Use Planning: Proper land use planning can reduce flood risk by restricting development in flood-prone areas and promoting sustainable urban design.

Climate Change Considerations: Given the link between climate change and increased flooding, addressing climate change through emissions reduction is a key component of flood mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Flood Management and Mitigation Strategies

Effective flood management and mitigation require a multi-faceted approach that combines structural measures, non-structural strategies, and community preparedness.

Structural Measures

Structural measures involve the construction of physical barriers such as levees, dams, and floodwalls to control or divert floodwaters. While these can be effective in certain contexts, they can also have unintended environmental and social consequences, such as altering natural water flows and displacing communities.

Non-Structural Strategies

Non-structural strategies focus on policies and practices that reduce the risk and impact of floods without altering the landscape. These include land-use planning to avoid building in flood-prone areas, implementing early warning systems, and investing in natural flood management techniques like wetland restoration and reforestation. These approaches not only mitigate flood risk but also offer co-benefits for biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

Community Preparedness and Resilience Building

Building community resilience is critical to managing floods effectively. This involves educating communities about flood risks, developing evacuation plans, and ensuring access to emergency services and supplies. Empowering communities to participate in flood risk management can enhance the effectiveness of response efforts and foster a culture of preparedness.

Navigating Towards a Resilient Future

The challenge of managing floods in a changing climate requires global cooperation and innovative solutions. Adaptation strategies that embrace both technological advancements and traditional knowledge can offer sustainable pathways to resilience. For instance, integrating green infrastructure in urban planning can reduce runoff and enhance the capacity of cities to absorb floodwaters.

Moreover, international collaboration on climate action, including efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, is vital to addressing the root causes of climate-induced flooding. By investing in sustainable development, promoting equitable land use, and enhancing global and local governance structures, societies can navigate towards a future where the impact of floods is minimized.

In conclusion, Floods are a complex and multifaceted challenge that underscores the intricate relationship between human societies and the natural environment. As climate change exacerbates the frequency and severity of flooding, the imperative to develop resilient and adaptive strategies becomes increasingly urgent. Through a combination of structural and non-structural measures, community engagement, and global cooperation, it is possible to mitigate the impacts of floods and protect the most vulnerable communities. Navigating the deluge towards a resilient future requires not only technical and financial resources but also a shared commitment to fostering a sustainable and equitable world.

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Officials change course amid outrage over bail terms for Indian teen accused in fatal drunk driving accident

By Arshad R. Zargar

May 22, 2024 / 1:37 PM EDT / CBS News

New Delhi — Indian justice officials have changed course amid outrage over the bail terms set for a teenager accused of killing two people while driving a Porsche at high speed while drunk and without a license. The 17-year-old son of a wealthy businessman had been ordered to write a 300-word essay and work with the local traffic police for 15 days to be granted bail — a decision that was made within 15 hours of his arrest.

He is accused of killing two young people while speeding in his luxury car on Sunday in the western Indian city of Pune.

The lenient bail conditions initially imposed by the local Juvenile Justice Board shocked many people, including officials, across India. The local police approached the board with an appeal to cancel his bail and seeking permission to treat the boy, who is just four months shy of his 18th birthday, as an adult, arguing that his alleged crime was heinous in nature.

In 2015, India changed its laws to allow minors between 16 and 18 years of age to be tried as adults if they're accused of crimes deemed heinous. The change was prompted by the notorious 2012  Delhi rape case , in which one of the convicts was a minor. Many activists argued that if he was old enough to commit a brutal rape, he should not be treated as a minor.

On Wednesday night, after three days of outrage over the initial decision, the Juvenile Justice Board canceled the teen's bail and sent him to a juvenile detention center until June 5. It said a decision on whether he could be tried as an adult, which would see him face a more serious potential sentence, would be taken after further investigation.

Late Sunday night, police say the teen, after drinking with friends at two local bars in Pune, left in his Porsche Taycan, speeding through narrow roads and allegedly hitting a motorcycle, sending the two victims — a male and female, both 24-year-old software engineers — flying into the air and killing them.

The parents of both victims have urged authorities to ensure a strict punishment for the teen.

The suspect was first charged with causing death by negligence, but that was changed to a more serious charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. On Wednesday he was also charged with drunk driving offenses.

Police have arrested the suspect's father and accused him of allowing his son to drive despite being underage, according to Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar. The legal age for driving in India is 18. Owners of the two bars where the minor was served alcohol have also been arrested and their premises seized.

"We have adopted the most stringent possible approach, and we shall do whatever is at our command to ensure that the two young lives that were lost get justice, and the accused gets duly punished," Kumar said.

Maharashtra state's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had described the original decision of the Juvenile Justice Board as "lenient" and "shocking," and called the public outrage a reasonable reaction.

Road accidents claimed more than 168,000 lives in India in 2022. More than 1,500 of those people died in accidents caused by drunk driving, according to Indian government data.

Under Indian law, a person convicted of drunk driving can face a maximum punishment of six months in prison and a fine of about $120 for a first offense. If, however, the drunk driving leads to the death of another person, the offender can face two to seven years in prison.

• Deadly Crash
• Deadly Hit And Run
• Drunk Driving

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