A flood is an overflow of water onto land that is usually dry. It happens when water from various sources such as heavy rain, rivers, oceans, snowmelt, or dam breaks exceeds its normal boundaries, causing water to submerge normally dry areas. Floods can develop slowly or suddenly, and they are among the most common and widespread natural disasters worldwide.
Key Points about Floods:
- Floods can be caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, ocean waves, storm surges, dam failures, or other water-retaining structure failures.
- There are different types of floods, including flash floods, riverine floods, coastal floods, and urban flooding.
- Flash floods occur very quickly and are particularly dangerous due to their speed.
- Flooding can affect agriculture, infrastructure, public health, and human safety.
The phenomenon is significant because it can cause damage ranging from minor water overflow to severe destruction of property and loss of life.
