Floods Flashcards
What is a flood?
A flood is when too much rain occurs in a short period of time
What natural things help to cause floods?
Long periods of rainfall that fill up rivers and dams
Steep slopes cause rainwater to flow off the land quickly
If land is destroyed from fire or if the grass has been eaten, the water will flow off the land because its bare
Tsunamis, hurricanes, cyclones and monsoons cause major flooding along coastlines
How do people help cause floods?
Dams are built and fill up with water, overflow and flood the surrounding areas
Farmers burn or remove crops to plough the ground for new crops
In Urban areas, water cannot be drained, as storm water is often blocked with litter and pollution
List the effects of floods
Floods can cause injury, death and will damage property
Many people drown and become injured and most become homeless
Crops become destroyed and fail as the topsoil gets washed away.
Buildings, properties and transport are also destroyed
Sewage gets washed out contaminating water and food.
Diseases such as cholera are spread in the contaminated water
At the coast, land is covered by salty water which kills plants and destroys fertility and nothing grows
Why are some communities at more risk than others?
They live close to rivers
They use rivers to drink, wash and cook
The water keeps the soil fertile and crops grow
The land is flat and is easier to build a home
They are poor and they don’t have the money to live where flooding doesn’t occur
How can we reduce the impact of floods?
Build walls and barriers along riverbanks and coastlines
Build settlements away from riverbanks
Improve drainage
Educate people on the dangers of flooding
Make use of lakes, natural vegetation and wetlands.
