What is a flood?
A flood results from days of heavy rain and/or melting snows, when rivers rise and go over their banks. What is a flash flood? A flash flood is sudden flooding that occurs when floodwaters rise rapidly with no warning within several hours of an intense rain. They often occur after intense rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms. In narrow canyons and valleys, floodwaters flow faster than on flatter ground and can be quite destructive. Do flash floods hurt people? Flash floods are the #1 weather-related killer in the U.S. Nearly 80% of flash flood deaths are auto related. Know beforehand if your area is a flood risk. How much water is needed for your car to float away? A mere 2 feet of water can float a large vehicle or even a bus. This is why you should never drive through flooded roads. Just 6 inches of rapidly moving flood water can knock a person down. What is radar? Radar is an electronic instrument, which determines the direction and distance of objects that reflect radio energy b
A simple definition of flooding is water where it is not wanted. Another, more comprehensive definition of a flood is: A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from overflow of inland or tidal waters from the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source. Floods can have both positive and negative impacts. They can bring welcome relief for people and ecosystems suffering from prolonged drought, but also are estimated to be the most costly natural disaster in Australia. Every year in Australia, floods cause millions of dollars damage to buildings and critical infrastructure, such as roads and railways as well as to agricultural land and crops. They also disrupt business and can affect the health of communities. The floods in the summer of 1998-99 in Queensland, the Northern Territory and New South Wales affected 83,500 people, including 6,710 who were left homeless. The floods also resulted in 15 deaths a
