Location
How Common Is This Disaster? Due to the vast geographical distribution of river floodplains and low-lying coastal areas, flooding is the most common environmental hazard worldwide. They can occur at any time during the year,however, many occur seasonally after winter snow melts or heavy spring rains. Where Does This Disaster Normally Occur? River floodplains and coastal areas are the most susceptible to flooding, however, it is possible for flooding to occur in areas with unusually long periods of heavy rainfall. Bangladesh is the most flood prone area in the world. Bangladesh is vulnerable due to presence of a monsoon season which causes heavy rainfall. Other factors which have contributed to flooding are deforestation in Nepal which has caused soil erosion. This had lead to the increased silt content in the rivers further downstream. This decreases the carrying capacity of the rivers, causing the peak flow of the river to increase. Examples of the different types of floods can be found in the occurrence section. During what time of year does this disaster mostly occur? They can occur at any time during the year,however, many occur seasonally after winter snow melts or heavy spring rains. Flooding is common throughout many areas within the United States and can be prevalent during particular times of the year in the particular areas. Though there is no specific flood season, most flooding occurs in the U.S. from spring to fall. Flooding is also more likely to occur in areas which have seasonal rainstorms, flood-prevalent topography like desert topsoil or a location along the coast. Human development can worsen the problem by removing or covering water-absorbing soil and vegetation for things like roads and buildings. - What Seasons Do Floods Occur? By David Slate How Often Can You Expect Flooding Occur? In terms of lives lost and property damaged, floods are right behind tornado's as the top natural disaster Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters, except fire. In Georgia, most communities experience some kind of flooding after spring rains or heavy thunderstorms. Floods can be slow or fast rising but generally develop over a period of days. Dam failures are potentially the worst flood events. When a dam fails, a gigantic quantity of water is suddenly let loose downstream, destroying anything in its path. |