Research - What are the impacts of flooding?

Flooding can produce widespread impacts in both rural and urban areas. Any type of agricultural, commercial, or residential development located in a floodplain is vulnerable to flooding. Increasing urbanization in some areas enhances the threat of flooding where drainage systems cannot cope with the increased input of stormwater runoff.



In rural areas, property damage caused by flooding can be devastating to farmers. When flooding occurs during the growing season, farmers can suffer widespread crop loss. In some cases, there may be an opportunity for a second planting of a less profitable crop. Livestock farmers may lose livestock if they are unable to find safety from rising floodwaters. This threat is primarily associated with flash flooding.


Flooding can pose several threats to residential and commercial properties. Buildings can experience significant damage, sometimes beyond repair, due to flooding. Household furnishings and business inventories can be lost if there is not adequate time to remove items to safe locations. In addition to being at risk because of floodwater, people face the threat of explosions and fires caused by leaking gas lines along with the possibility of being electrocuted. Even wild animals, forced out of their homes and brought into contact with humans by floodwaters, can be a threat.


Severe flooding can cause extensive damage to public utilities and disruptions to the delivery of services. Loss of power and communications can be expected. Drinking water and wastewater treatment facility may be temporarily out of operation.


Impacts of flooding on transportation are particularly noteworthy. Flooded streets and roads block transportation and make it difficult for emergency vehicles to respond to calls for service. Floodwaters can washout sections of roadway and bridges. Most importantly, the majority of fatalities that occur in floods are the result of people trying to dry on roads covered by floodwaters.

Source: http://kccserv1.estb.wku.edu/BRADD/flooding/impacts.html

Steph .