We tend to think about floods only in terms of tropical storms or near big rivers when the snow melts. By that logic, we would feel quite safe from flood damage in Orange County. However, the truth is radically different. In fact, floods are the single most common natural disaster in the USA. Floods can occur in many different ways. Here are some of the most common scenarios, as well as potential damage they can do to your home and belongings.
Snow melt
Apart from feeding rivers which then flood, snow can create another kind of flood problem. During the early days of snow melt, the snow itself melts, but the ground is still frozen solid. If the ground is reasonably level, the water has nowhere to go, so it just collects and pools around the houses and roads. This type of slow or stagnant flood can last up to a week, and sometimes even longer, causing huge amounts of damage. In 1993, the Great Midwestern Flood lasted for four months and caused an estimated amount of 16 billion dollars in property damage.
Flash floods
The most deadly of all weather conditions, flash floods happen in dry and arid regions. After months of drought and scorching sun, the ground is unable to absorb much water. If heavy rain falls in that area, instead of seeping into the ground, water creates veritable rivers and flash floods. It destroys everything in its path, including cars, homes and even bridges. This current is so strong it can easily roll boulders to and fro.
Housing development
If it is not researched carefully, even new housing development can cause flood damage. New housing reduces the area of soil which absorbs the rainfall. If a higher than usual amount of rain falls, the excess water collects, as it has nowhere to go. These kinds of floods usually don’t last particularly long, but can cause thousands in property damage. If a new development is being built near you, insist on checking the drainage network.
Dams and floodwalls
When we say dam, we immediately envision something as imposing and huge as Hoover Dam. The reality is, sadly, very different. Many of the dams supporting smaller rivers and around smaller communities are often earthen and by the report of National Inventory of Dams from 1994, one third of them pose serious threat to communities around them if they collapse. Heavy rain may surpass the critical points of the dam, causing flooding which can last for weeks.
Tropical storms
Even when we think we know something about floods, they can still surprise us. Believing that only coastal areas are prone to flooding caused by tropical storms can be fatally wrong. Areas as far as couple hundred miles inland can be affected by tropical storms. In such scenarios, storm drains designed for regular weather can quickly be full and unable to take on any more water. The excess water collects and stays for days, and if the torrential rain persists, even longer. This stagnant water causes significant water damage, and can even enhance the development of illnesses and disease-bearing insects where they are not usually found.
These are just some of the unexpected scenarios of flooding most people are not aware of. Not being prepared for a flood can mean that once it hits, you don’t know what to do and how to proceed. If you wish to know more, find trustable resources online. And if you have suffered flood damage in Orange County, immediately contact Emergency Home Solutions, a leading local company with years of experience with water damage and its remediation.