Floods: Causes, Effects & Reducing the Impact - TERM 2

What Is a Flood?

A flood occurs when water covers land that is usually dry. This can happen in towns, cities, or farms. It happens when there’s too much water all at once—like when it rains so heavily that rivers overflow or drainage systems can't keep up.

Imagine it like a bathtub overfilling because the tap is running too fast!

Causes of Floods

Floods can be caused by many things. Here are a few main causes:

• Unusually Heavy Rain
• When there’s too much rain in a short period, rivers and drains can’t handle the flow of water, causing floods.
• Environmental Factors 
• Farming: When natural land is cleared, it can lead to more water running off into rivers.
• Settlements: Concrete and buildings block water from soaking into the ground, causing more water to flow into streets and rivers.
• Fires & Loss of Vegetation: Without trees and plants to absorb water, flooding can happen more easily.
• Earthquakes & Tsunamis
• Earthquakes or tsunamis near oceans or rivers can cause sudden flooding, especially along the coast.
• Each of these causes can make floods more likely, and knowing them helps us prepare!

Effects of Floods

Floods can cause serious problems. Here’s how they affect people and the environment:

• Injury & Loss of Life: Floodwaters can be dangerous and may cause harm to people.
• Diseases: Floods can spread diseases by mixing water with waste or chemicals.
• Displacement: People may lose their homes and have to find shelter elsewhere.
• Soil Erosion: Floods wash away important soil, which can hurt farms and forests.
• Damage to Buildings, Roads, & Farms: Floods can destroy infrastructure, making it hard for people to rebuild.

Floods can be really hard on everyone involved. They can wipe out homes, farms, and roads, leaving many people in need of help.

Reducing the Impact of Floods

How can we protect ourselves from the damage floods can cause? Here’s what we can do:

• Be Prepared
• Know if you live in a flood-prone area.
• Keep an emergency kit with essentials like food, water, and medicine.
• Set up early warning systems (like radios, phones, and sirens) to know when flooding is coming.
• Build Smart
• In flood-prone areas, consider building houses on stilts to keep water from reaching the home.
• Plant more trees to help absorb rainwater and prevent flooding.

By being prepared and building smarter, we can protect ourselves and our homes.

What Can YOU Do?

There’s a lot YOU can do to help prevent flooding!

• Don’t throw trash in drains—it clogs them and can lead to floods.
• Help plant trees—they absorb water and reduce the chance of flooding.
• Listen to weather reports to stay aware of flood risks.
• Tell adults about flood safety so everyone stays prepared.

We all have a role to play in reducing the impact of floods!

Summary

To sum it all up:

• Floods are caused by heavy rain, human actions, and natural events like earthquakes or tsunamis.
• They can cause serious problems like injury, disease, and loss of homes.
• However, we can prepare and protect ourselves by being informed and taking action, like building smarter and planting trees.