FLOODS In this Explanation text about floods you will learn about: How a flood occurs Types of floods Facts about floods By GaeSoe

HOW DOES A FLOOD OCCUR? There are many ways a flood can occur. The common flood is the flood where heavy rainfall occurs and overflows the banks of the river, lake, or sea. The river, lake or seas banks starts to get overflowed with water causing a flood.

TYPES OF FLOODS Floods are one of the most common natural disasters but sometimes not all of them are natural. Sometimes they can be manmade like the 2010 Brisbane flood, sometimes natural floods can happen out of nowhere. Floods can cause a huge impact and effect many lives depending on the flood. There are four types of floods, three are natural while the fourth is manmade. The four types of floods are called dam failure, flash flooding, storm surge and riverine flooding.

TYPES OF FLOODS- FLASH FLOOD The flash flood is a powerful flood. It is very fast and will destroy anything in its path, it is caused by heavy rainfall and many more ways and its after math is destructive. It may even cause a drought depending on where the flash flood occurred.

TYPES OF FLOODS-DAM FAILURE Dam failures are man made but they are rare and their effects are significant, dam failures are deadly. The U.S has had the most dam failures. In Victoria dam safety is on and warnings are in place to warn people of dam failures threats.

TYPES OF FLOODS-STORM SURGE Storm surges occur when sea levels rise above the normal tide level due to the action of low wind. The low pressure causes sea level to rise and heavy wind pushes the tide onto land, causing a flood.

TYPES OF FLOODS-RIVERINE FLOOD Riverine flood is another way of saying river flood and is one of the types where its banks over flows because there is to much water and the water overflows the rivers bank causing a flood and causing damage and death (depending on its consequences).

TYPES OF FLOODS-SLOW-ONSET FLOOD Slow onset floods usually occur on inland rivers found in central and Western New South Wales and parts of Western Australia. This flood got its name for taking a long time to occur and maybe takes at least a week to develop and can go on for months.

FLOOD FACTS The word “flood” comes from an old English word meaning a “flowing of water , river, or sea” Rapidly moving water is very dangerous and can sweep a car not matter how heavy it is. Some states makes citizens reimburse the cost of their rescue when they drive into flooded areas. Some places call these IDIOT laws. Some floods can occur in the desert. Just 6 inches of water has the strength to knock over a person.

Bibliography: Research/photos http://www.floodvictoria.vic.gov.au/centric/learn_about_flooding/flood_types /riverine.jsp http://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/three-common-types-of- flood-explained http://damfailures.org/lessons-learned/intervention-can-stop-or-minimize- consequences-of-a-dam-failure-warning-signs-should-not-be-ignored/ http://greenfieldgeography.wikispaces.com/IGCSE+Rivers+and+GCSE+Rivers http://www.myteamexplore.com/homework-help/geography/flash- floods.html http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/learn-about-the-weather/weather- phenomena/storm-surge www.pacificdisaster.net