White Paper Final

Floods:
Prevention and Control
Kyla anderson
Executive Summary
Floods are powerful acts of nature that can cause extreme damage to communities, and
the environment. They have the potential to create extensive devastation and
demolition.demolition. Throughout this reading I will present the diverse types of floods, as well
as the aftermath they cause. I found that a solution to decrease the devastation caused by floods,
could be cured by early warning signs, robust infrastructure, number of levees, dams, seawalls,
and tide gates.
Diving deeper into the types of floods, River floods occur when rivers overflow their
banks as a result of snow melting, or rainfall. Flash floods are rapid and occur in a short period of
time. They are likely to occur in areas with poor drainage, and mountainous regions. Coastal
floods are a result from high tides and storm surges, and urban floods can occur in cities due to
poor drainage systems or even excessive rainfall. Impacts of Floods can be mitigated through
effective precautions, recovery measures, and response. These include ensuring flood control
infrastructure, such as levees, dams, seawalls, and tide gates.
Figure 2: flood control infrastructure-dam

Figure 3: flood protection- levee
Background
Floods are the most common natural hazard in the United States. Flooding can occur
anywhere, at any time, day or night. Heavy rainfall is a common culprit, although floods can be
the result of hurricanes, melting snow, dam failures and more. Flooding is caused by an overflow
of water onto land which is normally dry. Flooding can occur in diverse forms, such as river
floods, flash floods, coastal floods, and urban floods. Diving deeper into the types of floods,
River floods occur when rivers overflow their banks as a result of snow melting, or rainfall.
Flash floods are rapid and occur in a short period of time. They are likely to occur in areas with
poor drainage, and mountainous regions. Coastal floods are a result of high tides and storm
surges, and urban floods can occur in cities due to poor drainage systems or even excessive
rainfall. Impacts of Floods can be mitigated through effective precautions, recovery measures,
and response. These include ensuring flood control infrastructure, such as levees, dams, seawalls,
and tide gates.
Figure 42: Types of floods
concerns
Flooding occurs and is a threat to any known territory that receives rain. You are most at
risk if located in an area such as Low spots, underground parking garages, and basements. When
a flood occurs be sure to raiserise towards the highest ground level possible, if unable to
evacuate.
The aftermath of flooding can result in loss of life, damaged infrastructure, contaminated
water, and disruption of day-to-day essential services. They can cause lasting impacts on the
society, society and economythe economy. and environment. These consequences can be felt
long after the flooding occurs. A major concern is that the societysociety may not be doing
enough to prepare infor the occurrence of a flood.
Figure 54: Damaged infrastructure due to flooding
Solution
By understanding the causes and effects of floods, we can take steps to reduce their risks
and create stronger, more resilient communities that can better withstand them. This will include
a plethora of early warning systems, emergency planning, evacuation procedures, infrastructure
improvements, and community education. Infrastructure improvements will include, but not
limited to ensuring there are multiple floodplains infloodplains likely to flood communities. A
floodplain is the low lyinglow-lying area which surrounds rivers, as well as other bodies of water
that naturally flood on a frequent basis. Floodplains provide about twenty-five percent of all land
basedland-based ecosystem service benefits, although only two percentage is represented on
earth's land service.
Through effective precautions flood damage can be limited, anand in addition to the
amount of levees, dams, seawalls, and tide gates can make a vast difference in communities and
the aftermath. If everyone comes together and states their concerns/ ideas, I find that there is a
potential to make this idea reality.
Conclusion
To conclude, by implementing these measures, societies can significantly minimize the
distraught effects of flooding. Through various precautions flood damage can be limited, through
early warning signs, robust infrastructure, amount of levees, dams, seawalls, and tide gates. All
of these into consideration can make a significant difference Inin societies and lessen the risk of
disaster.
References
https://www.ready.gov/floods
https://riskfactor.com/solutions/flood
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/flood-plain/
Figure 1: https://www.nbenews.com/id/wbna28421520
Figure 2: https://www.nbenews.com/id/wbna28421520
Figure 3:https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/interactive/2023/photos-hilary-tropical-
storm-california/
Figure 4: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-different-types-of-floods-Modified-from-
Types-of-Flooding-in-the-UK-2018_fig2_355189804
Figure 5: https://help.riskfactor.com/hc/en-us/articles/560050117074-Understand-how-flood-
control-projects-reduce-flood-risk
Figure 1- https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-high-water-park-bench-flooded-red-natural-
disaster-57706588.html office 365
Figure 2- https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-different-types-of-floods-Modified-from-
Types-of-Flooding-in-the-UK-2018_fig2_355189804
Figure 3- https://www.nbenews.com/id/wbna28421520
Figure 4- https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/
apr/13/peru-prevent-floods-landslides-climate-change
Figure 5- https://help.riskfactor.com/hc/en-us/articles/560050117074-Understand-how-flood-
control-projects-reduce-flood-risk

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Floods:

Prevention and Control

Figure 2: flood control infrastructure-dam

Figure 42: Types of floods

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