Famous Flash Floods and How Can You Prepare Yourselves for One

Flash flood refers to local flooding that occurs when a significant volume of water inundates low-lying areas within a short duration. Often, flooding occurs miles from the source of the water. In the U.S., flash floods take place in mountain ranges, basins, rivers, dry lakes, and the dry plains in the southwestern part of the country. Despite advance technologies and flood risk assessment, flash floods are also a regular occurrence throughout both rural and urban areas of the United States.

Common sources of flash floods are hurricanes, storms and tropical storms. Melt water from snow and ice also cause flash flooding. Sometimes, the collapse of ice or debris dams or man-made hydro-electricity dams, may lead to flash flooding. These floods differ from regular floods because they may occur in less than six hours.

Famous Flash Floods

Of all the natural disasters, which have occurred over the last 120 years, flash floods have accounted for more death and property destruction than any other calamity. Property damage from inundation or buildings knocked off their foundations.

Listed below are some of the most famous floods in the history of the United States:

Johnstown Flood of 1889: sometimes called the "Great Flood of 1889," this occurred in and Johnstown, Pennsylvania on May 31, 1889. Heavy rainfall deluged the area for a number of days. An estimated 4.8 billion gallons of water fell on the area. This act of nature eventually overwhelmed the South Fork Dam, which caused it to flood.

The disaster claimed than 2,200 lives. More than $17 million in property damage occurred. The Jonestown flood was the first significant disaster relief effort by the American Red Cross.

Great Mississippi Flood of 1927:: After 15 inches of rain in an 18-hour period, the Mounds Landing levee broke and the Mississippi River flooded an area encompassing 50 miles wide and 100 miles long. Over 185,000 residents were force to evacuate the county and tens of thousands lost their homes. Floodwaters engulfed land across seven states-- Mississippi, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana. The disaster killed 246 people and caused property damage exceeding $400 million.

Big Thompson Canyon: Located in Colorado, the Big Thompson Canyon is a popular destination situated along the east slope of the Rocky Mountains. On July 31, 1976, about 3,000 people flocked to the area to enjoy fishing, hiking, and camping.. Close to dusk, a stationary thunderstorm, at the headwaters the Big Thompson River, in Rocky Mountain National Park, poured 12 inches of rain into the river within a two-hour period.

The volume of the rainfall nearly equaled the amount of precipitation common for a single 12-month period.. One hundred-forty-three people lost their lives. The bodies of five individuals remain unaccounted for in the final count.

Arkansas Flood of 2010: On June 11, 2010 around midnight, the Caddo and Little Missouri, in the Ouachita National Forest, overflow its banks sending floodwater to submerge campsites setup in the Albert Pike Recreation Area. The sites were overwhelmed with about four-feet of water by 2:00 a.m. By 5:00 a.m., the campsite disappears under 23 feet of water. The American Red Cross estimated nearly 300 people were present; twenty individuals lost their lives.

Flash Flood Preparation

Here are a number of things you can do to prepare and protect your family from a flash flood. Start by contacting the local emergency management authority to determine if you live in a flood-prone area. Find out if your property/location lies above or below the flood stage water level.

Some other steps you should take include:

• Learn and teach your children the warning signs and the local community flood alert signals
• Stockpile emergency building supplies like plywood, plastic sheeting, hammer, nails, shovels and sandbags
• Position appliances, electrical boxes heating and air condition units and electrical components a minimum of one foot above the 100-year flood level
• Inspect and check valves on the build sewer traps, which prevents flood water back up into sewer drains
• Keep a supply of cork or stoppers to plug for basins, showers and tubs
• Prepare an evaluation plan and practice it with your family

City, state and federal authorities have committed more resources to conducting flood risk assessments, which include evaluation of flood-prone areas, and analysis of the potential hazards. Assessments also include probability scenarios and vulnerability analysis.

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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC '-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN' 'http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd'><html><head><title>Articles Back Link | Famous Flash Floods and How Can You Prepare Yourselves for One</title></head><body><h3>Famous Flash Floods and How Can You Prepare Yourselves for One</h3><br><br> By: Joe Brown<br><br><p><p>Flash flood refers to local flooding that occurs when a significant volume of water inundates low-lying areas within a short duration. Often, flooding occurs miles from the source of the water. In the U.S., flash floods take place in mountain ranges, basins, rivers, dry lakes, and the dry plains in the southwestern part of the country. Despite advance technologies and flood risk assessment, flash floods are also a regular occurrence throughout both rural and urban areas of the United States.</P><p>Common sources of flash floods are hurricanes, storms and tropical storms. Melt water from snow and ice also cause flash flooding. Sometimes, the collapse of ice or debris dams or man-made hydro-electricity dams, may lead to flash flooding. These floods differ from regular floods because they may occur in less than six hours.</P><p>Famous Flash Floods</P><p>Of all the natural disasters, which have occurred over the last 120 years, flash floods have accounted for more death and property destruction than any other calamity. Property damage from inundation or buildings knocked off their foundations.</P><p>Listed below are some of the most famous floods in the history of the United States:</P><p>Johnstown Flood of 1889: sometimes called the "Great Flood of 1889," this occurred in and Johnstown, Pennsylvania on May 31, 1889. Heavy rainfall deluged the area for a number of days. An estimated 4.8 billion gallons of water fell on the area. This act of nature eventually overwhelmed the South Fork Dam, which caused it to flood. </P><p>The disaster claimed than 2,200 lives. More than $17 million in property damage occurred. The Jonestown flood was the first significant disaster relief effort by the American Red Cross.</P><p>Great Mississippi Flood of 1927:: After 15 inches of rain in an 18-hour period, the Mounds Landing levee broke and the Mississippi River flooded an area encompassing 50 miles wide and 100 miles long. Over 185,000 residents were force to evacuate the county and tens of thousands lost their homes. Floodwaters engulfed land across seven states-- Mississippi, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana. The disaster killed 246 people and caused property damage exceeding $400 million.</P><p>Big Thompson Canyon: Located in Colorado, the Big Thompson Canyon is a popular destination situated along the east slope of the Rocky Mountains. On July 31, 1976, about 3,000 people flocked to the area to enjoy fishing, hiking, and camping.. Close to dusk, a stationary thunderstorm, at the headwaters the Big Thompson River, in Rocky Mountain National Park, poured 12 inches of rain into the river within a two-hour period. </P><p>The volume of the rainfall nearly equaled the amount of precipitation common for a single 12-month period.. One hundred-forty-three people lost their lives. The bodies of five individuals remain unaccounted for in the final count.</P><p>Arkansas Flood of 2010: On June 11, 2010 around midnight, the Caddo and Little Missouri, in the Ouachita National Forest, overflow its banks sending floodwater to submerge campsites setup in the Albert Pike Recreation Area. The sites were overwhelmed with about four-feet of water by 2:00 a.m. By 5:00 a.m., the campsite disappears under 23 feet of water. The American Red Cross estimated nearly 300 people were present; twenty individuals lost their lives. </P><p>Flash Flood Preparation</P><p>Here are a number of things you can do to prepare and protect your family from a flash flood. Start by contacting the local emergency management authority to determine if you live in a flood-prone area. Find out if your property/location lies above or below the flood stage water level. </P><p>Some other steps you should take include:</P><p>• Learn and teach your children the warning signs and the local community flood alert signals<br> • Stockpile emergency building supplies like plywood, plastic sheeting, hammer, nails, shovels and sandbags<br> • Position appliances, electrical boxes heating and air condition units and electrical components a minimum of one foot above the 100-year flood level<br> • Inspect and check valves on the build sewer traps, which prevents flood water back up into sewer drains<br> • Keep a supply of cork or stoppers to plug for basins, showers and tubs<br> • Prepare an evaluation plan and practice it with your family</P><p>City, state and federal authorities have committed more resources to conducting flood risk assessments, which include evaluation of flood-prone areas, and analysis of the potential hazards. Assessments also include probability scenarios and vulnerability analysis.<br></P></p> <br><br> <b>Author Resource:-></b>  <br><br><b>Article From</b> <a href='http://www.articlesbacklink.com/'>Articles Back Link</a><br></body></html>