Beware of Flooding Caused by Snowmelt

As we move into the Winter season, new flooding risks arise. A midwinter thaw can produce large amounts of runoff in a short period of time. Since the ground is frozen and hard, water cannot penetrate the Earth and be reabsorbed. The water then has no where to go but into the lakes, streams and rivers. This excess run off water causes these bodies of water to spill over their banks. The effect of snowmelt on potential flooding is something that causes concern for many people across the country. Flood preparation is something to be thinking about as we head into this cold weather season!

Massive Northeastern United States Flooding


In January of 1996, the northeastern United States experienced massive flooding due to a combination of factors. Heavy snowfall followed by a sudden thaw and heavy rain caused floods along rivers from New York through Pennsylvania to Virginia. This produced water levels not seen since Hurricane Agnes, which hit the area in June 1972. Major rivers in Pennsylvania and the Potomac River were affected by this weather change. The raging rivers, sometimes jammed with ice, caused a number of deaths and required many people to evacuate their homes.  Ice blocks carried by the flood waters worsened the damage done to buildings, bridges and dams.

Flooding from Deep Snow Cover


The deeper the snow, the more water that can be produced. Deep snow very rarely causes flooding on its own, but combined with other factors can be a major threat. Heavy rain and rapid increases in temperature combined with the snow melt can cause major flooding problems. If you live in an area that typically sees a lot of snow, you'll want to be prepared for the unexpected with a flood mitigation plan.



Flooding Based on the State of Soil 


Frozen soil cannot absorb water as easily as unfrozen soil can.  Rain or rapid snow melt on top of the frozen soil can cause flooding that would not have otherwise occurred with that amount of water had the soil not been frozen.  On the other hand, overly wet or saturated soil also cannot absorb water very easily. If the snow has melted into the soil and then rain comes along, that rain water has no where to go.  The excess water becomes runoff, flowing into rivers and streams.  The increase in water levels can cause major flooding.

Flooding from Ice Covered Rivers


As rain or melting snow runs off into the rivers and streams, ice at the surface will crack and break up into chunks that float downstream. These chunks of ice can form a dam as they con into contact with barriers, such as bridges. These newly created ice dams cause water levels to rise rapidly behind them, flooding many of the upstream locations.  If the dam suddenly breaks from the water pressure, water can also end up flooding downstream locations. Large chunks of ice can not only cause flooding, but also damage to bridges and other structures they come in contact with.

Having Big Bags USA flood barriers on hand is the perfect solution to these Winter flooding risks! Our large polypropylene sand bags, can handle the highest demands at a fraction of the costs normally associated with rapid deployed systems.  Big Bags USA has earned its rank in the Top Ten Flood Barriers list.  Contact us today at 800-337-0537 for all your flood control needs!

Sources:
https://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/flooding_flood_risks/snow_melt.jsp
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesnowmelt.html
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/wfldfac.htm

If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.


D.R.I.P.S.
Disaster Relief & Innovative
Protection Systems, LLC
(573) 480-6699

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ALWAYS READY TO HELP LOCAL, STATE, & FEDERAL AGENCIES ... BE PREPARED!   

Location: Camdenton, MO 65020, USA

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