8 Flood Related Hazards
All year long, flooding poses a threat throughout the entire United States. No matter where you live, whether it's on the coast or inland, you could be affected by flooding. The most common cause of flooding is due to water that accumulates faster than soils can absorb it or rivers can carry it away. In today's blog, Big Bags USA® briefly addresses the most common flood related hazards that impact the United States.
Flash floods are pretty self explanatory - they're floods that happen in a flash. They generally develop within 6 hours of the immediate cause. Flash floods exhibit a rapid rise of water over low-lying areas. Flash floods are especially common in the West, and also Urban areas, where large amounts of concrete and asphalt surfaces that do not allow water to penetrate into the soil easily.
River flooding occurs when river levels rise and overflow their banks or the edges of their main channel and inundate areas that are normally dry. This type of flooding can be classified as Minor, Moderate or Major based on water height and impacts along the river that have been coordinated with the National Weather Service and local officials.
When people think of tropical storms and hurricanes, they typically think of high winds first. However, the highest percentage of all tropical storm deaths are due to flooding. Storm surge and large waves produced by hurricanes and tropical storms post the greatest threat to life and property along the coast. Storm surge is particularly problematic directly along the coast, but can also travel several miles inland causing additional flooding and destruction.
In areas where wildfires have burned away vegetation and altered soil properties, the bare ground, known as a burn scar, tends to repel water. When rain falls over these areas, the ground is unable to absorb the water, leaving it to collect or run across the surface of the ground towards the lowest point. While wildfires are common in the West, they can occur in all 50 states, so this type of flooding can happen anywhere.
Ice jams are a common issue during the winter months and early spring along rivers, streams and creeks in the higher latitudes of the United States, including Alaska. Many of the record flooding events along major rivers in Alaska are the result of ice jams. Debris jams on the otherhand, can occur at any time of the year and have the same implications as an ice jam. When ice or debris get caught somewhere, water can be held back, causing upstream flooding. When the jam finally breaks, flash flooding can occur.
Snowmelt flooding occurs when the major source of water involved in a flooding event is caused by melting snow. The northern states and mountainous areas are most susceptible to this type of flooding. Snowmelt flooding can occur when there is more water than the soil can absorb or can be contained in storage capacities in the soil, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. High soil moisture conditions prior to snowmelt can also contribute to this type of flooding. In addition, deep, hard ground frost can prevent snowmelt from infiltrating into the soil. Often times, snowmelt is a relatively slow phenomenon.
In dry areas of the United States, significant rainfall can quickly cause flooding. Because of the heat and arid climate, the ground is quite hard and unable to absorb much of the precipitation that does fall. Water from possible storms rush to low-lying areas, often into a canyon or dried up river bed. It can be dangerous for hikers in these areas because while a storm could be miles away, water can flow downstream quickly, sweeping anything in these canyons or riverbeds away.
With more than 80,000 dams in the United States, flooding by dam failure is a risk to many people across the country. Dam failure or levee breaches can occur with little warning. The causes of dam failures vary from natural causes such as prolonged rainfall, landslides, earthquakes or erosion to human causes such as improper maintenance and design, negligent operation, or sabotage and terrorism. Dam failures are categorized into three groups: overtopping, in which the water level exceeds the top of the dam; excessive seepage, in which water seeps through the ground; and structural failure, where part of the dam doesn't complete its job sufficiently.
Big Bags USA® can provide assistance in any of these hazardous situations related to flooding. From levee heightening to property protection, our large polypropylene sandbags are the perfect flood protection! Our flood control systems can handle the highest demands at a fraction of the costs normally associated with rapid deployed systems. For more information, give us a call at 800-337-0537!
1. Flash Flooding
Flash floods are pretty self explanatory - they're floods that happen in a flash. They generally develop within 6 hours of the immediate cause. Flash floods exhibit a rapid rise of water over low-lying areas. Flash floods are especially common in the West, and also Urban areas, where large amounts of concrete and asphalt surfaces that do not allow water to penetrate into the soil easily.
2. River Flooding
River flooding occurs when river levels rise and overflow their banks or the edges of their main channel and inundate areas that are normally dry. This type of flooding can be classified as Minor, Moderate or Major based on water height and impacts along the river that have been coordinated with the National Weather Service and local officials.
3. Storm Surge & Coastal Inundation
When people think of tropical storms and hurricanes, they typically think of high winds first. However, the highest percentage of all tropical storm deaths are due to flooding. Storm surge and large waves produced by hurricanes and tropical storms post the greatest threat to life and property along the coast. Storm surge is particularly problematic directly along the coast, but can also travel several miles inland causing additional flooding and destruction.
4. Burn Scars & Debris Flows
In areas where wildfires have burned away vegetation and altered soil properties, the bare ground, known as a burn scar, tends to repel water. When rain falls over these areas, the ground is unable to absorb the water, leaving it to collect or run across the surface of the ground towards the lowest point. While wildfires are common in the West, they can occur in all 50 states, so this type of flooding can happen anywhere.
5. Ice & Debris Jams
Ice jams are a common issue during the winter months and early spring along rivers, streams and creeks in the higher latitudes of the United States, including Alaska. Many of the record flooding events along major rivers in Alaska are the result of ice jams. Debris jams on the otherhand, can occur at any time of the year and have the same implications as an ice jam. When ice or debris get caught somewhere, water can be held back, causing upstream flooding. When the jam finally breaks, flash flooding can occur.
6. Snowmelt
Snowmelt flooding occurs when the major source of water involved in a flooding event is caused by melting snow. The northern states and mountainous areas are most susceptible to this type of flooding. Snowmelt flooding can occur when there is more water than the soil can absorb or can be contained in storage capacities in the soil, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. High soil moisture conditions prior to snowmelt can also contribute to this type of flooding. In addition, deep, hard ground frost can prevent snowmelt from infiltrating into the soil. Often times, snowmelt is a relatively slow phenomenon.
7. Dry Wash
In dry areas of the United States, significant rainfall can quickly cause flooding. Because of the heat and arid climate, the ground is quite hard and unable to absorb much of the precipitation that does fall. Water from possible storms rush to low-lying areas, often into a canyon or dried up river bed. It can be dangerous for hikers in these areas because while a storm could be miles away, water can flow downstream quickly, sweeping anything in these canyons or riverbeds away.
8. Dam Breaks & Levee Failure
With more than 80,000 dams in the United States, flooding by dam failure is a risk to many people across the country. Dam failure or levee breaches can occur with little warning. The causes of dam failures vary from natural causes such as prolonged rainfall, landslides, earthquakes or erosion to human causes such as improper maintenance and design, negligent operation, or sabotage and terrorism. Dam failures are categorized into three groups: overtopping, in which the water level exceeds the top of the dam; excessive seepage, in which water seeps through the ground; and structural failure, where part of the dam doesn't complete its job sufficiently.
Big Bags USA® can provide assistance in any of these hazardous situations related to flooding. From levee heightening to property protection, our large polypropylene sandbags are the perfect flood protection! Our flood control systems can handle the highest demands at a fraction of the costs normally associated with rapid deployed systems. For more information, give us a call at 800-337-0537!
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.
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.
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