What are the effects of flooding?
Flooding can be very dangerous – only 15cms of fast-flowing water are needed to knock
you off your feet!
Floodwater can seriously disrupt public and
personal transport by cutting off roads and
railway lines, as well as communication
links when telephone lines are damaged.
Floods disrupt normal drainage systems in
cities, and sewage spills are common,
which represents a serious health hazard,
along with standing water and wet
materials in the home. Bacteria, mould
and viruses, cause disease, trigger allergic
reactions, and continue to damage
materials long after a flood.
Floods can distribute large amounts of water and suspended sediment over vast areas,
restocking valuable soil nutrients to agricultural lands. In contrast, soil can be eroded by
large amounts of fast flowing water, ruining crops, destroying agricultural land / buildings
and drowning farm animals.
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Severe floods not only ruin homes / businesses and destroy personal property, but the
water left behind causes further damage to property and contents. The environment and
wildlife is also at risk when damage when damage to businesses causes the accidental
release of toxic materials like paints, pesticides, gasoline etc.
Floodwater can severely disrupt public and
personal transport by cutting off roads and railway
lines, as well as communication links when
telephone lines are damaged.
Unfortunately, flooding not only disrupts many
people’s lives each year, but it frequently creates
personal tragedies when people are swept away
and drowned.