Flooding

Flooding occurs when an area is inundated with an overflow of water, most commonly due to heavy rains or a rise in levels of water in nearby bodies of water. Flooding can have devastating effects on both people and the environment, as it can lead to property damage, the displacement of people, soil erosion and water contamination. Flooding is a major cause of loss of life, especially in regions that are prone to floods. While flood events can never be completely eliminated, people can take action to reduce the risk of flooding, through flood mitigation measures such as building levees, developing flood warning systems and improving land use planning.