What Causes Floods?

​In recent years, floods have made the news almost every month throughout the years. One of which is in July 2021, when two countries like Western Germany and Belgium were devastated by flash floods. After a few days, significant floods hit China's Henan region, causing complete city shutdowns and the displacement of more than a million citizens. 

It is undeniable that natural disasters like this have become common and destructive. But what causes this? And what are the long-term impacts of floods?

Different Types Of Flood
It is important to address what causes these floods, but we have to know first the types of floods. 

1. Flash Floods - Due to heavy rainfall in low-lying areas, the water rises significantly faster, which has the power and speed to destroy property and kill people. This is common in places with a dry climate and rocky terrain. Consequently, if the soil lacks vegetation, there will be no barrier against water overflow, which results in flash floods.
2. River flooding- Due to heavy rainfall or, in some cases melting of snow and ice from higher ground. The river overspills its banks, causing a massive flood within its surroundings.

Cause of Floods
The main reason why floods occur is heavy rainfall. However, places with low-lying areas are more vulnerable to flash floods than those in elevated places and vegetated areas. Riverbanks can also contribute significantly to devastating results when they overflow. Sea overflow caused by storm surges, tropical storms, cyclones, and hurricanes can cause the sea to overflow onto the land in coastal regions.

Biggest Effects of Floods
Between 1886-2017 more than 2 billion people were devastated by floods. As the major flood events become more recurring, this number continues to climb up. Floods have taken infrastructures and lives. People were homeless, and power and mobile communications were forced to shut down. Because of this, the livelihood and safety of people were compromised.

Studies have found that flooding like this could take away 11 percent of the region's GDP by the end of the century. Recovering from it would take years before a country can get back up. Forced migration in this event is the only option to survive. However, overcrowding in urban cities results in population inflation of low-income families.

What Can Be Done?
One of the most important short-term remedies is for countries to prioritize expenditures on flood adaptation techniques, particularly those in high-risk areas. This entails constructing more flood-resistant infrastructure that can withstand water damage.

Conclusion
We must commit to decarbonizing transportation by spending significantly more and quickly on renewable energy and technologies to minimize flooding and the damages it causes.

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