A few facts on floods
Floods are one of the most common natural disasters. Global warming and
other human activities increase the
frequency and impact of floods around the world. Flood sizes differ significantly,
from local floods which concern
smaller areas to larger ones affecting several countries.
Floods can have different origins, from heavy rains and lake
or river overflows to tsunamis. Depending
on the cause, they can develop very quickly (for instance in the case of a tsunami)
or slowly, as is the case when a river
overflows. Floods usually affect coastal areas or areas which are next to a
waterway, even those of small dimensions.
Preventive measures
If you are visiting a floodplain, there are a number of precautions you
should take. First of all,
prepare an evacuation strategy regarding how to reach higher ground, and ask locals
which areas are at risk of flooding.
You should also get information on how flood alerts are delivered and how to
respond to them.
