condensation precipitation evaporation collection Most floods happen when there is too much rain Usually water falls from the sky to the Earth as rain or snow The water drains into rivers and streams From there the water flows into the ocean Finally some of the water in the ocean evaporates or turns into a gas The gas rises into the clouds and turns into rain or snow This process is called the water cycle 6
Usually the water cycle works just fine However sometimes bad storms develop These storms can produce large amounts of rain When a lot of rain falls the ground cannot absorb all of it and streams and rivers overflow These conditions may create a flood Snow can also cause floods If an area gets a lot of snow in the winter it can produce a heavy runoff or flow of water when the snow melts in the spring The melted snow can make rivers and streams overflow When snow melts after a hard winter so much water rushes into streams and rivers that it can create devastating floods for miles 7
Floods can cause a tremendous amount of damage If floodwaters enter a house they can destroy the furniture the floors and the walls Floodwaters also can destroy a building’s electrical system After the water recedes the building may be filled with mud and debris Often mold grows on water-soaked walls Mold is dangerous to breathe and can cause many serious illnesses A flood can also damage streets cars and anything else in its path A rush of water can be powerful enough to move furniture knock holes in the walls or even separate a home from its foundation 8
Floods are deadly Every year thousands of people around the world are killed in floods Some people drown when they are swept away by the water Others are killed by debris in the water It is important to learn all you can about floods so you will know how to deal with this devastating disaster Fast Fact Moving water can be incredibly dangerous Just six inches 15 24 centimeters of moving water can knock a person off his or her feet Two feet 60 96 centimeters of rushing water can sweep away a car 9
