Knowra Flood Flood A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. It can develop rapidly or persist for weeks, depending on its cause and setting.
Riverine flood : A flood caused when a river or stream overtops its banks or exceeds its channel capacity. This common form develops as excess runoff raises river levels beyond their banks.
1931 China floods : A series of catastrophic floods in China in 1931, among the deadliest natural disasters on record. The disaster illustrates the enormous human toll possible in a densely populated river basin.
Flood forecasting : The prediction of flood timing, location, extent, or severity using observations and models. Forecasts can provide time to evacuate or protect exposed property.
Flood damage : Physical and economic harm caused when floodwater inundates people, property, infrastructure, or land. Damage depends on water depth, speed, duration, and what lies in its path.
Drought : A prolonged period of unusually low water availability relative to local conditions. Drought is the opposite water extreme, marked by scarcity rather than inundation.
Flash flood : A rapid flood that develops within minutes or hours, often after intense rainfall or a sudden release of water. Its sudden onset distinguishes it from floods that build gradually.
Johnstown Flood : The catastrophic 1889 flood in Pennsylvania after the South Fork Dam failed. A dam failure sent a sudden flood through a settled valley.
Flood warning : An official alert that flooding is occurring or expected in a specified area. Warnings translate forecasts and observations into urgent public action.
Flood evacuation : The organized movement of people away from areas threatened by flooding. Evacuation reduces exposure when floodwater is imminent or defenses are failing.
Storm surge : An abnormal rise in sea level caused primarily by a storm's winds pushing water toward shore. A storm surge is a coastal flood driver, not the inundation category itself.
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