Flooding in residential areas is one of the major challenges of the government today. Due to certain factors, this issue occurs every year. The possibility of this happening worldwide is common and expected, as this topic often appears in the news. Covering every possible reason for residential flooding can be a worthwhile discussion since this happens a lot.
Knowing what causes urban flooding helps people prepare and be knowledgeable about what to expect when a flood seems likely to occur. Now let’s discuss the contributing factors of flooding in residential areas to help you be proactive.
What causes flooding in residential areas?
Flooding happens around the world for many reasons, but why does it occur? Most of the time, human activities are blamed for it. However, natural factors are often the culprits on many occasions. But be it a natural factor or human activity, flooding can cause disastrous situations and even claim the lives of many people in the worst-case scenario. So to help mitigate the casualties of urban flooding, here are five factors you should watch out for.
1. Overflowing rivers
You don’t need to experience heavy rains all the time for floods to occur. Areas near the rivers or streams are prone to flooding during an overflow or nonstop rainfall. People who live in these areas often employ property damage restoration contractors after the flood due to the damage caused by the disaster.
Some large rivers have a series of dams to control the large amounts of water during flooding, and this is often handled by government authorities. However, sometimes the authorities have to make tough decisions on operating dams. They can prevent flooding and control water, but not all the time.
2. Collapsed dams
Dams hold water upstream. So if the dams collapse, these will discharge water downstream, resulting in floods. Moreover, collapsing dams can cause massive casualties and significant water damage to homes situated in low-lying areas. The excess moisture from the flood can cause mold infestations in homes. These molds should be eliminated by companies that offer mold removal in Selma, AL, as removing them the DIY way comes with various health threats.
3. Heavy rainfall
Heavy rains are the simplest cause of flooding. Homes have infrastructure design and drainage systems that aid during heavy rains. However, these systems stop working when it rains heavily for prolonged periods. This causes drainage systems to back up and water to rise, especially in populated residential areas. Heavy rains are responsible for most residential flooding and water-damaged homes.
Water damage caused by rains can have devastating effects on homes and buildings, which explains why many people hire restoration companies during rainy seasons. You may click here for detailed information on their professional services.
4. Climate change
Climatic changes due to uncontrolled human activities are major contributors to urban flooding in most regions. Humans cut trees in large numbers, significantly affecting the process of photosynthesis. This is responsible for the increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing climate change and posing threats of natural disasters like storms, floods, droughts, heat waves, and wildfires.
5. Deforestation
The reckless cutting of trees, or deforestation, is a major cause of man-made floods. Trees prevent the loss of crops and soil erosion. The presence of many trees improves the vegetation and helps block the massive rainfall, which prevents flooding.
