24/7 Emergency Service
The 4 Things That Cause 3 Types of Flooding
4/7/2022 (Permalink)
Regardless of the cause of the flooding, SERVPRO of East Brownsville & South Padre Island has the team to help you recover from any disastrous event.
Flooding is a major natural disaster, claiming more lives in the United States per year than lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes. This common event affects everything in its path from an individual home to an entire community or city.
Flooding occurs in all 50 states and all U.S. territories, and while the events are all slightly different, there are similarities in the types of flooding and the casualties that result from them. There are three types of flooding that are common, and four reasons they happen.
Flash floods are a commonly occurring type of flood that happens when intense rain covers an area and the ground is unable to absorb enough water. The excess water runs off quickly and can carry away small objects or even something as large as a car.
River floods happen when a river gains too much water too quickly and it begins to run over the banks causing damage beyond the boundaries of the river.
Coastal floods are floods that occur near large bodies of water. Storm surges, cyclonic activities and rising tides contribute to flooding near oceans and the gulf.
Heavy rainfall. The past several years have brought extreme rains to Texas that have resulted in heavy flooding. Storms with excessive amounts of rain often move in and leave our grounds inundated, creating flash flooding and river floods. Our urban areas tend to be more susceptible to floods when these rains move in due to the lack of soil and increased area of concrete and asphalt.
Oceanic activity. Those in our South Padre Island community have come to understand the risk associated with rising tides, hurricanes and storm surges. This flood-prone area, along with the rest of our Texas coast, have seen the damage these massive floods can leave behind.
Dams and levees failing. The notable levee break in 2005 caused by Hurricane Katrina is something none of us can forget. Levee and dams break when they are cracked or under extreme pressure and can no longer contain the surge of water behind them. These breaches can create catastrophic flooding.
Snowmelts and ice dams. While our winters are mostly mild, we can occasionally see some pretty chilly weather, but nothing like our neighbors to the north that experience heavy snowfall and prolonged freezing temperatures. These areas of our nation deal with flooding caused by snowmelt and ice dams. Ice dams, or ice jams form when ice enters a river and creates a block, causing the river to overflow.
Regardless of the cause of the flooding, SERVPRO has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover from its disastrous effects. Contact us anytime when flooding or water damage makes a mess in your life.