Flood is one of the most common natural disasters which can occur in any corner of the world. It is especially true in case of United States as floods continue to wreak havoc with the lives and properties of millions of people living there. The effect and the area of flood damage may be a particular town or city and may go on to include an entire country leaving a trail of death and destruction all around.

Floods result in flood damage signified by loss of property worth millions and what follows is a state of complete chaos and confusion all around. A natural consequence of this type of natural hazard is the total disruption of all normal activity with life literally coming to a standstill.

There are a number of factors responsible for floods and flood damage. Some of the most commonly found reasons are heavy rainfall resulting in overflow and breakage of dams when the water levels exceed their normal limits. Apart from the incessant rains, tidal waves that come along with sea storms also cause floods leading to heavy loss of property and lives.

The United States National Weather Service has issued definition of the terms flood and flash floods. As per the definition issued, flood is used when the overflow or inundation of water occurs over a period of more than 6 hours. The term flash flood is defined as a state when an area becomes submerged under water in less than 6 hours. Flash floods can occur immediately after the rainfall or as an immediate consequence of dam breakage or stormy tidal waves.

The United States National Weather Service continues to issue warnings and watches through various resources including radio, television, its website, and through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Weather Radio to help people get a proper knowledge about the future happenings. A flood watch is intended to give people information about a possible flood danger in the near future. A flash flood watch is issued to people for moving to higher or safe places and get more detailed information from the mass media. If the flooding has already taken place or is expected at any point of time, then a flood warning is issued asking people to evacuate immediately to safer places. A flash flood warning is issued to ask people to move to higher ground when a flash flood is already occurring.

Flood insurance is indispensible for people living in flood prone areas to remain on safe side and reduce the flood damage left by the flooding. It helps in bringing your home reinstated back to normalcy as the insurance cover will provide for the damages caused to the property and other valuables in your home. So, it's always a good idea to get your house flood insurance. People living in such areas should have their homes elevated to minimize the risk of flood damage. Waterproofing on walls, ceilings and basement can help in preventing the seepage of water from the cracks caused as a result of flood damage. Having barriers like floodwalls help prevent flood water enter the buildings, thus ensuring their safety.

You can assess the risks before you decide to live in a particular area by taking into consideration the area's flood risk.