Earth Hazards: Floods

- Text adapted from "Significant Floods in the United States During the 20th Century" by Charles A. Perry

During the 20th century, floods were the number-one natural disaster in the United States in terms of number of lives lost and property damage. They can occur at any time of the year, in any part of the country, and at any time of the day or night. Most lives are lost when people are swept away by flood currents, whereas most property damage results from inundation by sediment-laden water. Flood currents also possess tremendous destructive power, as lateral forces can demolish buildings and erosion can undermine bridge foundations and footings, leading to the collapse of structures.

Although a flood's life-snatching power brings much fear to humans, its life-giving power is also undeniable. Overflowing waters can bring sand, silt, and debris onto the flooded banks, which leaves soil fertile with minerals and organic matters that serve as natural fertilizers.

Floods are the accumulation of too much water in too little time in a specific area, and are the result of a multitude of naturally occurring and human-induced factors. Types of floods include regional floods, flash floods, ice-jam floods, storm-surge floods, dam- and levee-failure floods, and debris, landslide, and mudflow floods.

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Links with the globe icon connects to non-USGS sites. We are happy to provide this link for your convenience. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of non-USGS sites.

Featured Sites

Floods and Flood Plains
Contains general background information on floods.

Significant Floods in the United States During the 20th Century
Contains a list of significant floods in the U.S. during the 20th century, plus types of floods.

Water Watch
View maps and graphs of current water resources conditions.

 Water Science for Schools
Find information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center.

 Geologic Information
Geologic and mineral resource surveys and mapping for the Department of the Interior.

 Significant Floods in the United States During the 20th Century
Contains a list of significant floods in the U.S. during the 20th century, plus types of floods.

 100-Year Flood
How and when uncommon big floods happen.

 Floods and Flood Plains
Contains general background information on floods.

 Two Months of Flooding in Eastern North Carolina, September - October 1999
Reports of the effects of hurricanes. Includes data and photographs.

 Hazards Fact Sheets
Documentations and reports of natural disasters.

 Earthquakes and Other Natural Hazards
Learn about earthquakes and other hazards and find out how to prepare for these hazards.

 USGS Hurricanes and Coastal Storm Websites
Links to USGS sites that are related to hurricanes and storms.

 Animated Map
This map shows the combined effect of all six hazards--earthquake, volcanic, landslides, flooding, hurricane, and tornado. Watch as the distribution of each is added to the previous hazards.

 Geographic Distribution of Major Hazards in the US
Six theme maps showing high risk or relatively frequent actual occurrences of hazards (floods, earthquakes, landslides, hurricanes, tornadoes, and volcanic eruptions.)

 Hazards
Links to various hazards reports, including earthquake, volcanoes, flood, landslides, wildfire, wildlife diseases, geomagnetism, and coastal storms and tsunamis.

 USGS Water Resources Michigan
Michigan District operates Real-time monitoring networks and conducts scientific assessments and research of Michigan's water resources.

 Water Resources in California
California water info

 Johnson Creek Hydrologic Monitoring
Johnson Creek Hydrologic Monitoring

 NOAA's Flood Threat Forecast
View most up-to-date information on national flood-threat forecast.

 The EarthPulse Center
Interactive learning tool for earthquake location, magnitude, distribution and forecasting.

 Earthforce
Informative site about forces that cause eruptions, quakes, and floods.

Volcanoes | Earthquakes | Floods | Landslides

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