What is a flood and why is it dangerous?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

Over the past few years, many major natural disasters have occurred in the Russian Federation due to large-scale river flooding. In addition to significant material damage, the elements even claimed human lives. Regular news bulletins aired on the central TV channels were full of words and terms that only weather forecasters could understand. What is a flood and how can it be dangerous? Not every inhabitant of our country knows the answer to this question.

Definition of high water and its main causes

So, what is a flood? The definition of this term is quite simple, it is the highest level of the river at a certain time of the year, and it is repeated from season to season, that is, having a certain regularity that can be predicted in advance, taking into account slight fluctuations. The term "high water" has an antonym - "low water", which occurs on the river during the dry period, and is also quite dangerous for the surrounding nature.

ActuallyIn fact, it is not enough to know what a flood is, it is also necessary to understand its causes. Scientists in this matter, it is customary to distinguish two main areas:

• Flood due to snowmelt. Typical for rivers in mountainous regions, as a rule, runs from late February to mid-July.
• High water due to certain climatic conditions (rain feeding of the river). A situation of this nature is most vividly illustrated by floods in the Far East.

In some cases, these two reasons may be interrelated. Rivers, the water level of which depends on the melting of snow, can be predicted even in the winter. So, experts take into account such characteristics as the height of the snow cover, the degree of freezing of the soil and much more.

Experienced people know what a river flood is. Under certain unpleasant conditions, it can lead to flooding, a significant flooding of the surroundings near the reservoir. Most often, such situations in Russia occur in the Primorsky and Krasnodar Territories, on the Yenisei, Oka and Lena rivers.

It is not only necessary to understand what a flood is, it is very important to know how to act during its onset. If your home is in a potential danger zone, the essentials should be packed and kept close at all times. These include documents, a mobile phone, money, a minimum of warm clothes and food, necessary medicines. Be sure to foresee and remember the evacuation plan in advance, take care of the availability of a raft or materials for it.emergency creation. During a strong flood or flood, it is forbidden to overcome the water by swimming at its level of more than 1 meter above the ground. In the event of a distress sound signal, it is necessary to act calmly, but without delay, any delay may pose a potential danger to the life and he alth of all those living in the risk zone.

What to do during a heavy flood?

When leaving home, if possible, you need to take a number of actions to ensure the safety of your property:

• turn off electricity;
• cut off the gas;
• fix all large items as much as possible;
• values that are not possible to take with you, put on the top shelves, attics, in deaf closed cabinets, pre-packed tightly;
• close windows and doors with boards, bars.

In case of emergency evacuation during a flood, follow the basic rule - listen to the commands of the rescue crew.

What to do after the water runs off?

Knowing and understanding what a flood is, what its scale can be, be careful even after the water has gone. So, returning to buildings, especially private houses, you should make sure that they are intact and that there is no possibility of collapse. Do not turn on the lights in the house, do not use gas until you are sure that the main communications are intact. Before entering, the premises must be thoroughly cleaned and dried, spoiled items must be thrown away, just like all the products that were insideflooded apartment.

Why is the spring flood dangerous?

What is a spring flood, how does it differ from the usual rise in the water level in the river, what is dangerous? As a rule, it begins even at the moment when a small amount of ice can lie on the reservoir. Despite the visual strength, it is already very thin and does not withstand the slightest load. Special attention in this case should be given to young children who love to play near rivers and ponds.