Flood Vs. Flash Flood: What Is The Difference?

​The two basic types of floods are flash floods and river floods. Both can cause devastating effects. Knowing the difference between both can help save lives and your property. These are some things everyone needs to know about floods and flash floods. 

Definition Of Flood
According to NWS (National Weather Service), a flood happens when an existing waterway overflows to ordinarily dry land. Streams, rivers, or drainage ditches can cause flooding to surrounding areas. Floods may span over an extended period. It can take days or weeks.

Causes Of Floods
While the number one culprit for flooding is rain, certain conditions can also exacerbate it. Heavy precipitation, soil condition, and changes in temperature play a big part in this event. Paying attention to these details helps us predict the possibility of an occurrence of a flood to a particular area.

As heavy rains saturate the soil, very low temperatures will cause the surface to freeze. The subsequent warm temperature will then cause the snow and frozen ground to melt. Water from the rain and melting snow have nowhere else to go because the land is deeply saturated. Thus, all the water would need to find anywhere else to go, causing flood in its surrounding areas.

What Are Flash Floods?
Unlike river floods, which takes time, flash floods are swift. It is a sudden rise in water to a dry land spanning from six hours or less. Flash floods may also occur when a dam or levee fails or when ice jams or debris causes an abrupt release of water.

NWS describes it as raging torrents following the massive amount of rain that can quickly tear through river beds, streets, or canyons. 

How Strong Are Flash Floods
The strength of flash floods can differ, but the damages are always devastating. Flash floods can be powerful enough to sweep anything from its path. In 1972, one billion metric tons of water tore through Rapid City, South Dakota. It destroyed 5,000 vehicles, 1,000 homes, injured 3,000, and killed 238.

It is crucial always to heed any warning so that you have time to prepare against floods. It is why getting flood insurance from a reputable source is a piece of great advice.

At Sherzer Insurance Agency, we do our best in making sure that our clients are well-protected with affordable and comprehensive policies. We make sure to go the extra mile to help you with your needs. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact our agency at (239) 673-9301 or Click Here to request a free quote.