Urban Flooding

7/22/2019 (Permalink)

With the prevalence of urban developments in our society today, flooding in urban areas is quite common. Cities are prone to flooding due to their lack of soil. Rain and flood water should theoretically be absorbed by soil, but since soil is scarcely found in cities, all of the water must be drained through draining and sewage systems beneath city streets.

This particular type of flooding can have detrimental effects on daily life, as standing water in city streets can block roads, preventing people from getting to work or school. A phenomenon known as “dancing drain covers” can occur when pressure or flood water builds up in drainage systems, causing covers to elevate off of the street level and shift their position off of the holes. This can prove to be dangerous, as vehicles attempting to drive on city streets will encounter those holes in the street and pedestrians could fall into the holes if they do not notice the absence of a cover.

When flooding hits urban areas, the majority of those affected usually do not receive the attention given to massive floods from hurricanes or major rivers, even though the damage may be just as serious. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the risk of flooding in your area if you live or work in an urban area. Coastal cities or cities situated near rivers are at a greater risk for flooding due to their proximity to bodies of water that could cause high tides or overflow respectively when impacted by heavy rain. If your home is located in an area that is prone to flooding, consider creating an emergency flood kit, filled with food, water, batteries, and flashlights in the event of a flood emergency in your city.