Flood water damage is the most damaging of all types of residential/commercial water damage. Flood waters can be caused by a number of factors. One of the most common is caused by clogging of the city’s drainage due to garbage, dirt deposits, and ineffective drainage systems. When natural disasters like hurricanes occur, the volume of water can increase dramatically, causing dangerous flooding. Floods are usually fast-moving currents of water that can lift cars due to their immense volume and speed. In addition, it transports dirt, garbage and other materials from one point to another. Understand that many cities and communities are at risk of flooding, including low-lying areas. Hurricane tracks are mostly affected by such conditions and it is everyone’s obligation to understand how to address flood damage and mitigate the situation.
Notable floods
Over the years, there have been high-profile flooding incidents that have been recorded in the US. Some of the more prominent ones include the following:
– The Johnston PA flood of 1889 resulted in a death toll of 2,200. This is due to heavy rains that caused the South Fork Dam to collapse.
– The Mississippi Valley Flood of 1937 killed 1,100 people, inundated the river and displaced an estimated 600,000 people.
– In 1913, heavy rains on the Ohio River caused severe flooding, killing 700 people.
– In 1997, the remarkable flooding of the Red River affected North Dakota and Minnesota. It affected multiple cities, including Fargo, Winnipeg, East grand Forks, and Grand Forks. The disaster caused billions of dollars in total.
– In 2005, the now infamous Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage to the New Orleans area, flooding a large portion of the city, causing 700 deaths and displacing thousands of people.
The National Flood Insurance Program
Most commercial insurance programs do not cover such a disastrous risk and that is why flood damage is a very expensive thing for many home and business owners. That’s why in 1968, the US Congress created the National Flood Insurance Act which gave rise to the National Flood Insurance Program. This allowed people affected by the floods to purchase government insurance to cover against the dangers of flooding. This is an alternative to the already rising costs of disaster assistance. Since 2010, millions of households have already benefited from this program.
Find support for flood damage
The program offers information on how to recover from a flood and prepare before, during and after the event. They are also connected with organizations like the Better Business Bureau to find qualified contractors who can do repairs and handle renovations and mold remediation. Flood damage needs to be addressed as soon as possible. If the families can still fix the house, since the overflow of water has subsided. They offer links and resources from the official website on various methods to rebuild your home and keep it stronger, prevent mold growth, and understand if you are at risk for future flooding.
Damage from flooding and other related damage can wreak havoc on individual homes, communities, and cities. It is necessary for the owners to inform themselves of the various information to keep the house solid and protected against the dangers of flooding. The government and other agencies, as well as water damage experts, are ready to extend their help by providing information and support to those whose homes were damaged by the forces of nature. Through advance preparation and risk management, cities and individual households will be able to address the potential dangers of overflowing rivers, hurricanes, and other sources of flooding.
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